What does one do when told that it is confirmed that you have breast cancer

What does one do when told that it is confirmed that you have breast cancer? I must say, I didn’t have a clue when I got the phone call.And I was alone. My husband was running an errand. I fought off my fear and thought about the people I knew that have been through this and picked up the phone making several calls. After talking to a former student, a former colleague, and a friend whom all had dealt with breast cancer, I had received very helpful information, references, and love and support. The colleague was just completing her year of treatments and surgeries. From the great advice, I determined the oncologist I wanted and made an appointment. This April to June 2022 was long and frightening for me after getting the initial news following a second mammogram requested by my physician, having the MRI biopsy and awaiting the results. During this waiting period, I met with my oncologist and she determined from the follow up mammogram that because it was ER/PR+, or estrogen/progesterone positive IN SITU, that I need only to undergo radiation on that area of the left breast. She explained that IN SITU means it is contained in one area of a milk duct and was stage 0 Grade 3 and not invasive, but Grade 3 grows fast and we’d meet very soon when the MRI biopsy was in from pathology. So I felt great relief and admiration for this US Army veteran oncologist and mom of three. But that relief was short lived.

My next visit was to go over the biopsy results and she was in disbelief that another growth had been hidden from view in the initial two mammograms but found in the MRI biopsy. It was called Triple Negative, Stage 1, Grade 3 invasive. This was a “game-changer” my oncologist said and that she felt my best plan was to begin with chemotherapy, then a double lumpectomy where the two small areas within the breast are removed, and then radiation treatment. So within a couple of weeks I had a “port” surgically implanted near my right clavicle for administration of chemotherapy infusions and began the weekly infusions in July 2022 through early November. My oncologist was very thorough and met weekly with her “tumor team” of oncologists and surgeons in Austin in Texas Oncology to discuss my and other cases and would then work with me to discern from our choices of treatments what worked best for ME. The infusion room was very large with walls of windows overlooking St. David’s North and was comfortable with very caring staff. I was very fortunate to have many friends give me various blankets—crocheted with prayers in each stitch, a pink blocked quilt of affirmation statements in each block about beating breast cancer, a mug and assorted goodies for these trips. I bought from Amazon ice booties and ice gloves to wear during the infusion which did prevent me from getting the horrific peripheral neuropathy which I highly recommend.

My husband was “driving Miss Daisy” he liked to say and always made a “date” of these trips with a meal out and sometimes a movie. How can I eat out after an infusion one might ask?! Oncology today has so many breakthroughs and I was given an assortment of medications on a regimen to take for the three critical days following each infusion that literally prevented any nausea and vomiting IF I followed the plan. Yes, I had deep, deep fatigue, brain fog, and lost ALL my hair, but I felt loved by family and friends and just felt that I was so fortunate to catch it early and be among a great, I mean fantastic group at Texas Oncology North! Not only did I get to seek advice, make consultations for advice via the patient portal, I had a visit with the scheduler upon leaving each appointment and was set up for all in house and outside appointments immediately before leaving. I also appreciated just walking out to my car without having to go to enormous parking garages.

Prayer groups, cards, gifts, calls and meals were so uplifting and graciously given to me through this time that was a huge help and spiritual comfort to both my husband and me. A week before Christmas 2022 the surgeon was able to remove all the cancerous material with “clean margins” at the two small sites in the left breast and after a month of healing, I began daily radiation at Texas Oncology South which was a little closer a drive for us. Again, I found a great team of radiologists and doctor who made my four weeks of daily radiation quick and comfortable.

The big takeaway I have learned from this experience is that it is okay to seek help from people who have been through what you are facing. Reach out and call and get a start on finding what and whom will best suit your needs. Don’t waste a moment getting appointments and research, research, research! I found a lot of information that helped me ask questions about treatments, what foods to eat and avoid, and medicines and their effects. Breast cancer will hit when you least expect it and if you feel a lump, you are already living on borrowed time I learned. Thank God I had never felt a lump but because I did yearly mammograms, it was detected early. And loved ones, harass your family members as my husband did to get that mammogram SCHEDULED! I procrastinated and he wouldn’t let it rest and, well, had I not gone on and scheduled and had the mammogram, I would have had a much worse outcome.