5/27 routine mammogram
6/8 annual (pap smear/ breast exam) w/ OBGYN- no lump detected
6/17 diagnostic mammogram (b/c first one came back suspicious and needed further investigation)
7/7 ultrasound-guided biopsy of R breast
7/12 got my cancer diagnosis phone call (“Invasive Ductal Carcinoma”), and a call from a “nurse navigator” who I learned is the person who is supposed to assist and guide you on your “cancer journey”.
7/13 (both) breast MRI appointment I had scheduled that didn’t happen b/c they lost my “reservation”.? WTF? This was the first appointment I went alone to, which was a mistake, b/c I lost it. Dismayed by the phone refusal to let me in for my appointment, I tried calling my nurse navigator for help. She not only did not answer, but had an out of office message (for a long vacation) on her phone. So I broke down crying in my car in the parking lot, then– hysterical– went to find someone to help me in person. A kind woman finally re-scheduled an MRI for me, fortunately for the next day.
7/13ish Spoke with some dear friends who had had recent cancer diagnoses, and got all kinds of comfort, encouragement, and great advice from them. (Thanks to you all!!!)
7/14 (both) breast MRI. (You lie face down for this on a hard table, with your head in a frame, trying to remain completely still. Not fun, but fortunately didn’t last the entire 45 min they had prepared me for.)
Findings R breast: Irregular enhancing mass is seen in the deep lateral right breast in the 9 o’clock position with a biopsy marker denoting the site of recent diagnosed infiltrating ductal carcinoma.
This lesion measures 10 x 9.5 mm and has mixed enhancement kinetics. The lesion is immediately adjacent to the chest wall with no definitive fat plane and a thin band of abnormal enhancement in the pectoralis muscle measuring 10 mm. There is adjacent branching nonmasslike enhancement extending from the lesion anteriorly to the nipple throughout the lower outer quadrant overall encompassing an area measuring 4.5 x 1.8 cm with persistent and plateau kinetics. No suspicious axillary or internal mammary lymph nodes.
Findings Left breast: Mild background enhancement is seen in the left breast. No evidence for mass or abnormal enhancement is seen in the left breast to suggest invasive breast carcinoma. No suspicious internal mammary or axillary lymph nodes.
7/16 1st meeting w/ Surgeon #1: Learned that my cancer is ER+, PR+,Her2- (which is good, slow-growing). However, the clinical stage of my cancer is difficult to determine until we have a post-surgery pathology report. (Classification and treatment options will be based on size on tumor, lymph node involvement, involvement of pectoral muscle– b/c it is up against the muscle); We did genetic testing to determine BRCA1/2 (which came back negative. Yay!) She said I could have a lumpectomy (which she thought they could do around Aug 28th).
7/21 started researching reconstruction options… oh my the rabbit holes you can explore!
7/22 MRI-guided biopsy (Yuk! Ouch!)
7/26 Met with nurse navigator in person for the first time. She had no sense of humor when I said I was working on “spontaneous remission”.
7/26 learned about some RMCC resources (oncology massage, reflexology, acupuncture, reiki, healing touch, etc.), but go the impression that I was not eligible for (??), b/c my cancer treatment (i.e. chemo, radiation) wasn’t in process and/or my cancer was not severe enough. I looked into them all anyway, and scheduled a Reiki session, which was great (and I will explain later). I also scheduled some appointments with two oncologists to see if I could meet them and decide who might be willing to work with me incorporating my naturopathic approach as much as possible.
7/26 Surgeon #1’s PA said their scheduler “is working on getting your surgery scheduled and you should hear from her shortly.” (I thought shortly might even mean tonight?!….) And then she said, “If you need to reach hour to her directly, her number is XXX-XXX-XXXX.” So at the end of the day when I tried calling, I did not even get to finish my sentence when the person on the other end of the line yelled “It won’t be for another week or two!” (Demonstrating that she, too was having a breakdown, but also leaving me traumatized.)
7/28 Coincidentally, a bi-weekly flower subscription from Ned started. Talk about beautiful timing! (Not to mention gorgeous colors and cool white puffer flowers!) Add to that some of J’s GF cookies and M’s apricot jam, and you have some desperately needed (and super appreciated) sweet comforting…
