Carol Jensen #ToughCookie

It's a bit surreal to be starting my own CaringBridge site, but figured this would be an easier way to keep everyone informed as I start this journey.  


My story starts with finding a lump in my breast on July 2nd. It surprised me with how noticeable it was and knowing that I'd had a mammogram within the last year.  After an appointment with my Family Dr and a biopsy in Willmar, I was told it was breast cancer. 
After an MRI, XRay and other tests, I was referred to Sioux Falls to meet with a surgeon on July 21st and began discussing options of lumpectomy vs  mastectomy and radiation. A week later, additional results came back which were positive for HER2 and estrogen receptors which meant we would take a different approach before surgery due to the behavior of the cancer.

I met with my Oncologist on August 2nd to learn that I would have Chemotherapy first to shrink the lump.  So the plan now is to start Chemotherapy on August 17th. It will be a weekly treatment for 12 weeks.  I had a port put in on August 4th which they say i will have for a year. Following Chemotherapy, if everything goes as planned, they will wait 30 days and then do surgery. The type of surgery will depend on the results of the genetic testing and the size of the tumor. We'll know more as the days progress. There will be radiation following surgery as well.