I was diagnosed with breast cancer on August 24, 2006. I have both lobular and duct (yes, duct like duct tape ) cancer. Since the lobular cancer is very aggressive we will be doing a lot of test to see if the cancer has spread.

The Journey from the beginning

I went for the mammogram that I promised Dan I would get last summer when he got his colonoscopy. I finally got it on August 11th. The hospital called me on Wednesday the 16th to say that the mammogram was not normal and that I needed to come in for a second mammogram. Dan and I went to Cottonwood hospital on Monday afternoon, the 21st. After the mammogram x-rays were taken I moved from the mammogram room to the ultrasound room. The doctor was concerned about the lumps in the right breast and found one in the left that had not shown up on the mammograms very well. The doctor and the hospital were able to get me in the next morning for biopsies. After the doctor took the biopsies he told me to schedule a breast MRI before I left that morning. I ended up taking the rest of the day off because one of the biopsies was very painful (the numbing medication did not work.) I was to find out later that the doctor could tell from the tissue samples that they were cancerous just from the looks of them.

Our family doctor, Dr. Ayers called at 12:15 pm on Thursday and asked to see Dan and I in his office at 1:15 pm. I was sure that it was not good news since he wanted to see both of us in his office. Dan and I met at home and then went to his office. He told us that he did not like to give patients bad news over the telephone. He told us that he had taken the liberty to make an appointment with a breast cancer surgeon at 4 pm. This is the surgeon he would take his own wife to if she had this condition. I felt very good about that. He also was able to get me in for a brain MRI before the appt. with the surgeon. So as you can guess Thursday was a very busy day. The bright side was he gave me a Valium to be able to help with the MRI and the stress I was feeling.

The surgeon, Dr. Clark Rasmussen was wonderful. I was his last appt. of the day and he drew pictures and explained exactly what was happening. His staff was able to get a lung CT scan set for Saturday morning the 26th. So that was done yesterday. They were also able to set a bone scan for tomorrow.

So to summarize:
8/11 Original Mammogram
8/21 Second Mammogram and Ultrasound
8/22 Biopsy
8/24 Diagnosis
8/24 Brain MRI RESULTS: CLEAR- NO CANCER
8/24 Met with surgeon
8/26 Lung CT scan RESULTS: NOT IN YET
8/28 Bone scan
8/29 Breast MRI

After the results from all the tests we will then get back with the surgeon and find out what the next step is. If the cancer has spread to other parts of my body then we will start with chemo, if it is all contained in the breasts then we will be going to surgery first.

This is all we know at this time. Dan and I will try to keep this updated as we learn more information. For all of those that already know, we are thankful for all the love and prayers we have received so far and appreciate all of you for love and support.

We are going to beat this. It may take a little time but it is going to happen. I am not going to let a little thing like cancer take me away from Dan; I waited too long for someone like him in my life.