I ended the "year that shall not be named" with a breast cancer diagnosis on Christmas Eve. In the coming months, I'll be taking on a mastectomy, long chemo, and radiation. In that order. I'll keep you all updated here with my progress as I beat this terrible force that's infiltrated my life. I have a really good prognosis from what my docs tell me, so we're focusing on that. I WILL BEAT THIS!
My health care team is amazing! I believe I'm in good hands. Most of my surgery and treatments will be taking place at UC Health Harmony campus in Fort Collins.
Surgery: February 16, 2021
UPDATE: My surgery was 2/16/21. I had a double mastectomy with a latissimus dorsi (back muscle ) flap reconstruction with 2 surgeons performing. Right at the beginning of my 7-hour surgery, the general surgeon collapsed my right lung while inserting my chemo port on my collar bone. They did not realize this until they x-rayed my chest to check for port placement after the surgery. Incredibly, I breathed on one lung for 7 1/2 hours until they placed a chest tube and inflated it once again. The surgeons and anesthesiologist were amazed at my stats during the entire operation and said they'd never seen anything like it. Apparently I sat up and elbow-bumped my reconstructive surgeon in the recovery room. LOL! A great story for my grandkids someday! I began AC chemo March 22 and will start THP chemo May 17 and this will continue through August 30. I will begin 6 weeks of radiation following that in early fall.
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