Ten years ago I was told by medical professionals that the lump I found in my left breast was a fold of skin.
Today, April 3, 2003, biopsy results revealed that it's breast cancer.
Dogs from left to right: Turbo, Peaches, Rosie, Muffy
March - 2003
This month I had a mammogram, a sonogram of my breast and a punch biopsy. The biopsy did not hurt because they anesthesized the area before they did it. In fact, later on it didn't even get sore.
April 29, 2003
Today was my pre-op appointment. I had a complete physical: The doctor said my lymph nodes were not swollen which was good. Although my lumpectomy is considered out-patient surgery, I will be given general anesthesia. A couple weeks earlier I was told I'd have local anesthesia. Either way, I will be going home after. My follow-up treatments will be radiation, I was told.
May 5, 2003
Lumpectomy today. The doctor removed one lymph node too. The cut for the lumpectomy was only two inches long and the cut for the node removal was less than one inch. No blood transfusion was needed. This was not nearly as bad as I'd expected. My nipple is a bit black & blue too.
May 15, 2003
My pathology report showed that they got all the cancer and my nodes were both clean. I learned that they took two nodes because they were side by side and also because the blue dye I was injected with made them show up so those nodes were suspect. Although my results showed I was clean, my doctor says I should still get chemo (Tamoxifen) for five years plus some radiation. I will be seeing an oncologist about this later on.
May 23, 2003
Saw an oncologist today. He recommended radiation but not chemo... but then I realized that he was a RADIOLOGIC oncologist, so actually, he was just staying within the bounds of his practice with that comment. My breast is swollen and it feels hard. So does the area where the lymph nodes were removed. He told me that it was an accumulation of fluid and that there was nothing to worry about. I've decided to have radiation but no chemo.
June 26, 2003
Drove into L.A. to be marked and tatooed for radiation treatments. The marks are large, dark blue and will eventually wash off. The tattoos are a few small dots indicating where the radiation should be aimed.
