My story starts back in 1990 . That is when I found a lump in my left breast & then had my first mammograph. No further testing just had a Lumpectomy & a week later Lymph node bisection. I had a 3cm lump & clean lymph nodes---so blessed. In the next 5 months I went thru radiation & chemo ( no ports 30 yr ago). I had spent the next 30 years cancer free. I have been religious with my yearly follow ups with my oncologist. 30 years later things are the same but sooo different. In May I decided to have genetic studies done , my sister had found a lump which turned out to be atypical cells & she suggested the studies. I had not considered it all until then. I met with Bonnie & had the study done . Turns out my DNA is all normal-- such great news for my daughters & grand-daughters. Three weeks later 5/23 I had my annual tests & for the first time in 30 years called back--- I knew then, instinct. So on May 30th I saw my oncologist & had my diagnostic Mamo & ultrasound with biopsy . By Friday 5/31 it was confirmed CANCER , a new one . Then on to a surgeon Dr.Cassandra Anderson at Allilna . I cant say enough about her , so sweet & personable . She insisted that I needed full information in order to make an informed decision. So first things first get my baby son married up in Lutsen & then to the plastic surgeon for a consult. I stayed with my initial decision Masectomy on the left & no reconstruction ( I found out I could not have a lumpectomy again because you can only have radiation once at the same site, even 30 years later) so smaller tumor 1cm on pics but bigger surgery. Had another ultra sound & CT everything came back clean, again angels watching over me. I called to get scheduled & received a date & time one week later May 29 @ 3:30p. Great moving right along , sons wedding went super & all the festivities were over by then. Now to concentrate on myself. Surgery could not have gone better, ok so it started late but still ok. By 8:30pm I was in my room feeling pretty good , no nausea , conversing , drinking & eating orange ice. Slept well considering were I was. Ate a full breakfast & saw my docs & was home before lunch . Unreal is the only way to describe it. One 10in incision & a drain with very little pain. Very blessed in so many ways. So now my battle has new & improved weapons yet to be decided . I see my oncologist Thursday & should have a battle plan .
