Lara Bailey

Welcome to Lara's CaringBridge website.  
How it happened? 
I discovered a lump on my left breast near my armpit back in late 2016.  I thought it was weird but I had my annual gyno appointment coming up so I wasn't too worried. Unfortunately my gyno's nurse practitioner quit the day of my appointment so I had to wait until they hired a new nurse practitioner since my gynecologist was not doing annuals. They hired a new nurse practitioner, I made a new appointment, and the new nurse practitioner quit the week of my appointment. It seemed like I was not meant to get this lump checked. 
However I kept thinking about it since it was bugging me and then I received an email from one of my favorite author's whose mother died from breast cancer reminding all her readers to get any lumps checked since her mom had a lump that she did not go see the doctor about.  This was a huge neon sign for me that I needed to get this lump checked out. 
I found a new gynecologist through my mom's best friend and my second mom, Marynell, and made an appointment.  On March 1, 2017, I met with my new gynecologist, Tracy Hays.  She found the lump and said I should get a sonogram done.  On March 8, 2017, I had a sonogram on my breast done. I was joking with the technician when all of a sudden she got really quiet and said she needed to get the doctor to look at it.  Apparently my lump was abnormal and I should get a biopsy done. I got really nervous and called my mom from the parking lot.  I was freaking out and my mom said I was only 29 years old and I did not have breast cancer.  
On March 10, 2017, I went in and got a breast biopsy.  My parents, Marynell (my second mom/ adopted aunt), and I waited anxiously.   
On Monday, March 13, 2017 at 1pm, I got the dreaded call.  I had breast cancer.  It was invasive ductal carcinoma. (had no clue what that meant) 
I immediately called my parents and completely broke down. Both my parents immediately left work to have a pow-wow at their house.  We all sat in the den and cried. And prayed.  
I was in the middle of my last semester of law school at SMU Dedman School of Law. I was signed up to take the Texas State Bar in July. I was only 29 years old. I did not have time for breast cancer.  But God had other plans. 
I received multiple opinions and based on my research decided to go with UT Southwestern for my treatment.
My specific diagnosis is triple positive invasive ductal carcinoma meaning it is positive for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and HER2. 
This meant that the best option for me was to get six treatments of chemo first to see how the tumor responded (hopefully by shrinking). 
Then get a lumpectomy. Then go through radiation. 
Currently I am in the middle of my chemo treatments. 
If you see me and wonder why I still have hair, it's because of this amazing thing called chemo cold caps. http://chemocoldcaps.com/
A generous friend offered to pay for this and I was so grateful since it meant I would be able to graduate from law school with my hair. 
Yes, I was able to graduate from law school despite having numerous doctors' appointments, surgeries, and scans.
SMU Dedman School of Law graciously worked with me during this incredibly hard time making it possible for me to graduate. I will never forgot everything they did for me. 
Thank you for coming by my site to find out my story and how I am doing. 
I know it is through all the many thoughts and prayers from all of you that I am able to stay positive during this difficult time. 
God has blessed me immensely and I am continually in awe of people's overwhelming generosity. 

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