- Summer of 2020: I noticed a lump in my left breast. I kept an eye on it, knowing I would have my yearly exam in a few months. The lump stayed there, with no obvious changes.
- November 16th, 2020: I had my yearly check up/pap/breast exam with my PCP, in which I told her about it and she felt it herself. Said she wanted me to get it checked out, even if she thought it was just benign.
- November 20th, 2020: My first ever mammogram. Then a breast ultrasound. Then I was told I have cancer. But not "officially," only a biopsy could confirm that. The radiologist told me he would pray for me. I cried by myself in the ultrasound room.
- November 25th, 2020: My Breast biopsy. The same nurse who did my mammogram was there for my biopsy. She was very kind and explained everything to me when she saw me looking at the ultrasound as the needle was going in. She even let me look at my sample after it was done. A different radiologist than before did the extraction. I liked him a lot better. He has a niece named Tegan, but pronounced differently.
- December 1st, 2020: The radiologist called me to confirm my breast cancer diagnosis. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.
- December 2nd, 2020: Met with my PCP again to go over a plan and who I would be meeting with. Hubs came along and she got to meet him for the first time. She said he was a cute lumberjack.
- December 4th, 2020: My first meeting with the surgeon. We didn't have all of the genetic information back from the Pathologist, so she didn't have a definitive timeline or order of treatment for me. She told me that since I am young and this is abnormal, I would eventually get every treatment they had: surgery, radiation, pills, and chemo, but she needed more information to know which order to go in. She gave me two weeks to hopefully schedule an MRI, a meeting with the Oncologist, and a meeting with the Genetic Counselor, and they would all be calling me to schedule them. She gave me a booklet and explained what triple negative meant. I honestly don't remember what she said, but I understood at the time and I'm sure I will end up googling it later.
- December 18th, 2020: Met with the Genetic Counselor. We went over some paperwork and what could happen depending on the result of the genetic tests. They will hopefully determine if the cancer is genetic or environmental, and whether I am more susceptible to other cancers. My pathology notes came back and I am not triple negative, meaning I am more receptive to hormone therapy. Because of these circumstances, my cancer is considered stage 1 instead of the stage 2 initially thought. They drew blood for two different tests.
- December 22nd, 2020: My first ever MRI. I understand that they are medically necessary, but holy shit I am not a fan.
- December 29th, 2020: Second meeting with the surgeon. MRI came back, and there isn't anything in my lymph nodes or the right breast, but the tumor is bigger than originally thought, but still manageable. They still want to hear from the oncologist before we plan any surgery, but I was also referred to a plastic surgeon for a consultation. I also got a call from the genetic counselor and I am not predisposed to more breast cancer or any other cancers.
- December 31st, 2020: Originally this was supposed to be my Oncologist appointment, but they had to reschedule -_-
- January 11th, 2021 (8am): Consultation with the Plastic Surgeon. I got to wear a tiny paper vest while the doctor awkwardly lifted my boob up to look at it. His staff members are super nice and informative, but I didn't care for him. I don't think I've ever really liked a male doctor, though. He was fine. General points: I will probs need an implant, I will probs lose the nipple, and I can definitely get a reduction on both sides.
- January 11th, 2021 (10:30am): Finally time to see the Oncologist. They just moved offices and everything is awful and unorganized. I basically waited for two hours to see the doctor and she didn't say much. We are going for surgery first, then probably chemo after unless the test results on the tumor dictate that I don't need it, but I probably will. I also got asked a lot if I have/want children, because it's possible I won't menstruate after chemo.
- January 12th, 2021: Third meeting with the surgeon. Single Mastectomy with reconstruction and a reduction on the other side.
- January 20th, 2021: Pre-Op appointment. They gave me some cloths to wipe down the surgical area the night before.
- January 25th, 2021: Surgery went well. I have two drains that I have to empty every 4 to 6 hours and I am sleeping a lot and the pain is slowly getting better. I'm having heartburn when I eat, which is annoying, but causing me to eat slower, which I guess is a good thing. The plastic surgeon also told me to do arm exercises and breathing exercises like 20 times an hour so my arm won't heal incorrectly and I won't get pneumonia.
- February 1, 2021: Follow-up with Plastic Surgeon. They removed the adhesives on my surgical incision as well as my drain ports. I have to deal with my drains for another week, but they refilled my pain pill prescription.
- February 8, 2021: Plastic Surgeon. Removed one of the drains, which hurt like hell. Gave me more antibiotics because the cut was pretty red.
- February 9th, 2021: Post-Op appointment with cancer surgeon. Pointless visit. Arrived 15 minutes early and I had to wait about 45 minutes in the waiting room. When I got back there she just asked me when I'm seeing other doctors and looked at my the incision and asked what medications I'm taking. She gave me a referral for a radiation oncologist. The whole thing took three minutes and could have easily been done over the phone. She said she wanted to see me in a month. The check-out receptionist then gave me some passive aggressive service because I couldn't do an afternoon appointment exactly one month from today. Asked her to look for other days, and she continued to be passive aggressive. Saying that she's a popular doctor so there aren't more options. Like, I'm not going to rearrange my schedule for a doctor that isn't even really treating me anymore and just asks me what my other doctors are doing. 😡
- February 12th, 2021: Oncologist appointment. A more informative visit. She went over my pathology results and explained the steps to take next. She wanted to order an Oncotype test, to see if I would actually need chemotherapy or not. She said that wouldn't happen until my surgery scar is more healed, and then we would start chemo if necessary. The last step would be taking anti-estrogen pills for 10 years, including something that would jump start menopause for me. She ordered the test and I'll see her back in two weeks.
- February 15, 2021: Plastic Surgeon. My remaining drain is still draining too much fluid to warrant removing, but they said the scar is less red and looks better.
- February 22, 2021: Plastic surgeon. My drain is still draining a lot of fluid and my scar looks a lot better, but there is still a large part that is scabbed over, and has spread out from the original incision. The plan is for him to cut that scab out and sew it together again, probably some time later this week or next week. He hopes that will speed up the healing process and the draining process, so he can begin expanding my implant on a weekly basis.
- February 24, 2021: "local procedure" at the plastic surgeon. Basically they scraped the rest of my scar out and tightened up the incision since it was sperating and sewed it back up. Took about 45 minutes and I didn't feel a thing!
- March 1st, 2021: Oncologist. I DON'T HAVE TO GET CHEMO!!!! We also talked about starting hormone therapy and several ways in which they could make me post-menapausal.
- March 1st, 2021: Plastic surgeon follow-up: I FINALLY GOT MY DRAIN OUT!!! Also, my new incision is healing up well!
- March 3rd, 2021: Radiologist. I DO NOT NEED RADIATION EITHER!!
- March 12, 2021: Plastic Surgeon. I got my first "expansion" in my temporary implant.
- March 23, 2021: Cancer Surgeon. Not a lot happened. I tried to call ahead and get out of it, but apparently I have to follow up with this surgeon for a few years at this point. I have another follow up in 3 months.
- March 29, 2021: Oncologist. We started shots of Zolodex to stop my periods. I have to get a shot every month, unless I decide to get my ovaries taken out at some point in the future. Next month we will start an anti-estrogen pill.
- April 5, 2021: Plastic Surgeon. Second injection for my tissue expander.
- April 19th, 2021: Plastic Surgeon. Third injection.
- April 26, 2021: Oncologist. Zolodex shot and hormone therapy.
- May 5, 2021: Plastic Surgeon. Final injection before surgery.
- May 24, 2021: Oncologist. Zolodex shot.
- June 14th, 2021: Breast reconstructive surgery.
- June 21, 2021: Oncologist. Zolodex shot.
- June 29, 2021: Cancer Surgeon. 3 month follow up.
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