BrickHouse's Journey:
- 1 Procedure or Surgery Icon Procedure or Surgery
- 2 Oh No Icon Oh No
- 3 Procedure or Surgery Icon Procedure or Surgery
- 4 Celebration Icon Celebration
- 5 Procedure or Surgery Icon Procedure or Surgery
- 6 Procedure or Surgery Icon Procedure or Surgery
- 7 Celebration Icon Celebration
- 8 Procedure or Surgery Icon Procedure or Surgery
- 9 Procedure or Surgery Icon Procedure or Surgery
- 10 Celebration Icon Celebration
- 11 Drug or Chemo Therapy Icon Drug or Chemo Therapy
Patient: Breast Cancer
Patient Info: Newly diagnosed (has not begun treatment), Diagnosed: over 8 years ago, Female, Age: 57
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Experience Icon Descriptions
Procedure: Drag this icon to show a procedure.
Radiation: Drag this icon to show a specific radiation therapy experience.
Drug Therapy: Drag this icon to show a specific drug therapy experience.
Clinical Trial: Drag this icon to show a clinical trial experience.
Side Effect: Drag this icon to show experience with a specific side effect.
Oh No: Drag this icon to show when something bad happened (e.g., cancer’s back, lost job).
Celebration: Drag this icon to show when something good happened (e.g., last treatment, hair is back).
Loss: Drag this icon to show a time of loss (e.g., lost hair, lost loved one).
Decision Point: Drag this icon to show a time when you had to make a tough decision.
Other Care: Draft this icon to show a time when you needed other care (e.g., hospice, psychotherapy).
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Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
My small lump didn't appear on a diagnostic mammo, nor an ultrasound, but everyone agreed there was definitely something there. I was sent to a surgeon who thought it was a ductal abnormality. I underwent a minor outpatient surgery on 10/2 and on 10/4, I got the call that it was "all cancer."
Diagnosed
Oh No
Going to the surgeon tomorrow to have my stitches removed and plan our attack.
Breast MRI
Procedure or Surgery
My breast MRI on Oct. 8 was one of the most uncomfortable experiences ever. That little cushion between your breasts does nothing in the way of actual cushioning. I've never been claustrophobic, but it tested my limits! I'll discuss my results and options with the surgeon tomorrow.
MRI looked great!
Celebration
Good news. Well, sorta. My MRI showed nothing. I still need more surgery and likely radiation, possibly chemo. My tumor was tiny - 7mm. About the size of a pencil eraser. The problem is where it was located. The surgeon thinks I'm a great candidate for a lumpectomy, but I will lose my nipple and areola. I'm in the process of seeing if my insurance will cover the BRCA1/BRCA2 testing. If it's covered, I will have that test next Wednesday. If it comes back positive, I will not hesitate to have a double mastectomy with reconstruction. I won't live in fear that it's coming back. But if it's not covered, or if that test comes back negative, I'll probably go with the lumpectomy. When they do that, they'll test the "sentinel node." The doctor said it's "garden variety breast cancer," except for the location. Early and small, which is good. Right now, we're looking at 10/30 for whichever surgery I end up with.
BRCA Gene Test
Procedure or Surgery
A couple of weeks and I'll know.
Incision opened!
Procedure or Surgery
My awesome surgeon met me at the office on a Sunday to apply some steri-strips and put my mind at ease!
BRCAs came back negative! Yay!
Celebration
Great news for my family and me!
Sentinel lymph node biopsy
Procedure or Surgery
My SLNB begins today with the isotope injection. Bilateral mastectomies with axillary SLNB tomorrow. I've heard many horror stories about how painful this injection is. Some doctors prescribe a numbing cream; mine didn't. Does anyone care to share their experience with this injection? UPDATE- although quite painful, it was over quickly. Now on to surgery tomorrow!
Double Mastectomy
Procedure or Surgery
I'm amazed that I was in the OR at 10 am yesterday and on my way home at 11 am today. The worst is definitely over.
Surgery successful! Cancer-free!
Celebration
Although many tried to talk me out of a double mastectomy for my 7mm IDC, my gut told me it was the right move. Yesterday I learned my left breast (the non-tumor side) was full of LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ), which are markers for likely future cancers. As a result of my double mastectomy on November 6, I am cancer-free. My SLNB came back clear as well. I will see my oncologist Thursday where there is a very slight chance she may recommend chemo, but for now my focus is on getting back to living my life.
Chemotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
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