In early June, 2021, I went for a normal yearly mammogram. As has often happened, I got a call back that they needed to perform an ultrasound to look more closely. At that time they confirmed that one of my lymph nodes looked inflamed. Some people have inflamed lymph nodes after the Covid vaccinations, so they wondered if that’s all it was, but this would normally go away after 4 to 6 weeks— I had had the Covid vaccination over three months prior.
     They determined the need for an ultrasound guided core biopsy of that lymph node, and it was performed on June  27th, 2021. I had been planning a 3 week solo road trip, and I asked whether it would be a bad idea to continue with my plans. They assured me that, as long as I was willing to come back early if necessary, there would be no reason to cancel my plans. Because of the Fourth of July holiday weekend, I didn’t get the results until July 6th, and I had already been on my road trip for 6 days. My pathology and radiology reports revealed that I had Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, even though a mass was never found in the breast itself- only the lymph node. I worried for those 2 weeks while on vacation, that I might have lymphoma or some other cancer, and didn’t understand why the cancer would be considered breast cancer if there was no breast tumor, as it was only found in my lymph node.  I continued my vacation, and made appointments for a breast surgeon consultation and Breast MRI for as early as I could get in. Coincidentally, the first available appointment was the same day that I was planning on getting home from my road trip.          
       I had a wonderful road trip, and for the most part I was able to ignore my diagnosis. Some days were harder than others.  I cut my vacation 2 days short, because I felt the need for hugs from my family.  When I went to my breast MRI appointment, I was told by the MRI tech that I wouldn’t fit into the MRI machine. Between my large size, and the platform required for a breast MRI, she didn’t want to even try fitting me into the MRI. So with a lot of anger, I rescheduled for 2 weeks later. 
     A few days later I met my surgical oncologist and her staff. I was finally put at ease. Dr. Kanesha Bryant in Hinsdale, IL has an amazing, calming and confident disposition. She explained that after more tests they would know more, but that everything about the cells that they tested from my biopsy show that my cancer is very treatable.  With no known breast mass (still to be confirmed by the upcoming MRI) my stage would be considered either a Stage 1B or Stage 2A IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma), with Estrogen and Progesterone hormone  positive and HER2 negative components. I have a lot to learn, and additional tests to take, but I’m being told that this cancer in very treatable, with an 85-95% survival rate. If the oncology team agrees, I will be having chemotherapy first, surgery second, and radiation and endocrine therapy last. My journey could take between 6 months and a year.  Next week I will get a CT of my chest, abdomen and pelvis, as well as a full body bone scan, and finally my breast MRI (in a larger machine ☺️).

 Thank you for your love and your prayers ❤️