Today we found out that the MRI showed that the tumor on the left breast is 6.1 centimeters, which is bigger than the 1.8 as originally thought. With 5.0 being the deciding factor given by my surgeon. I will have to have a mastectomy of the left breast.
This morning we went to the breast care center, where I had an ultrasound and a mammogram. Then we went to radiology and had a MRI guided biopsy. Actually, they performed 2 biopsies and to that I say better safe than sorry. They said I will have the 'mother of all bruises'. Have to wait and see, for now sitting here locked and loaded with ice that is........
Then we went back to the breast care center for a post biopsy mammogram. We also got to see the MRI from Monday and that was interesting to see that the tumor in the left one was very bright.
We are doing great tonight, just exhausted.
Here's to a calm and soothing weekend.....
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Emotional
On the way to meet with the Doctor yesterday, I got a call from IMC Breast Care Center that they may have found an abnormality in the right breast, so they would like me to come and have an ultrasound. If they do find something with the ultrasound they would like me to have a MRI guided biopsy on the right breast. My heart sank, my world stopped for a minute and all these thoughts were floating in my head like it's now all over my body, etc. I lost it and the tears came.
Keith reminded me what Patty and other Doctors had said that sometimes MRI's can create false positives. It's OK. B R E A T H E, we'll go do this and if there is something we caught it now and not years later. It's OK. B R E A T H E. Remember you chose to take one day at a time.
I met with my surgeon, who I really like and feel very comfortable with. Right now I am having a lumpectomy next Friday, March 8. I can do this because the tumor is small, if it was any bigger, I wouldn't have a choice and would have to have a mastectomy. On the day of the surgery, they first do what is called a ___________ which is they attach a line that sticks out that the surgeon follows to see where exactly to operate. He takes that out. Then they cut a little under the arm and put some dye in to follow where the lymph nodes are and he take the first 2 or 3 that he sees. The pathologist is there and begins to test the tumor and lymph nodes to see what stage we are at. This takes about 72 hours.
The only change--------
The only change is if they find some malignancy in the right breast, then I have chosen to have a double mastectomy, unless those tumors are small in the right breast then maybe a double lumpectomy. It is a waiting game.
Keith reminded me what Patty and other Doctors had said that sometimes MRI's can create false positives. It's OK. B R E A T H E, we'll go do this and if there is something we caught it now and not years later. It's OK. B R E A T H E. Remember you chose to take one day at a time.
I met with my surgeon, who I really like and feel very comfortable with. Right now I am having a lumpectomy next Friday, March 8. I can do this because the tumor is small, if it was any bigger, I wouldn't have a choice and would have to have a mastectomy. On the day of the surgery, they first do what is called a ___________ which is they attach a line that sticks out that the surgeon follows to see where exactly to operate. He takes that out. Then they cut a little under the arm and put some dye in to follow where the lymph nodes are and he take the first 2 or 3 that he sees. The pathologist is there and begins to test the tumor and lymph nodes to see what stage we are at. This takes about 72 hours.
The only change--------
The only change is if they find some malignancy in the right breast, then I have chosen to have a double mastectomy, unless those tumors are small in the right breast then maybe a double lumpectomy. It is a waiting game.
Monday, February 25, 2013
The Monday After......................
After a whirlwind weekend, and a few tears, I am here on Monday feeling calm. I have decided that my approach will be take it 'day by day, and do what the doctor's say'; yet still feel like I have no idea what is in store for me.
Yesterday, I felt calm, and peaceful and wondered if this was a feeling that people feel when prayers are offered in your behalf? I feel so blessed and unworthy of such great affection. I need to serve people more, I need to so bad, not the other way around.
Today was the MRI. My Father took me to IMC Campus and I went in. It was very interesting that you are on your stomach during this test. Personally, if you have to have a MRI, this is the way to go. You are on your stomach, your face is in a massage type pillow. You don't really know you are in the tube. I literally closed my eyes, and if they hadn't told me they were pushing me in and pulling me out, I wouldn't have known I was in the tube.
They did pictures without contrast, and then some with contrast. Boy that contrast is cold going through your veins.
They just kept saying, 'You did great! You did great!' I was thinking what does a person who doesn't do great do??? Jump up and out of the tube????? I did great so I learned today that I only jump at movies.
Today, I got some great news. I learned, that through United Health Care, they have a program called OptumHealth Cancer Resource. Through this program, I have been given my own, Oncology Nurse, a kind of health coach to help me through every step of the way. Her name is Patty. I spoke with her today for more than a half of an hour. She has been doing this for over 30 years and gave me great support and answered questions for me, and defined words and situations for me. From what I understand, she will be there every step of the way. She said that right now, it is a confusing time, until you get a plan of attack, then it gets a bit smoother.
Today, I was able to talk to a dear friend who was in my LDS in Florida. She lives in Baltimore and was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2011. Like I told her, I don't wish that she had this, but so happy that I can talk to someone, so strong, that has been through this journey as well and can stand and say, yes I have been through it and you are strong and will do great. One thing she said that I clung to is that she has learned through this that in the pre-existence she signed up for this so yes, she can do this. I knew this would happen in the pre-existence, and wanted to follow Father's Plan.
Tomorrow, I meet with the surgeon for my consultation....
Yesterday, I felt calm, and peaceful and wondered if this was a feeling that people feel when prayers are offered in your behalf? I feel so blessed and unworthy of such great affection. I need to serve people more, I need to so bad, not the other way around.
Today was the MRI. My Father took me to IMC Campus and I went in. It was very interesting that you are on your stomach during this test. Personally, if you have to have a MRI, this is the way to go. You are on your stomach, your face is in a massage type pillow. You don't really know you are in the tube. I literally closed my eyes, and if they hadn't told me they were pushing me in and pulling me out, I wouldn't have known I was in the tube.
They did pictures without contrast, and then some with contrast. Boy that contrast is cold going through your veins.
They just kept saying, 'You did great! You did great!' I was thinking what does a person who doesn't do great do??? Jump up and out of the tube????? I did great so I learned today that I only jump at movies.
Today, I got some great news. I learned, that through United Health Care, they have a program called OptumHealth Cancer Resource. Through this program, I have been given my own, Oncology Nurse, a kind of health coach to help me through every step of the way. Her name is Patty. I spoke with her today for more than a half of an hour. She has been doing this for over 30 years and gave me great support and answered questions for me, and defined words and situations for me. From what I understand, she will be there every step of the way. She said that right now, it is a confusing time, until you get a plan of attack, then it gets a bit smoother.
Today, I was able to talk to a dear friend who was in my LDS in Florida. She lives in Baltimore and was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2011. Like I told her, I don't wish that she had this, but so happy that I can talk to someone, so strong, that has been through this journey as well and can stand and say, yes I have been through it and you are strong and will do great. One thing she said that I clung to is that she has learned through this that in the pre-existence she signed up for this so yes, she can do this. I knew this would happen in the pre-existence, and wanted to follow Father's Plan.
Tomorrow, I meet with the surgeon for my consultation....
Let's Start At the Very Beginning.....A Very Good Place to Start
The first week of January 2013, I heard something tell me, 'there are going to be some things happen to you in the next little while, but everything will be ok'. Well I knew who I heard that from, it was the Holy Ghost, the comforter, that is given to everyone. So I thought OK and went on about my life. Never in a million years did I think that one of these 'THINGS' would be a diagnosis of Breast Cancer. I thought other things that happened to me in January were the possibilities, such as breaking my two teeth, my dog Zooey chewing my glasses (frames and lenses), a bad cold, ingrown toenail (sorry to put that in here but HELLO, it hurt), a cataract that has grown very big in my left eye. Wouldn't you call that some 'THINGS' to get through? Needless to say this has thrown me for a loop.
The first part of February, I felt a hard lump on my left breast, and didn't think that was too normal, so while, I already had a OB/GYN appointment, I called and told them about this. They scheduled the next Mammogram appointment available on February 13. I went to LDS hospital and had the mammogram. Afterward, Doris, said, I am going to show these to a radiologist, and if they need more pictures, we'll do some more, or they will come get you for the Ultrasound. So she sits me in a room, I am beginning to think, they see what I see and feel, and a few minutes later the Sonographer comes and gets me and we go do the Ultrasound. Then she goes and gets a Radiologist. Dr. Peterson and he looks at everything and says, we can see what you are feeling and because of the hardness of this lump, I suggest you go and get a biopsy. So I get a biopsy scheduled for the next available time, the next Wednesday, February 20. Everyone there was SOO nice and comforting.
This time I go to IMC Breast Center and I have the Biopsy. Everyone there was no nice. The Dr. that did the biopsy, Dr. Green, was so, so nice. She said when she looked at the mammogram, she didn't see anything, and wondered why I was there ( good, I thought, it is small), but now that I see it and feel the hardness, I know why you are here. After the biopsy, she suggested that I set up an appointment for an MRI, and a surgical consultation because if it comes back bad news, things are set in place; and if it good news we just cancel everything. (OK, I think) I come out of the biopsy with an icepack under my left arm and tell Keith that I was packing, not heat, but ice. (OK, I thought that was funny). Buster my 3 year old nephew was so excited later that day that you could go to the doctors and they would give you an ice pack. It doesn't take much for a 3 year old.
So, I meet with the Breast Center coordinator and we look through a whole possibilities of Doctors, then we see who is on our insurance, and pick one. We set the MRI up for Monday, February 25, and the surgical consultation on Tuesday, February 26th, and I would get the results on Friday. This is all happening so fast, and I begin to get a bit overwhelmed, I look at Keith with huge eyes and take a deep breath. One minute at a time, one minute at a time.
Friday comes and I am a little nervous. I seriously thought that it would have to be taken out, but nothing else. Keith calls me at 11:30 a.m. and says should we call, we did. Kathy the receptionist says your results haven't come up yet. We are checking them every hour. About 12:30 Keith calls, there are some results up on myIHC.com, but I don't understand them. We call and they are at lunch. We call back at 1:10 and talk to a Doctor Parkinson. This guy was so bubbly and helpful. He says yes some of the results have come back, but the final word is not in yet, some tests have been done that are only done if it is malignant. I will say right now that it is malignant, and we will call you back with the final in about 15 to 20 minutes. True to his word, Doctor Parkinson calls back and says that I have a malignant tumor. It is less than 3/4 of an inch long. Honestly, I heard everything he said, but didn't understand it. He got done, I called Keith and said, will you please call him back because I did not really understand what he said. He did. Diagnosis
Malignant Tumor
The first part of February, I felt a hard lump on my left breast, and didn't think that was too normal, so while, I already had a OB/GYN appointment, I called and told them about this. They scheduled the next Mammogram appointment available on February 13. I went to LDS hospital and had the mammogram. Afterward, Doris, said, I am going to show these to a radiologist, and if they need more pictures, we'll do some more, or they will come get you for the Ultrasound. So she sits me in a room, I am beginning to think, they see what I see and feel, and a few minutes later the Sonographer comes and gets me and we go do the Ultrasound. Then she goes and gets a Radiologist. Dr. Peterson and he looks at everything and says, we can see what you are feeling and because of the hardness of this lump, I suggest you go and get a biopsy. So I get a biopsy scheduled for the next available time, the next Wednesday, February 20. Everyone there was SOO nice and comforting.
This time I go to IMC Breast Center and I have the Biopsy. Everyone there was no nice. The Dr. that did the biopsy, Dr. Green, was so, so nice. She said when she looked at the mammogram, she didn't see anything, and wondered why I was there ( good, I thought, it is small), but now that I see it and feel the hardness, I know why you are here. After the biopsy, she suggested that I set up an appointment for an MRI, and a surgical consultation because if it comes back bad news, things are set in place; and if it good news we just cancel everything. (OK, I think) I come out of the biopsy with an icepack under my left arm and tell Keith that I was packing, not heat, but ice. (OK, I thought that was funny). Buster my 3 year old nephew was so excited later that day that you could go to the doctors and they would give you an ice pack. It doesn't take much for a 3 year old.
So, I meet with the Breast Center coordinator and we look through a whole possibilities of Doctors, then we see who is on our insurance, and pick one. We set the MRI up for Monday, February 25, and the surgical consultation on Tuesday, February 26th, and I would get the results on Friday. This is all happening so fast, and I begin to get a bit overwhelmed, I look at Keith with huge eyes and take a deep breath. One minute at a time, one minute at a time.
Friday comes and I am a little nervous. I seriously thought that it would have to be taken out, but nothing else. Keith calls me at 11:30 a.m. and says should we call, we did. Kathy the receptionist says your results haven't come up yet. We are checking them every hour. About 12:30 Keith calls, there are some results up on myIHC.com, but I don't understand them. We call and they are at lunch. We call back at 1:10 and talk to a Doctor Parkinson. This guy was so bubbly and helpful. He says yes some of the results have come back, but the final word is not in yet, some tests have been done that are only done if it is malignant. I will say right now that it is malignant, and we will call you back with the final in about 15 to 20 minutes. True to his word, Doctor Parkinson calls back and says that I have a malignant tumor. It is less than 3/4 of an inch long. Honestly, I heard everything he said, but didn't understand it. He got done, I called Keith and said, will you please call him back because I did not really understand what he said. He did. Diagnosis
Malignant Tumor
Invasive carcinoma with mixed ductal and lobular features
1.8 cm in size >>> less than 3/4 of an inch in size --- size of a marble
ER/PR Positive >>> that is good because they think they can treat it using hormone therapies
HER 2+
Do you see why I only understood Malignant Tumor??????
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