In 2019, I received the call to come back for additional imaging. When the mammogram technician said the radiologist would be in to speak to me, I suspected things were about to get complicated. He showed me the tiny little specks on the image. They looked like grains of sand or specks of pepper. I was told I would be referred to a surgeon right away. My face must have spoken my terror, because the radiologist said it looked like, if there was truly anything there, we had caught it early. A few weeks later, I had my first appointment with the breast surgeon who would head up my care team. I was told I had Stage Zero Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) ER+/PR+/HER2-. I had no idea what I was getting into. I was given a book to start reviewing. My surgeon then gave me the best advice I received during my cancer journey:
“Everyone’s experience is different. Read a little, write down some questions and ask ME. Don’t go down the Google Rabbit Hole.”
The original plan was a lumpectomy followed by several weeks of radiation treatments. The chase to obtain good margins revealed that moving forward with a mastectomy was going to be our best course. The good news was that as long as pathology after my mastectomy showed no involvement of my lymph nodes, radiation and chemotherapy would be off the table. I was very fortunate not to have radiation or chemotherapy but to proceed straight to treatment with Anastrazole, an aromatase inhibitor. I got mixed “reviews” from others on their reactions and side effects with Anastrozole.
Early in my diagnosis, someone mentioned WHATNEXT.com. It turned out to be a huge lifeline for me. I found a really supportive community there, and it was nice to have people to connect with and a place to come to talk with others who were in similar situations. I found so many people on WhatNext.com with a wealth of knowledge. As my surgeon had told me, everyone had a slightly different experience. I felt much less fearful when I was able to release my thoughts to my new friends on WhatNext. I had my mastectomy in late February 2020. A few days after my release to return to work, the world began to shut down and quarantine, fearful of COVID- what it was, who it would affect, how it would affect people. I was so ready to go back to work after my “easy” treatment and recovery. Suddenly, I was at home with a lot of time to think, wonder and worry. WhatNext was my outlet, my community. It was my place to find answers, formulate questions and find support.
Currently, I’m cancer free. After several years of putting it off, I’m finally seriously considering reconstruction surgery. After 4 years of clean mammograms, I finally feel confident in moving forward with reclaiming this part of myself. Only my left breast was removed. I want to be able to wear cute summer clothes without having to worry about being lopsided, without having to have a full bra to hold my prosthesis. My surgeon and her staff are very compassionate and helpful. My medical oncologist is friendly and encouraging as well.
I wish WhatNext had been more active when I was making this decision, but the inactivity helped me to go back to my “real life” community to gain support and courage.
I have missed some of the support I was given and was able to give to others. I would like to know what has happened with some of the people I interacted with regularly. I hope that this forum can rebuild and be as useful for someone else going through their experience as it was for me. I would like to be an active part of the community again, to provide encouragement and support.
Everyone has a different journey. Some require a lot of difficult and life changing treatment. For some it is the fight of their lives all the way until their last breath. For some it is a simple procedure and a relatively short course of treatment. What we all have in common is that almost everyone loses their breath for a moment when they hear the words “You have cancer.” Almost everyone takes the quick trip in their mind to worst case scenario.
Be thankful that medical science has advanced to provide so many options and treatments, and that doctors and researchers are working tirelessly to find treatments. If you have a long hard journey, be thankful for living communities that support you, and online communities like WhatNext where you can come and pour it all out and still remain as anonymous as you like.
Please don’t tell someone who had a “best case scenario” like I had that they didn’t “really” have cancer. I may not have had to fight quite as hard, but the diagnosis robbed me of my security too. I, like you, can never go back to the moment before cancer became a part of my life. If there is routine screening that can be done to catch cancer early, HAVE THE SCREENING. Have the mammogram, the colonoscopy, the regular dermatology visit. Don’t put it off because you are scared they will find something. The sooner it is found, the greater the chance they can help you. Remember that breast cancer gets a LOT of attention, but there are a lot of other patients out there that need our support and encouragement. Be the friend you want others to be to you.
breast cancer cancer community spotlight contributor patient stories
Last modified: July 24, 2024
