Kristen Novak

I decided it would be much easier for me if I just write quick updates in one place.  This way, I don't have to call, text, email multiple people every single day (which I have found to be very stressful for me).

I guess my story starts 4 years ago, when I found a lump on my right breast.  I went to my PCP and after a mammogram, biopsy, and lumpectomy I was diagnosed with a benign (non-cancerous) phyllodes tumor.  Unfortunately, these tumors can be either benign or malignant (cancerous) and because of the history of breast cancer in my family my surgeon thought that it would be a good idea to start my routine yearly mammograms at the age of 33.  Typically, mammograms begin between the ages of 40-45.

This August, it was time for my routine mammogram.  The day after I went for the test I got a phone call that they wanted some "additional views" of my left breast.  I didn't think much of it because this is pretty common for me.  They were able to bring me down that afternoon and I just ran down while I was working.  I was only back in my office for a few minutes when the breast care center called and asked if I could come right down for an ultrasound of my left breast.  I went back down to the breast care center for my ultrasound and the radiologist came in and told me said, "I see some calcifications in your left breast.  The only way we'll know what they are is if we biopsy them.  They could be nothing, or they could be bad.  Let's remove them and see".