My Breast Cancer Story
In today'southward post: October is Breast Cancer Awareness calendar month, so today I'm sharing my own story of being diagnosed with chest cancer earlier this year. Delight be aware that I am not a doctor nor am I sharing medical communication; I'thou just sharing my experience in hopes that information technology can exist helpful to others. To learn more about Breast Cancer Sensation calendar month, y'all can visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
In February of this year I constitute a lump in my left breast. Prior to finding the lump I'd had a couple of yearly mammograms that all came dorsum normal. I was non doing routine self breast exams; i of my doctors had told me years ago that there's not much evidence self exams are very effective, so I'd never gotten into the habit of doing them. I noticed the lump while showering one twenty-four hour period and immediately wished I had been doing regular cocky exams, as it would take been much easier for me to tell if the lump was new. (BreastCancer.org recommends self exams for exactly this reason and shows you how to perform one here.)
Finding a Lump
The lump in my breast didn't feel like what I'd expect a "lump" to be – a round difficult bump – information technology just felt like 1 office of my breast was firmer than the residuum. I figured it was probable no large bargain, just a modify in tissue equally I aged, but I was due for a physical anyway then I decided to go in and get it checked. My doc could feel the lump and recommended I go my yearly mammogram, but said since I didn't take a significant family history of breast cancer and I was and so young (43) it was probably nothing serious. She likewise told me that most breast lumps turn out to exist benign (not cancer).
I was told the imaging eye would telephone call me inside a few days to schedule a mammogram, but I was starting to experience nervous and so I chosen them right abroad to ready an appointment and mentioned I had found a lump. They said they would schedule me for a mammogram and an ultrasound at the same time–three weeks afterward. I ended up calling back and request them to check other imaging centers in the expanse to see if there were whatsoever earlier openings and was able to become scheduled for those tests the very next week.
The Importance of Yearly Mammograms
I'm going to pause my story hither for a minute considering I've talked to a couple of women since my diagnosis who've told me they've never had a mammogram fifty-fifty though they are over 40, when breast exams are recommended yearly (source: breastcancer.org). These women shared various reasons for not getting a mammogram, including worries that information technology would be embarrassing or uncomfortable, and lack of health insurance. I understand those obstacles. Nonetheless, after my experience this past year, I'd urge anyone who is hesitant to go a mammogram to notice a manner to make information technology happen right way. Getting a mammogram probably saved my life, and it meant my cancer was diagnosed and treated early, which had a HUGE influence on the type of treatment I needed.
Attendance at regular mammography screening substantially reduces the risk of dying from breast cancer, according to a large study of over half a million women, funded past the American Cancer Society and published in the journalRadiology. Researchers said women who skip even one scheduled mammography screening before a breast cancer diagnosis face a significantly higher adventure of dying from the cancer.
http://pressroom.cancer.org/MissingMammogramStudy
If yous're nervous well-nigh getting a mammogram, please know that it's really not something you need to be scared of. The health professionals who perform the examination are and then kind and respectful and are skilled at helping you feel comfy. My mammograms have non been painful, although there is a small corporeality of discomfort. But they are over quickly – we're talking only a few moments total – and the benefits of detecting breast cancer early are astronomical when compared to a small amount of discomfort or embarrassment.
- If y'all're nervous, learn more about what to expect at a mammogram with a free e-book from the National Breast Cancer Foundation
- If y'all don't accept health insurance, curlicue down on this page at Susan Yard. Komen for help finding low-cost breast cancer screening in your area.
Breast Cancer Diagnosis
A week later on I went in for my mammogram and ultrasound. Due to Covid procedures, I went in for the testing lone. I felt somewhat at-home during the mammogram, but by the fourth dimension I had the ultrasound I was nervous and teary. The ultrasound tech was so kind and caring. Later on she performed the ultrasound she sent the results to a radiologist who immediately reviewed them and came to talk to me. He told me that from what he could see the mass required farther testing and so I would need to come up back to have a biopsy. I asked if they thought it was cancer and they told me they could not make a diagnosis based on an ultrasound…simply that in that location was a very practiced chest cancer surgeon correct beyond the street. After the radiologist left the tech confirmed that she idea things did non look practiced. I asked her how presently she could get me in for the biopsy and she was able to schedule it for a few days later.
I left the office and walked to my motorcar to call my hubby and tell him I probably had chest cancer. I had to stop crying before I was able to drive home.
That was the beginning of the hardest role of my breast cancer story: the unknown. I had the ultrasound on a Friday afternoon and came home feeling fairly sure I had chest cancer. I had a biopsy done Monday with the same radiologist, who again seemed quite certain it was cancer even though he said we needed to wait for the results to know for sure. They said results could have upwards to three days, but my doctor called me the adjacent day to review them with me. The biopsy showed that I had both Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (cancer that begins in the milk ducts and hasn't invaded the chest tissue) and Invasive Chest Cancer (cancer that had spread to the surrounding chest tissue). He told me he would immediately refer me to a surgeon considering surgery is generally the offset treatment option for chest cancer. Nosotros talked about the fact that breast cancer has high survival rates, and he said the surgeon would requite me more than information nearly the typing and staging of the cancer.
Imagining the Worst
So then we waited. It was (luckily) only 2 weeks betwixt the time I felt fairly certain I had cancer (at the ultrasound) and appointment with the surgeon, but those were the two longest weeks of my life. The ultrasound tech had mentioned that the tumor measured 5 cm, and when we googled that what we saw looked pretty bad, similar it would be a stage three at least. I could not stop thinking virtually the fact that our youngest child is only ten years old, and wondering if I would be hither for her high schoolhouse graduation. I kept telling myself that if I could just be effectually for eight more years, I could accept what came after that.
I didn't want to spend fourth dimension thinking most the worst case scenario, just I found I wasn't able to terminate thinking nigh it. It's similar my encephalon needed to have some plans in place in example we got really bad news when we met with the surgeon. My husband and I had long conversations about things we hadn't considered before. I institute myself needing to talk through possible outcomes and I was incredibly beholden of the friends that listened to me as I did. I take a shut friend who has gone through breast cancer herself, and I was struck that as I told her how worried I was she didn't endeavour to reassure me. She just nodded and let me exist worried, and information technology turns out that was exactly what I needed. I didn't want someone to tell me not to worry – I wanted people who would let me experience the fear and be willing to stand with me through information technology. Listening to me talk through the scary things my encephalon was churning out was such an incredible gift that my husband, friends and family members gave me.
I also spent a lot of time thinking virtually what sort of life I wanted to alive if it was going to be shorter than I'd expected. I was grateful to realize that for the about part, I'one thousand already living the life I want, which was a beautiful realization (and i I attempt to retrieve when I'm elbow deep in dingy dishes).
During this time nosotros also told our children about my diagnosis. We have five kids that range in historic period from 10 to 20 years old, and that was a hard conversation to have. We told them that they could ask usa anything, no matter how awkward it might feel. Questions ranged from what'south the worst instance scenario to would we still be able to become to Hawaii in Baronial, and would my medical bills stop up being a financial problem. (Note: We are so so fortunate to have good health insurance. My centre breaks for those who don't.)
We were grateful our kids were willing to ask questions and encouraged them to achieve out to their close friends for support if they wished. I as well purchased Mom + Me Journals for my two younger children to give them a way to write down things they were uncomfortable talking to me most.
Meeting with the Surgeon
At the finish of those two scary weeks my husband and I were able to meet with my breast surgeon. She was incredible. She was able to look at the tumor on an ultrasound and confirm that while it was 5 cm total, the portion that was "invasive" was probable much smaller. About of the tumor was "in situ" or located in the milk ducts, which was great news as it indicates an earlier cancer that is easier to care for. She staged the cancer at a probable Stage 1, and scheduled me for a breast MRI that later confirmed what she'd seen on the ultrasound.
Adjacent, she presented us with my surgical options. The commencement surgical option is a lumpectomy, in which the surgeon attempts to remove only the cancerous lump while leaving most of the surrounding breast tissue. A lumpectomy is less invasive, simply does sometimes require additional surgery if postal service-surgery testing on the tumor shows it wasn't completely removed. Additionally, a lumpectomy requires radiation treatment of the surrounding tissue after surgery, a process that oft involves treatment every week twenty-four hours for three to 4 weeks. Chemotherapy may too be required depending on whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and what genetic testing of the tumor indicates.
The other surgical option is a mastectomy, which is a consummate removal of all breast tissue. Insurance companies in the U.s. are now required to cover reconstruction if they embrace a mastectomy. Reconstruction after a mastectomy happens in 2 parts; the first part at the time of the mastectomy, and the 2d part after other treatments (radiation and/or chemo) are completed. Generally if you have a mastectomy you practice not need radiation unless surgery reveals the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. Chemotherapy may or may not be required.
Deciding on a Bilateral Mastectomy
Both surgical options have similar survival and recurrence rates, only my surgeon indicated she'd learn toward doing a mastectomy based on the position of the tumor and the size in proportion to my breast size. Even before she made that recommendation I felt that a mastectomy would be the best choice for me. We asked whether it might brand sense to do a bilateral mastectomy, pregnant she would remove both breasts, in order to lower the chance of a recurrence in the other breast. She said that wasn't medically necessary and that the chance of a recurrence was adequately depression. However, considering my age, she also said it would certainly be medically appropriate to do if I wanted to every bit it would likely offer more than peace of listen going forrard.
Chest cancer is the second cancer I've had; I had a tumor on my kidney when I was a baby that was removed surgically. Existence 43 and on my 2nd cancer I decided a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction was the option I was most comfortable with. In order to go it approved by my insurance I had genetic testing washed and I was thrilled to observe that I practise not take any of the genes associated with breast cancer. I also met with an oncologist prior to the surgery to talk through possible treatments post surgery.
Surgery and Results
Afterward nosotros met with the surgeon I felt so much better about my prognosis. We had a surgical programme and information technology appeared that my breast cancer had been institute early and would be very treatable. I was still very nervous near the surgeries alee and whether I would need radiation and/or chemo. There were a lot of "what ifs", but I was able to finish thinking worst example scenario and start feeling like things were going to be ok.
I met with the surgeon mid March and had surgery at the end of Apr. I'll write a dissever postal service talking well-nigh my mastectomy experience since this one is getting long. Surgery went well, as did the recovery. Information technology took virtually four weeks earlier I felt able to showtime light practise again and six weeks until I felt pretty much back to normal.
The actually good news is that my lymph nodes were articulate of cancer and the testing they did on the tumor indicated information technology was very unlikely the cancer had spread. Every bit a result, I didn't take to practise either radiation or chemotherapy. That was an incredible relief.
Reconstruction
Not needing chemo meant I was able to take my reconstruction surgery at the end of August. It can be a very traumatic experience to have your breasts removed, even when it'due south washed equally a life saving measure. I was fortunate that my strongest feeling was relief that the cancer was gone; however I'm sensitive to the fact that many people experience a fair measure out of grief later on a mastectomy. For me, working through the reconstruction process was more emotional.
In the past few years I've really embraced the philosophy that my body is an instrument, not an ornament (from the volume More Than a Body past Lindsay Kite and Lexie Kite). I've worked to teach my daughter that what her trunk can do matters so much more than what her body looks like. And then meeting with a plastic surgeon and discussing reconstruction options was an emotional process that brought me some mixed feelings. My plastic surgeon has been wonderful; she has understood my concerns and worked to help me be comfy with the process. I am incredibly grateful for the reconstruction surgery and the fact that I have insurance that covered the cost.
There are a couple of options for reconstruction after mastectomy. I'll write more well-nigh my reconstruction experience in another mail.
My Breast Cancer Story: The Futurity
Here we are mid-October and I've recovered well from my 2nd surgery. Eight months after finding a lump, my cancer feel feels like information technology is generally over.
Moving frontwards I go along to meet with my oncologist every six months. In that location'due south actually no way to exist completely sure that there aren't some cancer cells yet hanging out somewhere in my body. If there are, the cancer could recur somewhere else in the future. To help ensure that doesn't happen, I am taking Tamoxifen, which is a medication that stops my cells from absorbing estrogen. Because my breast cancer was estrogen-receptive, this medication should finish whatsoever cancer cells that might still be around from replicating in the future. Tamoxifen tin cause tough side furnishings for some people, but then far I am tolerating it well.
Because I had lymph nodes removed, I likewise get regular screenings to see if I'm developing lymphedema, which can pb to farthermost swelling. If this happens, I may finish upwards wearing a pinch sleeve on my left arm. My numbers have gone up and down a scrap in the past couple of months. Currently they are down, only this might be something I'll deal with more in the future.
I still cannot believe how fortunate I've been to go through this with things going as well as they did. I'thousand keenly enlightened that many people accept a much more than difficult experience than I've had and I feel so much tenderness and compassion for them. It'due south about unbelievable to me that things have gone so well and I can't explain why. I am extremely grateful.
One thing I exercise know is that early diagnosis makes a huge difference. And so please, get regular mammograms if you are over forty (or before if you have family unit history or other take a chance factors). If yous feel something in your breast and aren't certain if information technology'southward annihilation to worry about, please go it checked by a doctor. I know both those situations can exist scary and it might experience easier to avert thinking about it, but please choose to practise what you tin to keep your body safe. Your future self (and your family unit and friends) will thank y'all.
with love,
Autumn
Source: https://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/my-breast-cancer-story.html
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