This story begins back in the fall of 2019 when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Fortunately, she had surgery and was given the all clear. Unfortunately, this made me high risk for getting breast cancer, so I was told I would need a mammogram at age 40 followed by an MRI six months later. This was going to be my new routine for screenings. Fast forward to June of 2021 when I received my first MRI. The doctor found a 3mm benign focus of enhancement; basically a spot. She wasn’t concerned at the time but said she would like to do a repeat MRI in December.
December 10th came around and I completed the follow-up MRI. A couple of days later I casually read the results on the Follow My Health app which said that it showed an anterior mediastinal mass. Translation: a mass in my chest. I freaked out! I called the medical people in my family (my sister-in-law Molly is an NP in women’s health, my brother David is a DO, my other brother Marc is an NP and another sister-in-law Jessica is also an NP). David was able to help get a stat CT scan scheduled for the following Monday. From there I had to just wait and pray I would get answers. Answers that would unknowingly begin the rest of my story.
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