Heather's Blog: Some Celebrating, Some Sadness

Why Am I Writing This Blog?

There's nothing more important to me than my connections with family and friends.

So in an effort to stay connected I'll be posting updates about my treatment and health here. Of course I want to connect with you outside of this blog! But this is a quick way you can find out what's happening.

Also a request: I would appreciate it if you didn't post anything on Facebook about cancer and me.

Writing has always been a natural form of self-expression for me. So this blog is also a personal outlet, one I'd like to share with you.

March 5, 2012

Some Celebrating, Some Sadness

Waiting for the phone call with biopsy results is a pretty agonizing experience, and I'm glad it's over.

The Good News

There's no evidence of cancer in the left breast! This is a big relief. I need to go back in six months for an ultrasound and MRI to see if there are any changes.

Also, there's no need for an MRI-guided biopsy on either side.

The Bad News

There is more infiltrating ductal carcinoma in the right breast, so I don't have the option of lumpectomy and radiation - it will need to be mastectomy.

This is all the new information I have at this point. I have a phone consultation with Dr. C, the breast surgeon, on Friday. I assume she'll have some information for me about what the pathology reports say.

And like I've said, when I get results from the BRCA tests (by March 16 hopefully) and meet with the plastic surgeon (March 19), I'll have key information I need to make additional decisions.

So today I'm focusing on the fact that I have one less thing to worry about than I did yesterday. I can work with that.

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Want to Help?

We periodically need help with meals, rides, errands, dog walking and that kind of thing. If you're interested in helping out sometime, you can join "Team Heather" online. Just go to https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/710014/ and request to join the community.

Once you're approved, you'll receive instructions on how to log in. When we post a request for help you'll receive an email message and can sign up if it works with your schedule.

Or if you have something specific in mind to offer, just call or email B. or me! And THANK YOU.

History

2012: Stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma diagnosis. Mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation treatments. No evidence of cancer after surgery.

2013
September: Masses found in liver incidentally as part of a standard screening breast MRI. Diagnosed as the return of the breast cancer. No evidence of cancer anywhere else.

September -December: Chemotherapy.

2014
Chemotherapy (a few different kinds) throughout the entire year. Fared well and felt well most of the time!

May - cancer found in several places in my spine/pelvis. Very small, no pain.
June - December took post-menopausal estrogen-suppressing medication (and received monthly injections to create medical menopause)

2015
Jan - March: chemotherapy as part of a new clinical trial
April: starting a different chemotherapy since the disease progressed while I was on the trial.
June: The chemo is not helping, and my liver function is such that I have to take a break from chemo. Starting anti-hormonal pill plus a pill that targets cancer cells but does not damage the liver.