I so appreciate all of the helpful, supportive words said in my first "breast cancer" diary last week. Here's an update: the tumor is estrogen positive, so that is some good news. All other receptors are negative. I had an MRI and there is a bigger mass than they could see before. They recommend total mastectomy. And, they found another tumor (very, very small one) on the right as well.
So, one total mastectomy and lumpectomy or two totals?
That said, I am mostly staying positive. It is more likely that I'll need chemo, but of course we won't know until after the surgery. And I won't know staging til then either. Surgery is scheduled for a Monday (of course!) March 3.
I am scared and angry and want to move on and don't want chemo, but do want this thing gone. And I am sure you are all thinking, of course, those are all natural reactions.
Anyway, I totally missed the quilt diary, but yellow is my favorite color. Yellow daffodils, especially. I decided that I am going to get a tattoo when this is all over of a yellow daffodil and put it near my left breast. A friend of mine (InchBranch) is going to design it for me.
I am learning about all kinds of medical specialties that I didn't know about: breast surgeons, radiation oncologists, regular oncologists, plastic surgeons....I have a nurse navigator who has scheduled all of these things for me. She has been fabulous.
I have another biopsy scheduled for tomorrow-on the mass in the right breast. See the plastic surgeon next Monday, surgery the following week.
I am putting my team together here in northern VA-my personal support team. There are local members and distant members. All will help me in many ways-as will all of you.
So, I am hanging in there.