So my first question I always wonder is HOW? How did they know? How did they find out? Did they feel something? Routine mammogram? And its not to be nosy, right? Its just human. We humans always relate others experiences back to our own life. Its just what we do. We need/want to know what we need to know in case this may happen to us. I get it. So, here is the beginning of my story leading up to that call….”Hey Katie this is Dr. Jones, when you can, give me a call back so we can discuss the biopsy results….”
You know its about to get real.
So Ive only been having mammograms for two years. My first one in 2018, they called me back to do the 3D one bc I have “dense breast tissue” and all was good. Last year, fall of 2019, I had the 3D one and they called me back for a 2nd mammogram because the radiologist saw calcifications that he did not like to see. So that led to a stereotactic biopsy (basically you lay boobs down on the table where they come from underneath and do the needle biopsy guided by an imaging machine- its super comfy…said no one ever!) which led to a 2nd stereotactic biopsy. When I left that day, the very sweet, professional radiologist said “I really expect this all to be fibrocystic tissue and benign tissue.” Awesome. Sounds great, doc. Thanks for the pokes and Ill catch you later! Turns out that some of the tissue they plucked out was “atypia.” This is very gray and just means that the cells are not normal but they are not cancer. But they could turn into cancer in like 10 years so its best to get them out. So I landed in the OR in November 2019 with a lumpectomy of said tissue. Outpatient surgery, no big deal and off I went. At my follow up visit Dr. Natalie Jones ( my surgeon) suggested we do a 6 month follow up breast MRI, since I had never had one, as a baseline. Then in 6 months we do another mammogram and this will be the schedule for a few years then back to yearly mammograms. Perfect. See you in June.
Then 2020 happened and June came and went. I actually did call and talk to the gal who schedules the MRI’s, but because of the timing of my cycle the original date of the MRI wouldnt work so we rescheduled for July. I almost did not go. I had not received a follow up confirmation, I could not remember the exact days of my menstrual cycle they wanted to do the MRI and at this point we were 4 months into covid and I was just annoyed that I had to fit this into my day. I called to double check the appointment, turns out I was still in the right window so I went. I literally forgot I had it done once it was done. I went on with my regularly scheduled programing of my two amazing jobs, my workouts, my moming (is that a word?) my wifing (yep not sure about that word, either) and all the things. Dr. Jones called me a couple days later and left a message, “Hey Katie this is Dr. Jones. Just calling to talk with you about the results of your MRI. It showed multiple masses in your right breast. They are round and smooth which is indicative of benign masses but some were whited out and the radiologist would like to look at these more closely. Give me a call back with any questions.” So I called. Dr. Jones was in surgery. One of the nurses was very happy to chat with me and very helpful. The first thing I said was, “Dr. Jones said ‘multiple masses in my right side.’ Now, dont you think the word ‘masses’ is a little aggressive? Do we need to use such an aggressive word here?” Silent pause. Then “how about nodules?” Nodules, she chose the word nodules. Thank you sweet nurse, that is so much less offensive and scary!!
An u/s sound was scheduled and a repeat mammogram to compare it to the mammogram I had just had 9 months prior. To be clear, the mammogram I had 9 months ago did not show these nodules, only showed calcifications. The repeat mammogram done with the u/s also did not show the nodules. The nodules only showed up on the MRI- scary, right??? Yeah, Im pretty thankful Dr. Jones ordered the MRI and I am definitely an asshat for being so smug about having it done.
The u/s took almost an hour for the right side. If I heard it once I heard it 7 times, “maam, you have really busy boobs, this is gonna take awhile!”
“Honey just get comfy on this u/s table bc you have the busiest boobs and we are gonna be here while!”
“As you know, you have very complex breast tissue!”- nope had no idea….
Im not even joking. What do you even say to that, lol. I have no idea. I think I said thank you??? The radiologist took 2 biopsy’s but she could have taken more. She showed me the MRI and there were literally white specs all over each breast. She said all the white spots are what had taken up the contrast during the MRI. She tells me that cancer takes up contrast. But not to worry because benign nodules also take up contrast. It was all very interesting… and confusing. She fully expected both of the biopsy’s to come back as benign fibroadenomas and I would be back for a follow up MRI in 6 months. Sweet, doc. Sounds wonderful. Ill plan to see you then and thanks again for the nice feel up and adding the needles for that special touch. In all seriousness she and the nurses and radiology techs were amazing and so nice.
So thats it, folks. That was on a Thursday and Dr. Jones called me the next Monday afternoon. By Tuesday morning we were in her office discussing surgery options (remember the white specs on the MRI? Yeah, you can take these well used breast feeding machines on out, Ill take a new perky set please and thank you!) By Thursday we were in the plastic surgeons office talking tissue expanders and then on to the genetics counseling appt for genetic testing. And on Friday afternoon I had a surgery date set for Sept 16th. Wow, helluva week. It was a whirlwind for sure!! The hormone receptivity test came back in there at some point and the good news is no chemo as of now- lymph node depending. And I will need to take tamoxifen post op for some years- maybe 5??? I dont know. So that is so amazing for sure!! However, I did have a whole plan for menopause which included ALL THE ESTROGEN bc that is what makes you all warm and fuzzy and happy….so now I get to navigate taking a med which blocks estrogen—you hearing me?? That means blocking all the warm, fuzzies and happy happy full of joy Katie. My poor husband and children. That could be an entire blog- my plans versus Gods plans. Oh and how He totally went before me through this whole thing. Hmmm, so much to say ( ooooh, I know a song that sings about so much to say….)
So not a super exciting post here and Im not even sure how this is supposed to be encouraging. Maybe to tell you not to be an asshat and be all arrogant that it couldn’t happen to you. Bc that was me, complete asshat (this is my new favorite word of 2020). Maybe to tell you to be thankful in the details even if its not how you thought your day would go or the plans are way different than what you had planned. Because I can tell you I was supposed to be on 2 beach trips in September. One for fun and one for work (which would have also been so much fun). So it is what is folks. You can choose to wallow in it or take it by the reigns, see the good and kick its ass. Your choice.