Sarah’s Story

Site created on November 8, 2021

Welcome to my CaringBridge website. I are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. I appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. 

On October 11. 2021, I went in for my regular yearly mammogram. The Dr. that looked at my pictures sent me over for an ultrasound right away. That turned into a biopsy, MRI and a breast cancer diagnosis. 

The details: 2 tumors @ Stage 1. Invasive ductal carcinoma, hormone receptor positive. This is the most common (and slow growing HER2- neg) type of breast cancer out there. 

Current care plan: I am currently taking a hormone blocker called Tamoxifen.  This puts me into a chemical menopause in order to stop feeding my tumors. Next is surgery to remove the cancer. That happens Thursday, Nov 11th. After I've healed up a bit after surgery I will start radiation.  Most likely that will be through Dec and January. The pathology report from surgery will determine if I need chemotherapy.  My surgeon thinks we've caught it early enough that I won't need it. 

Prognosis is excellent. 

Newest Update

Journal entry by Sarah Mullin

I just got off the phone with the nurse from the surgeon's office. What I had read/understood was accurate. Clear margins, clear lymph nodes. They are putting in a referral to both the medical oncologist MO (Chemo Dr.) and radiology oncologist RO (radiation). The MO will look at all my labs, history, risk factors, age, and meet with me and come up with an "OncoScore" number. This number will determine the need for chemo. The RO will meet with me to determine the # of radiation treatments. Anywhere from 15 to 30 is typical. The nurse said I can expect radiation to start 4 to 6 weeks from now. Chemo is still unknown. Prior to surgery when I met with Dr. Henson he didn't think I would need chemo. So I'm hoping that is still the truth. I told the nurse that I had tried to go back to work. She was surprised that I had even tried and said that I am not to return back to work until I meet with Surgeon on Nov 30 and he looks at my healing. At that time he will give me a reentry letter that I am supposed to give to my employer. I'm relieved, thankful, nervous about what's next, but trusting in God's providence. 
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