July 28, 2021 (at the age of 43) I had my very first mammogram at the Diagnostic Center in Royston. That very same day they called and said the imaging was blurry, so they needed me to go to the Breast Health Center in Athens to have it redone. I had that done August 6, 2021. They also did an ultrasound that day because they found some spots of concern and were concerned about a lymph node. I needed 3 biopsies, so I had them done August 16, 2021. My results came back August 18, 2021. The lymph node was a reactive lymph node (normal), one spot of concern was normal and the other was a radial scar. They automatically take radial scars out because they can turn into cancer. I was scheduled for mid-September to have magnetic pins put in the two spots for surgery to remove them. On October 5, 2021, I had surgery to remove both spots. They automatically send the lumps they remove off for further biopsies. I went back October 18, 2021, for a post-surgery checkup only to be told that the radial scars had cancer cells in them. I was diagnosed with DCIS (Stage 0). I had to do 20 radiation treatments. Fast forward to August 1, 2022, I had my yearly mammogram (age 44). They found a spot of concern and suspicious lymph node on my right breast. I had 2 biopsies on August 5. On August 9 Dr. Gunns (surgeon) office called to say my results were back and the mass was cancer. Yesterday, August 10, we met with Dr. Gunn and my oncologist. Dr. Gunn told me that the mass was a Grade 3. He said he normally would suggest a lumpectomy but due to the fact that in 10 months' time I am now facing this a second time he recommended to remove my right breast. So, I have decided that if they are going to take one, they are going to take both, and I won’t have to deal with this again. The chances of it returning after a double mastectomy are 2-5%. So, my treatment will be as follows: 4-6 months of chemotherapy, then a double mastectomy & reconstructive surgery and then 4-6 months immunotherapy. We left that appointment to meet with my oncologist (Dr. Bodine). He basically told us the same thing. They are waiting on my HER2 biopsy result to come back (should be back one day next week) to determine the type of chemo and whether it will be 12 or 16 treatments. I go in Monday morning to have my CT scan, Thursday for my echocardiogram and am waiting on them to call me with my port placement appointment. I will be starting chemo in 2 weeks' time. The plan is to have the double mastectomy around December or January. They want it done within 4 weeks of my last chemo treatment. I have so many emotions going through my head right now and am scared but I know I have a long battle before me. Please keep me, Morris, the kids and the rest of our immediate family in your prayers as we gear up and KICK CANCERS BUTT!!! I WILL defeat this!!!
EDIT: Dr. Gunn did say that it’s very RARE for someone who has had DCIS and been through treatments to go through this a second time.
Doctor said everything was healing great today. Got another filli-in. We will do fill-ins for the next several weeks and then talk about next surgery then. Looks like surgery will probably be in September if all goes well.
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