Lisa Wilson-Barnes You can still love

This is my story of diagnosis and starting treatment...
In late March of 2016, I had sharp pain in my right breast and treated it with ibuprofen and ice thinking it was premenstrual pain. When the pain didn't go away, on  a Friday afternoon, I decided to go to Doctor's Now in Altoona to have someone take a quick look. I did not have time that day to see my PCP, and CANCER did not cross my mind because of the pain. So I saw the Physician's Assistant, who examined my right breast and compared it to the left, and concluded that it was normal breast tissue, or mastydonia, which means tender breast. I did tell her that it came on pretty rapidly. So, she told me to go home, use an ice pack, and get Primrose Oil for the inflammation. Primrose Oil WTF??? Are we talking 1800's or what! So, the following Monday, I had a vacation day, and decided that I should get rechecked and get my mammogram. On April 20th (Wednesday)  at 330pm I was diagnosed with a 2x3 by 1x3 cm lump. Then that did an ultrasound and told me I needed a biopsy ASAP. The biopsy was done on Friday April 22nd, a core needle biopsy, and the results came on Monday morning. Needless to say the weekend SUCKED!! Waiting and the unknown is a bitch. I spent time with family and went fishing and had a fish fry for breakfast on Sunday morning with my little man! 
So Monday morning rolls around, and I finally get the call about 1215 from Dr. Tallman. She said I have poorly differentiated ductal carcinoma. I needed a surgical consult ASAP. So, getting this news at work was my worst nightmare. My co-worker and best buddy Colleen, along with Sherrie Schuck, Vicky Lattimer, and Kristina Ashby, and Christopher Patterson, all consoled me and made sure I was safe to drive home that day. Heather (my sis) told me I couldn't drive home by myself, but if you know me, I will do what I want LOL.
I had my consult with Dr. Hamling (surgeon) who informed me of the Triple Negative status of my tumor. This means the great cancer is fast growing, and the only treatment is chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. If you have a hormone fed tumor, you can generally get targeted therapies intravenous and oral. There is much more treatment for hormone positive cancer. Great. So I met with Dr. Hill (oncologist) on 4-28-16, who decided that a regimen of Abraxane (Taxol drug) and Carboplatin (bad ass chemo) would be started the next week x 12 weeks. After this chemo, another chemo called A/C will be started x4 every 2 weeks. Jeez I'm gonna be glowing. So, after all this fun, I get to decide if I want a double mastectomy, or lumpectomy with radiation. If I have the BRCA gene, I will most definitely need the double mastectomy. so, on the chemo I go. 

"I told the doctor I was overtired, anxiety-ridden, compulsively active, constantly depressed, with recurring fits of paranoia. Turns out I'm normal." (Jules P.)


So, I will keep updating. Love you all and thank you all so much for caring about me.