Welcome family and friends to a website dedicated to my journey through breast cancer. This site has been created to keep everyone up to date without having Rick and myself repeat ourselves 50 million times.
Visit often to read the latest journal entries, visit the photo gallery, and write us a note in our guestbook. Thank you for sharing this journey with us...
Hello. My name is Janelle Linares. I am 33 years old, and I was diagnosed with breast cancer on Friday, September 16, 2011.
Background: Sometime during the summer, Rick felt something odd in my lower left breast. Being a healthy young woman, I thought nothing of it and blew it off. Well, as you know, my girls are not small, and need assistance in being placed properly in my bra. Shortly after Rick's comment, I also began to notice the harder area in my lower left breast as well. My right breast had no change in consistency, but I still thought nothing of it and blew it off.
9/13/11 Finally, I decided to call the dr. When you call the dr to have a lump in your breast checked out at 33 yrs old, they don't waste anytime; I was at the dr's two hours after calling. The nurse practitioner examined me and scheduled a mammogram and ultrasound. She told me that this appt would be scariest appt I've ever been too so far, but not to worry, the nurse would step me through the procedures.
9/15/11 Went to the mammogram and ultrasound appt, and walked into the office and saw a familiar face. How wonderful to see a kind smile when you are in at the drs unsure as to what they are going to do/say. As I was called into my appt I wasn't prepared for the route it would take. Jen, the nurse assigned to me, was so kind and wonderful. She made me laugh during my first mammogram, and stepped me through every test/image she was taking. Next, was the ultrasound. Gretchen, the radiologist, came in to preform the ultrasound. Once she started clicking a dark area of the breast, my heart sank. Anyone who's had a ultrasound knows that clicking is usually not a good sign. She explained that she saw not one, but two masses in my lower left and also some areas in my lymph nodes. She wanted to do a biopsy on both areas right away. After a five minute breakdown, I was ready. As the nurse prepped the room for biopsy, she gave me a few tidbits to think about in case the results came back positive. Her kindness and support given to a complete stranger was the first of many more ppl like this that have come into my life this past week. The radiologist said she will more than likely get the results back on Friday around 3ish, if not then Monday and she would call.
9/16/11 The radiologist called at noon. Once she let me know the social worker was also on the conference call, I knew why she was calling. The preliminary tests showed that I tested positive for invasive ductal carcinoma. I was diagnosed with breast cancer. On Monday, I would find out that my lymph nodes also tested positive.
9/19/11 On Monday, the primary care nurse called to let me know the name of my oncologist and breast surgeon and when my appts were scheduled. Wow, I already had a team of dr's in place, which after a few conversations, came highly recommended. Such a sigh of relief! I was told that moving forward I am no longer allowed (suggestion of course) to go to the appts alone. I had an appt with the oncologist the next day. Wow, moving right along.
9/20/11 My mom and I went to see the oncologist and I was not prepared for the information they threw at me. My reality check scared the shit out of me.... mri, pet scan, inserting a port, chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation were terms that were used. The oncologist told me that he has a special cocktail designed just for me to shrink the two masses and will need chemotherapy every 3 weeks for six sessions. Other than the fact that I will definitely lose my hair, we don't know how else I react to it. The side effects are overwhelming. I realized that the next 18 weeks of chemo alone are going to be rough. After the breakdown at the oncologist, he smiled and said that I am now apart of their family and they are here to help me and my family get through this.
9/23/11 By now, it has been a week since I have been diagnosed and after much reading/researching, I finally understand the lingo the dr's are throwing at me and am able to get through an appt wo tears. My medical team (Mom, Rick and Carmen) and I met with the breast surgeon who gave me her prognosis based on where we are at now. At this point, the surgeon feels that it would only be a lumpectomy vs mastotomy, but really wont know until I finish chemo, get genetic testing done, and have surgery. After recovery from surgery, radiation will be needed everyday for 8 weeks. After all of the appointments and test results in, my diagnoses is invasive ductal carcinoma and am considered stage 2.
I have one more week full of dr appts, tests and a hot sexy photo shoot before I start treatment. I've asked to schedule my first round of cocktails the week of 10/3. Thank you for your love, support and taking this journey with me and my family as we kick cancer's a**! =)
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