Sarah Hilgart

This Caring Bridge site is created for Sarah Hilgart's family and friends to be able to keep up with her surgery and treatments for breast cancer. At Sarah's request, please do not post questions or comments regarding her health on her Facebook page for several personal reasons. This site will be a way to keep everyone up to date on her progress, prayer requests and any special needs.

On May 25th Sarah was informed that she had 3 small lumps in her left breast that were not there last fall. A needle biopsy confirmed she has breast cancer.  As far as breast cancer goes, it seems to be one of the best for treatment.  It is invasive mucinous carcinoma, a relatively rare, but slow growing and non aggressive breast cancer.  Over the next couple of weeks Sarah selected a surgeon, completed tests, decided on a treatment plan and scheduled surgery for a double mastectomy on Tuesday, June 18 at Plano Medical City Hospital starting around 9 or 9:30 and ending around 2 pm.  Sarah will spend one night, possibly two in the hospital before they send her home with drainage tubes. She has a close (and nearby) friend who is an RN who used to work in Oncology that will bring her home from the hospital and be available to help her as needed, especially with the drains. The drains will remain for approximately 7 - 10 days and she will not be able to drive during that time. In addition she will not be able to lift her arms up or to carry anything heavy. 

As you can see, Sarah will need assistance with meals, transportation to medical appointments (and church once she feels better) and once she is a little ways down the recovery path, visitors to keep her company. When we are able to visit her at home, please be aware her hot water heater broke and flooded water into almost every room in her house (including closets) Saturday night, June 8th. Everything on floors had to be moved out of closets and away from walls to pull the carpets up and remove the baseboards. According to Sarah, "It's a little roomier and a lot quieter now that they have removed the 23 fans and 2 dehumidifiers, but I still can't move things back until the insurance adjuster comes to inspect it and give me his verdict on whether or not they will pay for new carpet or maybe just cleaning. Anyway, between his busy schedule and mine, the earliest I could book him to come was the Monday the week after my surgery."

Sarah will have another surgery somewhere down the road for reconstruction. For now they will just be putting in "expanders". She will likely be doing a hormone suppressant afterward, since her cancer is estrogen positive. She might have to do radiation as well depending on the combined size of the lumps. Because the cancer in her breast is a slow growing and not very aggressive type (and we think caught fairly early), they do not expect it to have gotten into her lymph nodes much, but they will test to make sure, and that would affect her follow-up treatment as well. 

Sarah appreciates all your prayers and encouragement. They are giving her a peace that surpasses all understanding.