Welcome to my CaringBridge website. I've created it to keep friends and family updated about my latest journey.
I'll start from the beginning here...since I'm not sure what you know/don't know. This summer I felt a lump in my right breast. I never had my mammo last year--I was too busy with my husband's health issues--so I immediately took my "order" and went and had the mammo. While I was in Florida, I rec'd a call saying I needed to come back. When I returned from Florida I had already scheduled my yearly OBGYN appt...and it worked out that the diagnostic mammo and ultrasound ended up being scheduled the same day. They immediately set me up with the nurse coordinator at our local cancer center (which I figured didn't mean good news). The radiation doctor communicated to me that this was not good news and the tumor looked highly suspicious--showing and explaining why he thought this. I then scheduled a biopsy, which confirmed that the tumor was malignant. I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC)
Next...(September 10) a lumpectomy (removal of tumor) and sentinal lymph node biopsy were done. The tumor and lymph nodes are then sent to pathology. Surgery went well--my good friend Lucille (a nurse); and my sister, Linda (also a nurse) came with me. My parents and Stephanie came the next day to help out. (Jon had his wisdom teeth removed the day after my surgery!)
Fast forward to this past week...After meeting with the radiation and medical oncologist...I learned a bit more about the tumor and other factors. I am considered Stage 1 (good)...the tumor was Grade 3 (not so good). The other factor that is considered is the presence of receptors (estrogen, progesterone, and HER2) If these are positive, there is newer medicine that can be used. Unfortunately, I'm one of the 15% who have "Triple Negative Breast Cancer" (TNBC). The only treatment option is chemotherapy.
(For more info:
http://www.tnbcfoundation.org/understandingtnbc.htm)
Monday, 10/5: PET scan; Wednesday, 10/7--several routine tests (heart, bone density)...and orientation session for patients and family at the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center (a partner facility with Fox Chase Cancer in Phila)
October 15--Surgical procedure to implant a "port"--makes it easier on the veins...and then over to the Cancer Center for my first chemo treatment. (Fortunately, the Cancer Center is physically connected to the hospital...so no great travel concerns!)
From what I understand...approx 2 weeks later...the hair falls out--just in time for my birthday!!!
Next scheduled chemo treatment--October 29
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E-MAIL AUTHORkdelgado@embarqmail.com (mailto:kdelgado@embarqmail.com)
HOSPITAL INFORMATIONHunterdon Regional Cancer Center
2100 Westcott Drive
Flemington, NJ 08822
United States
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