On June 4, 2010, after two years of doctor's appointments, pain, an abscess and multiple ultrasounds, a biopsy finally gave me the answer I was fearful of all along. I was 27 years old and I had BREAST CANCER! I was in shock. I was sad. I was PISSED. I knew something was wrong. I had to ask for the biopsy because the doctor himself was convinced it was nothing major since I was so young. He even said, "I do not want to rush to biopsy or remove anything because I do not want to mutilate you." Who cares if I have a scar on my boob? I would rather remove something, have a scar and find out it is nothing than find out I have an advanced stage cancer because my doctor was worried about how nice my boob looked.
I was not happy with my first doctor so I quickly got everything together to get a second opinion. Unfortunately that meant A LOT more tests and needles to end up with the same diagnosis. I was diagnosed with DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) which basically means cancer of the mammary ducts. Click here for more information http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001911/ . According to my doctors, "I won the breast cancer lottery." I had a non-aggressive type without hormone receptors and later we found out it was NOT in my lymph nodes and it was noninvasive. I had genetic testing and I did not have mutations of the breast cancer gene. Due to all of these factors I opted for a mastectomy of the infected breast with immediate reconstruction using a part of my lat muscle to build the new breast. On July 29, 2010 I had my surgery. I did not need radiation or chemo but the recovery was painful and long. Every 2-3 weeks I could feel improvements.
I went through physical therapy to rebuild the muscles that were damaged by the surgery and every six months continued to get my mammograms or MRIs. Every three months I went to my breast specialist, oncologist, or plastic surgeon. Every appointment was positive and each test came back clear. I could see the light at the end of my cancer journey. I was ready to move on with my life. Thankfully I opened my mouth and asked for the biopsy. Who knows how long it would have been before anyone found the cancer.
Lesson to take from this...Speak up for yourself. You know your body better than anyone. If you do not think a doctor is doing enough for you then go to another doctor. My oncologist has a philosophy she tells all her students, "If you see something, biopsy it." That is the only way you can truly know what is going on. Biopsies may not be enjoyable but they are a hell of a lot better than the necessary treatments for late-stage cancer.
No, you really can't make this sh!t up! We are so glad you ask the right questions. If you were like our family, you would just ignore it! Thanks for the good advice.
ReplyDeleteYou and I have a lot in common - i am on mylifeline.org
ReplyDeleteNafisa Patel - I am 34 years in age and this is my first time around- I am on my 5th round of chemo- I am in the process of doing the same thing you are because - of how pissed off I am. I get the whole gammit - chemo, radiation, receptor positive so ivs for a year, radiation, and massectomy - wooo hooo - a every woman's dream.