About a month ago, I found a lump on my left breast. It was hard and a bit tender to the touch. I immediately followed up with my doctor and was scheduled for a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. The radiologist not only saw the lump I had found, but she found two others nearby. Because of the size and nature of these three masses, the radiologist determined that a biopsy needed to be done to determine whether or not they were cancerous. I waited one week to have the biopsy performed and then another 6 days to get the results.
DIAGNOSIS:
8/19/13 - I received the call just as I was returning to my office after lunch. I was diagnosed with IDC (invasive ductal carcinoma). I am shocked, mad, scared and confused all at once while wrapped up in a tight ball of stress. After taking a moment to let this news sink in, I left my office and drove home to team up with my husband to talk this through and begin a strategy of attack. We talked, I cried, we researched the best breast surgery specialists in the area and directed my personal care physician to refer me to our choice of doctors. I was told by the radiologist that the first step would be to find a good breast surgeon to take the cancer out and then an oncologist would be next to determine follow up treatment as necessary. I will meet with the surgeon on Thursday, 8/22 to plan next steps and to find out what stage this cancer is.
I spent this first day informing my children, immediate family, and very close friends of the news while going in and out of fretful states to very determined fighting mode, back to crying, imagining the worst, crying some more and eventually falling into a light and uneasy sleep. So it begins...
No comments:
Post a Comment