August 15, 2014 started as any normal day. Only, at age 46, I was a bit nervous about having a mammogram that was 3 years late. Since breast cancer took my mother's life at age 45, I was always diligent about mammograms since the age of 26. But somehow had let 4 years slip by without one. It was only because my doctor called to remind me that I went in at all. Well...thank God I did. If I had let another year slip by...it easily could have cost me my life.
About an hour after returning home the radiologist called saying he was seeing microcalcifications on my mammogram. My heart STOPPED. I had read up on the subject and knew what that meant. He requested I come in that day for an ultrasound and biopsy. He was so kind to rearrange his schedule for me. He knew how frightened I was and got me in that afternoon. The calls to my husband and father were extremely difficult. They both came with me to the biopsy. I cried the entire time. It hurt. And deep inside I knew what words were coming. I finally got the courage to ask,"Doc what do you think it is." He said, "I think it's cancer." Pure terror struck me like I've never experienced.
Ended up having widespread DCIS and three micro tumors in left breast. Had double nipple sparing mastectomy on 9/15 with immediate reconstruction. Not in lymph nodes but because I was her2+, oncologist recommended herceptin and chemo. I started chemo Nov 3. As of now, I only have 1 chemo left. Losing my hair was very hard. I will start radiation in march following a surgery to replace my left implant. It's been a long road but that mammogram saved my life!
Elk Grove, CA