First post:
Sep 14, 2017 Latest post:
Mar 23, 2018
Welcome to my CaringBridge site. I've created it to keep friends and family updated. I appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement during this time when it matters most.
Dear family and friends,
I never thought that I'd be the one creating a CaringBridge site for myself. I've always been on the other side, but now it's my turn. A routine mammogram in June showed a "suspicious lump" in one of the ducts in my left breast. The "suspicious lump" turned out to be a malignant tumor and and on July 24th I was diagnosed with Stage 2B invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer. Specifically, the tumor is 3.5 cm, hormone positive (it feeds on Estrogen) and HER-2 negative (it is receptive to typical cancer drugs). This type of breast cancer is the most common, is very treatable, and has a low recurrence rate (5-10%).
On August 3rd I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy. Unfortunately, the lymph node biopsy included cancer. My oncology plan now included chemotherapy to give me the best chance for that low recurrence % rate. The best tried and true research supports an oncology plan of lumpectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, and anti-hormone therapy (a pill). My prognosis is good, and at this time I don't have any evidence telling me otherwise. However, there are no guarantees as we all know.
My oncology plan (if everything goes as planned):
-Starting September 15th, I'll receive chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin hcl) and Neulasta every 2 weeks for a total of 4 treatments. Anticipated end date: October 27th. -Round #2 of chemotherapy (Paclitaxel) once a week for 12 weeks. Anticipated end date: January 19th. -Much anticipated 3 week break! -30 radiation treatments beginning in February and ending in March? -Another much anticipated 3 week break! -Start anti-hormone pill (Arimidex) in April
I WILL be brave, positive, gracious, and hopeful during this journey. I will rely on my faith to keep me anchored and centered.
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