I found out I had cancer on my 30th wedding anniversary!! WooHoo! for me, within 3 weeks I had Pet Scan, MRI, appointment with Medical Oncologist and Reconstruction Surgeon, went on a cruise I had booked prior to finding out I had BC. 2 days after getting home from the cruise I had a bilateral mastectomy with DIEP Flap reconstruction. The tumor size when first detected by ultrasound (mammogram didn't catch it) was 0.5mm, after MRI and PetScan 1.7cm after mastectomy it was 2.1cm, it was hidden very well! I also tested positive for trace evidence in 1 sentinel node and score an 18 on the Onco Score. So six weeks after the first set of surgeries I had 4 rounds of chemo (Cytoxan and Taxotere), six weeks after last chemo treatment I had my Stage 2 surgery for reconstruction. Started on Tamoxifen March 2012. Needless to say I'm exhausted. I worked the entire time and have to say my boss was great, he did allow me to work from home on the days I just couldn't make it in to the office. That was truly a blessing.
I now go every 4 months for blood work and to see oncologist, who by the way has shared with me that I will be on tamoxifen for 10 years!!, I see the breast specialist every 6 months. I'm not where I was before the diagnoses, but everyday I'm getting better, will I ever be the same who knows. The main thing is I'm still here and right now cancer free.
Abita Springs, LA