Susan Prentice

Welcome to my CaringBridge website. I am using it to keep family and friends updated in one place.  Following a routine mammogram in August, 2019, the radiologist identified an area labeled "suspicious" and my breast cancer story began to emerge. A second mammogram, then an appointment with a breast specialist, and finally a biopsy confirmed that I was being diagnosed with breast cancer. The day after my biopsy I was on my way to Tennessee on my motorcycle with friends when I got the call from my doctor. Anyone who had had that call will understand how it feels. Surreal is the best way to describe it. Shock ("this can't be happening to me"), anger and tears. My friends were great and offered to ride back home with me if that's what I wanted to do. I set a date to meet with the doctor and headed to Tennessee figuring that a weekend of beautiful roads and good friends would be exactly what I needed. And it was.
On Monday, September 30, I met with my doctor who began to lay out the nature of the cancer (ductile carcinoma in situ with micro invasion) and a treatment plan. I will have a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy on Friday, October 11. Radiation will follow about a month later, and I will be on an as-yet-to-be-determined estrogen blocker for five years.
My doctor tells me that this protocol will ensure a less than five percent chance of recurrence. I am choosing to believe she is right. As my mother died of breast cancer, I am more than a little apprehensive. I also know that treatment options have come a very long way since 1972 when my mom died. 
I will post on here as my story develops, and I'm undecided about adding journal entries. I'm a pretty private person and tend to keep this sort of thing to my self. But rather than simply telling people "I'm fine!" I have actually been saying that I'm having trouble sleeping, that I'm scared, that I don't know how quickly I'll recover. So I'll keep  you posted.
I appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.