Carol Wilder

Hello to all of you, friends, family, and close colleagues of Carol Wilder.  It appears the next “challenge” has been placed in Carol’s life, and you are people who most know how she would want to be supported – with a great deal of love and laughter!

 

On October 26, Carol was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She is not aware of any family history and, as you know, she is a very active woman!  So, darn it, this was quite an unexpected event.  Fortunately, this was caught early by mammogram, and will be easily treatable.  Her doctor has informed her that the tumor is an intraductal carcinoma, the most common type of breast cancer.  She was recently staged as a 1a, which means she caught it nice and early!  She has one 6mm lump (about the size of a small pea), in her left breast, which is contained within a duct.  The tumor cells have both estrogen and progesterone receptors on them, which means there are several drugs on the market that can be used to prevent any undesirable cells from multiplying.  Given this cell biology, her prognosis is excellent!

 

After getting a bilateral MRI, just to confirm that these are the only “offending” cells in the vicinity, she is scheduled to have a lumpectomy on 8 December, and will also have a sentinel node biopsy to assure no cancer cells have traveled to her lymph nodes.  There is a good chance that she will NOT need chemotherapy, but we will only know this for sure after they look at the tissues obtained during the surgery.  Once they have removed enough tissue to assure there are no cancer cells outside the tumor, she will be scheduled for targeted radiation therapy at the site to kill off any cells that might be remaining.

 

As many of you may also know, Carol recently underwent a surgical revision of her left total knee, due to an underlying infection.  Her recovery has been complicated by an 18-year history of lymphedema in her left leg. So – the timing of this breast cancer along with the challenges of her left knee have truly cramped her style!  

 

Carol will get through this with her usual good humor and positive outlook, and that is all she asks for right now in the way of support – lots of laughs, stories, and positive thoughts!  Just knowing you are there for her as she tackles this life challenge will be of immense support.

 

If you would like to contact Carol, please feel free to send her an email, a text, or a note through this Caring Bridge site.  For now, she would prefer these methods instead of a telephone call.

 

Thanks to all of you for being there for Carol as she navigates these new waters.   Being career Navy, I’m sure she will succeed with flair!

 

Take care,  

 

Carol’s Village