Stupid, dumb Cancer.

How we got here...

Mid/late Sept 2023 : Dr. found a lump during an annual exam (1st since 2019) and ordered a mammogram and ultrasound to check things out.  I am still years away from when I would begin regular breast imaging screening. 

December : First available imaging appointment was 21-DEC.  Radiologist has a serious conversation with me about his concerns of what is appearing on the imaging. Sends me for a biopsy. 

January 9 - 12 : Biopsy on a Tuesday; breast cancer diagnosis on Thursday; triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) diagnosis on Friday.

January 29th : Started chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatment.

Whew, its a lot - I know. The outpouring of love and support is absolutely overwhelming and I have been doing my best to let it all wash over me. From the bottom of my heart (and jeremy's) THANK YOU.  I feel every ounce of love and energy sent our way, on top of the cards, care packages, random texts, flowers, food delivery gift cards, cookies - all of it. Its truly hard to put it all into words all the ways I feel held by so many people from so many corners of my life.

I was lucky enough to have Jeremy's yoga retreat in Baja, MX land perfectly between diagnosis and treatment.  Between the sun and ocean, yoga twice a day, and good food and people - couldn't have asked for a better time or place to get my mind grounded for what's ahead.

The day after we got back from MX, I had a subcutaneous port surgically inserted under the skin on my chest. The catheter goes into my jugular vein and is connected to a small reservoir (port) that allows them to administer drugs, take blood, etc. instead of having to poke the veins in my arms each time. Kind of cool, kind of trippy. 

It has been one week since my first infusion (chemotherapy + immunotherapy) treatment on 1/29. I was at the cancer center for 8 hours that day while they monitored me. Other than it being a long day and having a sensitivity to one of the chemo drugs - it went well. I had decent energy throughout the week, no nausea or vomiting, and got back to yoga after resting for the port to heal. I'm sure this will change over the course of multiple treatments but I'll take all the good I can get for now :)

I also had a CT scan of my chest and abdomen last week - it showed no sign of metastatic disease and my lymph nodes looked as they should - all good news for putting my cancer at a stage 2 and localized to my breast tissue. If it had shown cancer in my lymph nodes or metastatic disease (meaning cancer had traveled elsewhere in my body) things would be much more difficult to treat. 

The full treatment plan has evolved but as it stands: I will do infusion treatments every 3 weeks for the next 6 months. Then, surgery. Then more immunotherapy infusion for another 6 months.

Triple Negative is a more aggressive type of breast cancer with a high rate of recurrence. That in mind, I know there are hard days and decisions ahead but right now, I feel good - all things considered. 

Only way out is through. 

Until next time, 

V

Happily drugged after port placement

Port is just beneath lower incision

1st infusion, port in action