Where did the time go?

I am writing this before I intend to share it. It is weird what a cancer diagnoses does to you. For me, the effects were immediate--I lose my train-of-thought quicker than quick! Right in the middle of a conversation. It's scary to contemplate what chemo might really do to me when just waiting for it has my thoughts spinning.

Back in late November 2020, I found a lump. I was already procrastinating on setting my regular mammogram appointment, but when I found that lump, I knew it was different. I called my doctor and asked her to add a diagnostic to my regular mammogram. For those of you who don't know, if your regular mammogram shows anything unusual, they call you back for another appointment to do an ultrasound. Adding the "diagnostic" to the regular mammogram means they'll do both in one appointment. I had my appointment for January, but then a close contact with a positive Covid case meant I had to reschedule everything. That was nerve-wracking. Finally on February 2nd I went to San Francisco for my appointment. It was interesting to see the ultrasound images and to realize they looked different than previous ones I'd seen during earlier exams. Then I was asked if I could come back after lunch for biopsies. Not just one, but three masses were found.

Ultrasound images that look WAY different than previous ultrasounds I've had.

I ended up going back the next morning with Jim for a 7:30 appointment. Waiting for those results was an interesting week. When I finally got the call and heard "you have stage 2A breast cancer" I didn't freak out. A part of me knew that they would call with that. 

February 3rd, waiting for the doctor to do the biopsies at CPMC Breast Health Center.

That's where the first biopsies happened.

 

As we discussed surgery options and set a date, it was decided that I should have an MRI so that we could see the masses more clearly, get accurate measurements and see where the two masses are in relation in to each other before surgery. I had the MRI on February 18th. That afternoon Dr Nima Grissom called with the results: another mass had been found and the one in my left breast was bigger than originally thought. In addition, the tissue at the bottom of both breasts didn't look right.

The next day after my MRI, my oncologist, Dr. Stephanie Jeske, called to explain more about the MRI results from Feb 18th. She said "I don't like surprises when it comes to cancer" and wants me to have a full-body scan to make sure there are no other surprises lurking somewhere. I go in tomorrow, Feb. 24th, for a dye injection, a pet-ct scan and additional biopsies.

That Friday conversation with Dr. Jeske was harder than the initial diagnoses. For some reason I had felt that I would not have to deal with chemo. It took the weekend to get my feet back beneath me. I also slept well for several nights in a row. On Sunday, Jim and I went to Mendocino and I had a fabulous time--and discovered a new wine to enjoy.

For now additional information is on hold until we get the results from tomorrow. I have an appointment on March 1 with Dr. Jeske. We are definitely looking at infusion chemo and my March 5th surgery has been postponed until after chemo. March 1st will be about getting the results, setting a chemo action plan and putting it into effect.

February 3rd: Jim and I went to Fort Miley
for a walk after the biopsies. It was
a gorgeous day in San Francisco!