April 2nd

On this day I had my breast MRI, Took about 30 min. It was not terrible just alot of anxiety. WE follwed this with an appointment with Dr L. We found that I had 2 masses in my left breast and that I was no longer a candidate for a lumpectomy. ( I never consiered this option anyway) We talked alot more about the cancer and then he scheduled a PET scan for April 3rd. I was told to eat no sugar only protein and green veggies. Then nothing after midnight. What I really wanted was a bowl of icecream! I know at this stage I was still so shaken that alot had not set in. The only thing I wanted was to get the cancer out of me. We scheduled my surgery for April 9th. This appointment was follwed by one with the plastic surgeon. I was so overwhelmed by options and sugeries and the length of time for the total reconstruction. I had my friend Tisha with me for this appointment. I was so thankful she could look at the pictures and see past the scars. At that point it was all I could see. I opted for tissue expanders follewd by implants and then the nipple recontruction. Some sort of 3D tattoo. Wow so much to process. After this appointment I went home on my no sugar diet to wait for my PET scan. I was terrfied. So far all the tests had revealed bad news. I so wanted this to be good news. I needed to not have cancer anywhere else.

April1 2009 Diagnosis day

On the morning of April 1st Mike and I went to the breast sugeons office for the results of my biopsy. On arrival we were ushered into an exam room. The Dr came in told us and I had breast cancer and we headed to his office to talk about options. I think we expected the result but the news was devistating. How bad? What about Elissa and Katy? How will we tell our family and friends? What about work? So many swirling questions. We were told I had invasive triple negative breast cancer. That I would need surgery and likely chemo and radiation. He scheaduled and MRI for the next morning after that we would see him again and make choices regarding surgery.

We left the office in a haze. I started calling family and friends. What a cruel April fools day. After many phone calls I sent an email to friends and family I could no longer say the words " I have breast cancer"

March 30th 2009 The beginning

I know this is a little late, I feel like I need to journal about my journey through Breast cancer .
On Monday March 30th 2009 I found a lump under my left arm while making my daughters bed. I was alarmed and showed the lump to my Husband Mike. Who agreed I needed to be seen by my Dr. I called my PCP and had an appointment an hour later. He examined me and asked if I could wait to see the Breast specialist who would be in to see another pt on his lunch break. I agreed. When he arrived he was immediately concerned. He told me on the way to his office that I had either breast cancer or a lymphoma. I was terrified. he made an immediate appointment for a mammo, ultrasound and biopsy. I had all of these by 330 pm. What a long and emotional day. When I arrived home to a worried husband and daughters. I made phone calls to my family and we all then waited for my results, they were due to us on April 1 2009