My story…Unexpected Chapter ++-
Hi All! I’m just having a open conversation. I’ve gotten mammograms every year since I turned 40 (I’m 44). I have extremely dense tissue. This year’s mammogram (March 23). I received a callback 2 days later to get a UI Guided Mammogram, that was completed 2 weeks later (April 13th). I was told at that appointment the mass looked suspicious and one of my lymph nodes looked thickened and I needed a core needle biopsy, which was completed on (April 21st), on (April 24th), it was confirmed Stage 2 IDC, 1cm mass in left breast. I’m ER/PR + both scores are 100%, HER -, Ki-67 is 20%, BRCA negative; meet my entire breast care team on (April 28th), had a MRI on (May 5th), mainly to look at my nodes because the tissue sample they got from the biopsy was inconclusive and it was normal tissue that was pulled. MRI came back with lymph nodes appear normal, tumor still measuring at 1cm, nothing else seen. Was downgraded to Stage 1. My surgical plan is lumpectomy and sentinel node removal. Treatment plan; radiation and hormone therapy. Right now chemo is not in the picture due to early stage and small mass, but this also depends on my oncotype score and if anything was found in the nodes. From the confirmed diagnosis to when my surgery is scheduled (June 8th), it took a total of 6 weeks to get all necessary appointments in. In hindsight 6 weeks is pretty swift and I’m grateful for that, but the waiting for results was dreadful. I must also admit; I’ve only cried once; the day I found out. I’m a very analytical person so I don’t like to dwell in the problem, once a problem is identified what’s the solution and that’s where my mind shifts. Sometimes I’ve questioned myself why aren’t I more emotional, is this normal…it’s not that it’s not on my mind, but due to having anxiety disorder I try to ground myself in intense/bad situations and not spiral to avoid anxiety attacks. Just curious anyone that’s had radiation any helpful tips you can provide? How long from the time it was confirmed cancer to your surgery how long did you have to “wait”. If you read all of this; I know it was long THANK YOU! Wishing you all good progress and good health!