October, 2010:
- 10.16: Discovered lump while showering.
- 10.25: Diagnostic mammogram
November, 2010:
- 11.16: US guided core needle biopsy, The Rose
- 11.18: Received diagnosis from Dr. Melillo
December, 2010:
- 12.21: Oncology consult with Dr. Melham & testing, M. D. Anderson
- 12.29: Oncology test results & treatment plan
January, 2011:
- 01.05: 1st Taxol chemo, easy
- 01.12: 2nd Taxol chemo, no problems
- 01.18: 3rd Taxol chemo, easy but painful as IV was between my thumb & wrist
- 01.23: Hair loss started
- 01.26: Port placement, sore!
- 01.26: 4th Taxol chemo, used my new port & it was painless!
- 02.02: 5th Taxol chemo, love my new port, painless!
- 02.02: Oncology check up, tumor is SMALLER!
- 02.09: Audiology check up, 60% hearing loss.
- 02.10: 6th Taxol chemo, painless & easy. Bert kept me company.
- 02.16: 7th Taxol chemo, painless & easy.
- 02.23: 8th Taxol chemo, painless & easy.
- 02.23: Oncology checkup: Doc is happy that Herschel is making tracks!
- 03.02: 9th Taxol chemo. Low BP & I nearly fainted.
- 03.09: 10th Taxol chemo. Easy & fun with Belinda.
- 03.09: Oncology check up. Doc agreed I should half my BP meds.
- 03.16: 11th Taxol chemo. Really tired. Glad to be almost done with this round.
- 03.16: Consult with breast surgeon, Dr. Bedroshian. Very happy with my new doc, not thrilled with the news ..
- 03.23: 12th and final Taxol. Very, very tired.
- 03.23: chest x-ray, ct scan & us; 50% reduction in tumor size!
- 03.30: Oncology checkup: STELLAR NEWS
- 03.30: First FAC chemo. A week of nasty, awful, pooey, yuck, yuck, YUCK but then .. much better.
- 03.31: Genetic counseling. Counselor made me wait 45 minutes past my appt. I complained, waited 15 more minutes and then bailed. Chemo patients don't have a lot of stamina or patience.
April, 2011:
- 04.20: Oncology checkup. Everything is great!
- 04.20: 2nd FAC was AWFUL. Ugh.
- 05.11: Oncology checkup. She loves me. I'm doing great.
- 05.11: 3rd FAC. Not bad going in .. we'll see how it comes OUT.
June, 2011:
- 06.01: Oncology checkup was great!
- 06.01: FINAL FAC! Wahoo .. rang the bell!
- 06.22: US & consult with surgeon.
- 06.28: Lumpectomy, port removal. Overnight stay and then home.
- 07.06: Post op checkup, pathology report
- 07.08: Back to OR for more surgery, released same day
- 07.20: Post op checkup with Dr. B.
- 07.21: Consult with radiologist, Dr. Schlembach
- 08.04: Simulation for radiation
- 08.08 - 9.23: Radiation treatments, Mon. - Fri.
September, 2011:
- 09.09: Hospitalized with massive MRSA infection, drain inserted
- 09.14: Released from hospital, back to radiation daily
- 10.06: Drain removed
- 10.09: Infection returns
- 10.14: Surgery to flush incision, wound vac placed
- 10.17: Home care nursing begins 3 X a week
- 10.26: Surgical followup, wound care
November, 2011:
- 11.01: CT scan, x-ray
- 11.02: Oncology & surgical followup, wound care
- 11.16: Surgical followup, wound care
- 11.20: Surgical followup, wound care
- 12.14: Surgical followup, wound care
- 12.21: Surgical followup, wound care - OFF THE VAC!
- 12.27: Radiology folloup, released by Dr. S.
- 12.28: Released from home care nursing
February, 2012:
- 02.01: Oncology & surgical checkup, Well woman exam, bone density test
- 02.29: Blood work, TV US, dermatology biopsy
- 03.05: Pathology report from skin biopsy is benign.
- 03.28: Mammogram, Surgical follow up (released!), uterine biopsy, colonoscopy consult
May, 2012:
- 05.01.12: CT scan - all clear, repeat in six months.
- 05.02.12: Reconstructive surgery consult - reappointing for consult later this year. Blood work - good, Oncology followup - Off Tamoxifen and on Femara, Doc is concerned about my swollen legs and sent me for an ultrasound as well as placing me on a diuretic.
August, 2012:
- 08.24.12: Oncology checkup, blood work. Due to my pain issues with Femara, Dr. M. hhas put me back on Tamoxifen instead. I gained 11 lbs. while on Femara. She also added spironolatone (another diuretic) to further alleviate swelling.
September, 2012:
- 09.12.12: Pre-op for reconstructive surgery done in the am, surgery by Dr. C in the afternoon. Overnight in recovery, one pain pill for the drive home. Remarkably easy and happy with the results.
- 09.21.12: Drain removed.
- 10.02.12: Suture removal!
- 10.17.12: A bit of a healing issue but no infection.
December, 2012:
- 12.07.12: Dr. C in plastics released me. We are both thrilled with the results of my reduction.
- 12.16.12: Mammogram and Ultrasound on cancer boobie. All tests reveal no issues! Oncology checkup, all is well and I am released until MAY!
May, 2013:
- 5.17.13: CT scan, bloodwork and Oncology checkup, all is GOOD.
September, 2013:
- 9.6.13: Well Woman check at CPC. Results pending ...
November, 2013:
May, 2014:
- 11.15.13: Mammogram, Ultrasound, Bone Scan, Oncology checkup - ALL CLEAR!
May, 2014:
- 5.19.14: Dermatology checkup. Biopsy of spot on my nose. (Diag- nosis was that it was pre-cancerous.)) Have to watch it, use sunscreen and be seen yearly.
September, 2014:
- 09.08.14: Well Woman checkup, CPS. Papsmear came back abnor-mal (again) and I had to have, first an ultrasound and then a second uterine biopsy. I was referred to the gynecological department but the biopsy was with in "normal" parameters for a post-menopausal Tamoxifen patient, so we're not worried any more.
I will say this. After having two extremely painful uterine biopsies -- I won't submit to another without some pain medication.
November, 2014:
- 11.17.14: Mammo, US, Bloodwork & Oncology checkup. There were issues with my healthy breast. The doctors weren't sure what they were seeing, so we're repeating it all in June.
- 06.08.15: Bloodwork, mammogram, ultrasound and oncology checkup.
- 06.15.15: Stereo-tactic biopsy of right breast due to irregularities. Aborted in mid-process because calicifications were determined to be scarring scarring from breast reduction three years ago.
Tumor Stats:
Type: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
Stage: IIB (due to tumor size & lymph node involvement)
Grade: 2 (1 being aggressive, 3 being slow growing)
Stage: IIB (due to tumor size & lymph node involvement)
Grade: 2 (1 being aggressive, 3 being slow growing)
Size: 3.5 X 3.1 X 3 cm
T2, N1, Mo = Tumor is greater than 2 cm but less than 5 cm, 1 to 3 lymph nodes are involved and there is no known metastasis.
Treatment Plan:
Chemo:
- Taxol Chemo 12 X weekly for 12 weeks - DONE
- FAC Chemo 1 X tri-weekly for 12 weeks - DONE!
Surgery:
- #1A - Port placement 01.26.11
- #1 - Lumpectomy & port removal on 06.28.11
- #2 - Resection for cleaner margins on 07.09.11
- #3 - Reopened incision for infection flush & wound vac on 10.15.11
- #4 - Reduction on healthy breast 9.12.12
Radiation:
- Six weeks of daily radiation, 08.08 - 09.23.11
Medication:
- Tamoxifen (Estrogen blocker) from 11.01.11 to 5.2.12
- Femara (Estrogen blocker) from 5.2.12 till the cows come home.
Hospital:
- 6.28 Overnite for first surgery.
- 9.9 - 9.14, Infected Seroma drained.
- 9.12.12 Overnight in recovery for reconstructive surgery
Stats as of 05.20.14
