On September 15th, 2020 I received a call with the results from a biopsy that proved a malignant tumor in my right tata (excuse me for coping by using the least medical terms possible). Since then I have been poked and prodded for various tests -- an MRI, an MRI guided biopsy, a bone scan, a CT scan, blood draws, and a LOT doctors feeling me up.
I'm 35 and I have breast cancer. I know it's not unheard of, but WTF.
I've spent more time in hospitals and doctors' offices in the last two months than in the entirety of my adult life. To say the least, it's been overwhelming.
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Here are the details of my diagnosis:
_Stage II breast cancer _Estrogen and Progesterone positive _Her-2/neu negative _No genetic mutations verified by genetic testing (think BRCA 1 and 2) _Cancer cells are present in my axillary lymph node, but not in the breast tissue outside of the tumor (weird, right?)
I'm probably leaving out some details, but those are the important parts.
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The treatment plan:
_Neoadjuvent chemotherapy to shrink the tumor _Lumpectomy _Radiation _5-10 years of hormone therapy (YIKES)
This part I'm actually excited for:
_LIPOSUCTION FROM FATTY AREAS (ie. butt and thighs) TO REBUILD MY BOOB(S)!!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++ **UPDATE: I did launch a GoFundMe campaign and it was wildly successful. THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES to every person who donated. Not having to think about money for a while is a massive weight off my shoulders.**
The question posed by everyone I've told thus far is, "what can I do?" I have a hard time accepting help from people, much less asking for it. I realize this is going to have to change.
Right now, the answer is nothing while I determine what will be helpful. The biggest burden is going to be financial. Fortunately my diagnosis qualified me for state health care so I'm covered for all treatments, surgeries, office visits, etc.
However, as I'm sure you're all aware, we are still in the midst of a pandemic. My current job involves me working directly with people who don't have masks on (rest assured, I always do). So I'm going to have to leave my job at least while I go through chemo. Paying bills and keeping food on the table is my biggest source of anxiety right now. I'm resigned to let the doctors make me really sick to make this disease go away. That is fine. Coming out on the other side totally broke is scary as hell.
Several people have brought up doing a GoFundMe and while I feel weird about doing so, I know it's probably going to be the biggest help in not worrying about finances. That hasn't been organized yet, but it will be in the near future.
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I'm not entirely sure how I'm going to use this site, but my intentions are to share medical updates and ways to help. I don't want my social media accounts to turn into "Amy's Breast Cancer" accounts. So if you hit the Follow button at the top right of the page, you'll get an email when I post an update.
If you've read this far, thank you for being my friend enough to visit this website and check out what is going on with me. The support I've received already has been amazing and I'm so grateful for the people in my world.
I've always felt like I've led a charmed life, and while part of me feels like the magic has run out, another part of me realizes that this is going to potentially transform me into a better person. Perhaps through all of this I will ultimately be nicer to myself and others. More accepting of my body and mind. And that while I'm about to have at least a year of total shit, why NOT just go through it in a pandemic when I can't leave the country anyway?
Well I have really fallen off the bus with keeping this site updated! Let's see if I can list some bullet points to catch you all up:
Surgery was super successful: there was 11mm of tumor removed and 3 lymph nodes (only one of which was cancerous).
My fantastic surgeon got clear margins which means he got all the cancer.
I thought I would bounce back in a month (hahahahaha this girl is not familiar with surgery recovery).
Fortunately I was referred to a physical therapist and she is awesome.
Tomorrow is my final radiation treatment! (Of 33 -- my skin is very red and peeling.)
Then I start on hormone therapy which includes a pill every day to suppress estrogen and a shot every three months to suppress my ovaries.
Radiation has actually made me more tired than all of the chemo, but I attribute that to all the drugs they give you during chemo to counter the side effects. Really it just means I've been going to bed earlier! Not a bad lifestyle change. ;-)
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