Frequently Asked Questions
Before we get started, I want to put something out there. This blog is so very far out of my comfort zone. Many of my friends do not know I have been going through cancer treatment because I just haven’t wanted to make a big deal of it. I refused to do a public announcement, so I opted to just let people hear through word of mouth. I hated the idea of people looking at me differently and I did not want a pity party. I wanted to continue living my life normally and I have done that. That said, I feel like it’s so important to remind people that breast cancer can happen to anyone. I found such comfort in seeing the journeys of others going through treatment. I don’t know if my algorithms were that good, or if it was coincidence, but it seemed like every morning, I saw a new person (stranger) on social media sharing their story. It is so incredibly important to remind women to do their self examinations and keep their mammogram appointments. There is a one in eight chance a woman will develop breast cancer at some point in her life. ONE IN EIGHT. I would not be telling this same story if I had not found the lump on my own. Give your tits a squeeze and let’s go.
What kind of cancer do you have?
I was diagnosed with stage 2(a) invasive ductal carcinoma. It is hormone positive and HER2 negative.
How did you find out?
I was taking a bath and felt the lump in my right breast. It felt like a grape- round and smooth and I could feel the whole thing. I set up a mammogram with my OBGYN and was referred to a cancer clinic for an ultrasound, etc.
What is your treatment plan?
Six* rounds of chemotherapy infusions, followed by lumpectomy and then radiation. I ultimately ended up skipping my 5th session so I only had 5 sessions total once all was said and done.
Why did you choose lumpectomy over mastectomy?
My breast surgeon gave me the option. My tumor was small and close to the surface and we felt like lumpectomy was the way to go.
Do you have a family history of breast cancer?
No. My mother had melanoma years ago, but I have no family history of breast cancer. I did genetic testing and was negative for the BRCA gene mutation.
Continued below…
Why haven’t you lost all of your hair?
I did cold capping with the Paxman scalp cooling system.
Why did you have to have chemo?
My oncologist looked at my OncoScore and decided the chance of recurrence without adding chemo to the mix was too high, so we hit it with the triple threat (chemo-surgery-radiation).
Who is your doctor?
My oncologist is Sonia Benn. I love her. She is the Olivia Pope of oncology. Always dressed to the nines, beautiful, brilliant and amazing.
My breast surgeon is Richard Gilmore. His nurses wear shirts that say “Gilmore Girls…” total green flag.
My plastic surgeon is Robert Chandler. The response I get any time I say his name is “OH MY GOSH I LOVE HIM,” so I knew I was in good hands.
Where are you in your treatment?
I’ve finished chemotherapy and surgery. I’ll have radiation in about a month.