My Breast Lump

It was June of 2008. I was standing by my bedroom closet and my breast hurt. So of course I felt it, and there was a lump. I thought hmmm, it must be because of period, since I was menstruating at the time. I have never done breast exams before but knew that this lump was not normal. So I thought about it for a couple days and said I better call my GYN and make an appointment. I really did not think it was anything because I was just there in mid-January for my annual check and she did a breast exam. So I called to schedule the appointment and they had me in within a week. I went for my appointment on a Monday. The doctor did a breast exam and said it was probably nothing but she would send you for a mammogram and sonogram. I went that Friday June 28th for my mammogram. This was my first, since I was only 37. The tech did my mammogram and then had my sonogram. The radiologist came in and said I needed to see an oncologist - I had a mass. I was lucky enough to have the breast cancer surgeon look at my mammogram the next business day and she said it was very suspicious of cancer and had me scheduled for a biopsy the next day. I had the biopsy and within 2 days I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer that ER/PR+ and HER2/neu positive as well. I met with the doctor and we went over all my options. I opted for a bilateral mastectomy due to the type of cancer and grade. I then met with a plastic surgeon to discuss my reconstruction options. On August 13, 2008 I had a bilateral mastectomy with TRAM flap reconstruction. I had several complications from my reconstruction that delayed my chemo. I started chemo on Nov 7, 2008. However, they had to do my chemo regimen backwards due to my open wounds from my reconstruction. My first round of chemo was Taxol & Herceptin every week for 12 weeks. The second round was adriamycin and Cytozin every 2 weeks for 8 weeks. And my current chemo is Herceptin every 3 weeks for 49 weeks. I have also enrolled in a clinical trial of Zometa. The second round of chemo about killed me. My reconstruction had me laid up in a hospital bed for a while at home. I have had 6 surgeries, most of them due to reconstruction complications. As of today, May 6, 2009, I still have an open wound from the reconstruction. With all that said I have learned to appreciate every day as a gift. I am also on a mission to raise all the money I can to help find a cure for this. Breast cancer has turned my life and family inside out. However, I will not let it take my life. I am a survivor and will keep fighting.