Rebecca Robbins

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My story begin in March with a routine mammogram.  I was supposed to go in November but put it off for another 4 months - I have faithfully gone every year since turning 40 and they never found anything.  I almost skipped this thinking that waiting a year wouldn't hurt.  I don't have any history of breast cancer in my family and never thought I'd be diagnosed one day.  My biggest worry was getting skin cancer, not this. 

I got a call to come back in for a 3-D mammogram after they found an "architectural distortion".  The scariness began.  After a 3-D, then ultra sound, then biopsy all in one morning, they found a small tumor.   At first I thought I would just get a lumpectomy but they wanted to do an MRI just to make sure they were seeing everything they needed to see.  The MRI discovered something in the other breast.  Another biopsy and it was confirmed - another cancerous tumor.  Fortunately, they found nothing in the lymph nodes.  But suddenly lumpectomy-talk turned into mastectomy-talk.  Hormone tests revealed that I was ER and PR positive so I was put on Tamoxifen immediately to stop the hormones from getting to the cancer (and providing it nourishment it would seem).  Genetic testing was negative. 

The biggest worry was timing - I was getting married July 1st and felt the pressure to have the surgery as soon as possible.  Thanks to my wonderful oncologist, she felt that w/ the tumors being small, and by going on Tamoxifen, I could wait until after the wedding and honeymoon. 

So I've been married just over 3 weeks and my husband and I face quite a challenge in the infancy of our marriage.  But I couldn't ask for a more caring, supportive husband so I'm incredibly fortunate!  

Don't know if chemo is in my future - just trying to get through the hurdle of surgery and recovery.  I'll focus on the rest later.  For now, your thoughts and prayers are always appreciated!