I am the one in eight

It seems like the statistics have gotten worse for breast cancer but it is quite the opposite they are now finding more breast cancer with the 3D imaging because it can detect much smaller cancers.

One in every eight women will get breast cancer I am that one.

In mid-November, I had a 3D screening mammogram with 2D images. I got a call saying that they needed to do a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound due to suspicion of a mass.

I did this the following week. The radiologist came into the room afterward and he told me it was breast cancer but said it looked like there was no node involvement. He said a biopsy would be needed.

I was NOT prepared for this at all.

I had to schedule a biopsy the 3rd week and it showed invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) which means a breast cancer that started in the ducts of the breast and spread outside into the breast tissue that is what makes it invasive. Mine was considered a grade 2 which means intermediate not the dormant type but not the overly aggressive type.

My surgery was December 29th. I would be having a lumpectomy and a sentinel node biopsy. The sentinel node biopsy is to be sure it has not spread to the lymph nodes. They injected the blue dye and tracer for this procedure before my surgery.

I had ZERO pain with this surgery and I was super glued together for both incisions. They have proven there is better healing, less scarring and fewer complications using the glue over stitches or staples.

He took out the tumor and 3 margins around the tumor as well as 6 lymph nodes. There are certain cancers that can only be seen with a microscope and they do not show up on the scans.

The tumor biopsy results are back I met with the surgeon yesterday. Tomorrow I meet with the oncologist. It looks like my treatment plan has changed and become a little bit more complicated.

I will post more after I see the oncologist.

I wanted to share my experience with this in the hopes I  might help someone else.

In the meantime, I will FIGHT LIKE A GIRL!