My Journey So Far!

Monday, June 18th-Found Lump in my Left Breast!
Tuesday, June 19th- Told Bernie but asked that he not tell anyone until we knew more! Made appointment with primary care for Monday, July 2nd and then left for a 10 day business trip to Belgium!
Weds, June 20th through Friday, June 29th - Had a wonderful trip to Belgium, accomplished a lot work wise and enjoyed the trip!
Monday, July 2nd - visit with Primary care, he said we needed to find out ASAP what it was!
Tuesday, July 3rd - Appointment with Surgeon...let's move forward find out what it is!
Thursday, July 5th - Mammogram and Ultrasound! Radiologist said 80%-90% sure it was just Calcium!
Friday, July 6th - Surgeon called and said only way to be 100% sure is to remove!
Friday, July 13th - Surgery - Lumpectomy
Weds, July 18th- Surgeon called- it is Breast Cancer! - ONE MONTH FROM FIRST FINDING LUMP!!!!
Thursday, July19th - met in person with surgeon...more surgery needed because biopsy showed tumor was invasive! Invasive meaning cancer cells appeared to have broken through the tumor! He was wonderful, explained everything!
Tuesday, July 24th - visit with Oncologist! Received the news that based on tumor size and that it is invasive...Chemo would be required! Also received copy of my pathology report!
Diagnosis: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Tumor Grade 3, size 3.0 cm, Hormone (estrogen/progesterone)NEGATIVE, HER-2 EQUIVOCAL
They are going to Retest the HER-2 factor...need to get either a POSITIVE or NEGATIVE to truly know best treatment plan for both cure and prevention! Check out the following link to understand the Pathology report information: http://www.herceptin.com/herceptin/docs/pathology_report.pdf
Treatment outlined as follows...Chemo can start 3 weeks after next surgery.
Chemo to KILL all cancer will be: 8 weeks treatment of Adriamycin/Cytoxan; doses will be every two weeks. then 12 weeks of Taxol; doses every week!
If final HER-2 test results are positive, then for PREVENTION: 12 months of Herceptin; doses will be every 3 weeks and begin with the taxol treatment.
So Chemo could be for 1 year and 8 weeks!
Friday, July 27th - Surgery- Sentinel Node Mapping and Removal along with partial mastectomy! Need to know if cancer has moved into Lymph Nodes and also need to ensure all cancer is removed from my breast! Looking for CLEAN MARGINS!!!
Friday, August 3rd - Cardiac Echo Test - required before Chemo so they can ensure my heart is fine! Tech was wonderful! She explained that Chemo can effect the heart so this test will probably be performed many times throughout the treatment. Test is OK....just an Ultrasound of you heart!
Saturday, August 4th - still waiting for results of last Friday's surgery...PET Scan to ensure no Cancer anywhere else is scheduled for Monday, August 6th!