Cindy Johnson

Thank you for visiting Cindy's Caring Bridge Site.  We have been overwhelmed and humbled by the support and prayers from family and friends.  


Cindy was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.  She had a routine screening mammogram, which called for further follow-up and eventual biopsy and diagnosis.  Providentially, Cindy also developed a blood clot and pulmonary embolism, which sent her for a CT scan and a night in the hospital right at the time of diagnosis.  The CT scan showed that cancer had spread to the lymph nodes.  While the pain of the PE, night in the hospital and being on blood thinners is difficult, we are looking at it as a blessing.  Without the CT scan, the lymph node involvement likely would not have been caught until surgery in several months. A  PET scan is scheduled for next week to check for any further spread of cancer.  


 The cancer is Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor negative, and HER2 positive.  This affects which types of medications can be used to fight it.  HER2 positive is good and bad.  It is more fast-spreading - She has virtually no tumor, but it has spread to quite a few lymph nodes.  That is obviously the bad part.  The good part is that certain drugs target the HER2 gene specifically, and they are very well tolerated by most people.


Cindy is scheduled for 4-5 months of chemo, followed by surgery, then likely radiation.  The hope is to kill any cancer with the chemo, then when they do surgery, they will look at how the tumor and lymph nodes have reacted.  If they contain no cancer cells, then radiation and hopefully cancer-free.  If they do find live cancer cells during surgery, then more and different chemo and revised treatment plans from there.


Next week includes the PET scan to check for any more cancer and chemo class.  The first chemo treatment is scheduled for January 28.  They will be one day every three weeks, finishing in early summer, followed by surgery.  

Thank you for all your love and support.  We know God has a plan and we are at peace with the diagnosis and treatment plan.