Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer
Well, I thought that having Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, Hypothyroidism, Hypertension, Sleep Apnea, Acid Reflux and Chronic Depression was quite enough for me to manage. Guess I was wrong! I have always done my own breast exams with every shower, since I found a tumor myself when I was just 20 years old. In surgery they found out it was benign. But I have checked myself religiously ever since.
On 9/22/09 while hanging up laundry out of the dryer, my right arm brushed against my breast and it was so tender, as if I had a spider bite. After I finished changing the loads, I went into my bathroom, took off my bra and examined my breast. No bites. No swellings. No lumps or bumps. This was about 8:00 p.m. I put my bra back on and finished doing the laundry. It still felt tender, but I tried to ignore it. At 1:00 a.m., when I took off my bra to go to bed, my right breast (my smaller breast) was swollen much, much larger than my other. It was mottled bright red, the nipple was inverted, the breast was very hot to the touch, just like a fever. It felt as though there was a mass inside that really hurt. It was NOT there 5 hours earlier. I could not sleep so I went on line and checked out all the Breast sites. While going through photos, I found one that looked just like mine. They were pictures of Inflammatory Breast Cancer. I wish I had taken a photo of my breast then to show my doctor. I made an appt with the doctor the next day.
He said I was probably over reacting and that it looked like cystitis. I nursed my three sons, I know what cystitis feels like, and this was not it. I took the 10 days of Rx of antibiotics, and it was no better. I showed it to him, and he decided to send me to a breast surgeon. This doctor also thought it was cystitis and put me on a stronger 7 day antibiotic (they use this one for Anthrax and Staph infections!). Still not better. On the return visit, he did an ultrasound and sent me to have mammagrams the next day. After the mammagrams, you wait. I was called back for additional mammagrams. The second time they called me back, I was told they were going to do more powerful ultrasounds. After the ultrasounds, they told me to carry my films to my doctor's office, as he was waiting for me. It was already after 5:00 p.m. He told me that it looked like cancer in both breasts, and scheduled a core biopsy in each breast and a skin biopsy on my right one.
My sister went with me for the biopsy, as she had one the year before. Hers was the fine needle one and she said it was a piece of cake, compared to what she saw me going through. Mine was three core biopsies, a skin biopsy and was quite invasive. I am now yellow, brown, black and blue, and my breasts really hurt.
My oldest son and my sister went with me on the return visit to hear the results of the biopsies. Since the skin biopsy was negative, it was not yet Inflammatory Breast Cancer. He said that it was Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer and I would need to see an oncologist to receive chemotherapy for three months, then a double mastectomy, and either chemo or radiation afterwards. We set up an appointment with an oncologist. She will decide if I need to have a Pet Cat scan first, decide what time of chemo is necessary and can let me know what stage that I am in.
Well, my appointment is this Tuesday. I have put it all in God's hands, and feel pretty calm about it for the present. We will see how I feel after Tuesday.
I am telling you this to let you know that it pays to be pro-active with your health. I found this on my own. What stage would I be in if I waited for my next regularly scheduled doctor's appointment in January? This is an incredible support group of women here and I am also asking for your prayers.
Judith
PS. This month I was finally told by my orthopedist that my left knee was ready for a total knee replacement as the cartilidge was totally gone in both knees. This will now have to take a back burner while I deal with my current adventure.
Some days I feel just like an automobile, that keeps getting letters recalling some of its parts! LOL
On 9/22/09 while hanging up laundry out of the dryer, my right arm brushed against my breast and it was so tender, as if I had a spider bite. After I finished changing the loads, I went into my bathroom, took off my bra and examined my breast. No bites. No swellings. No lumps or bumps. This was about 8:00 p.m. I put my bra back on and finished doing the laundry. It still felt tender, but I tried to ignore it. At 1:00 a.m., when I took off my bra to go to bed, my right breast (my smaller breast) was swollen much, much larger than my other. It was mottled bright red, the nipple was inverted, the breast was very hot to the touch, just like a fever. It felt as though there was a mass inside that really hurt. It was NOT there 5 hours earlier. I could not sleep so I went on line and checked out all the Breast sites. While going through photos, I found one that looked just like mine. They were pictures of Inflammatory Breast Cancer. I wish I had taken a photo of my breast then to show my doctor. I made an appt with the doctor the next day.
He said I was probably over reacting and that it looked like cystitis. I nursed my three sons, I know what cystitis feels like, and this was not it. I took the 10 days of Rx of antibiotics, and it was no better. I showed it to him, and he decided to send me to a breast surgeon. This doctor also thought it was cystitis and put me on a stronger 7 day antibiotic (they use this one for Anthrax and Staph infections!). Still not better. On the return visit, he did an ultrasound and sent me to have mammagrams the next day. After the mammagrams, you wait. I was called back for additional mammagrams. The second time they called me back, I was told they were going to do more powerful ultrasounds. After the ultrasounds, they told me to carry my films to my doctor's office, as he was waiting for me. It was already after 5:00 p.m. He told me that it looked like cancer in both breasts, and scheduled a core biopsy in each breast and a skin biopsy on my right one.
My sister went with me for the biopsy, as she had one the year before. Hers was the fine needle one and she said it was a piece of cake, compared to what she saw me going through. Mine was three core biopsies, a skin biopsy and was quite invasive. I am now yellow, brown, black and blue, and my breasts really hurt.
My oldest son and my sister went with me on the return visit to hear the results of the biopsies. Since the skin biopsy was negative, it was not yet Inflammatory Breast Cancer. He said that it was Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer and I would need to see an oncologist to receive chemotherapy for three months, then a double mastectomy, and either chemo or radiation afterwards. We set up an appointment with an oncologist. She will decide if I need to have a Pet Cat scan first, decide what time of chemo is necessary and can let me know what stage that I am in.
Well, my appointment is this Tuesday. I have put it all in God's hands, and feel pretty calm about it for the present. We will see how I feel after Tuesday.
I am telling you this to let you know that it pays to be pro-active with your health. I found this on my own. What stage would I be in if I waited for my next regularly scheduled doctor's appointment in January? This is an incredible support group of women here and I am also asking for your prayers.
Judith
PS. This month I was finally told by my orthopedist that my left knee was ready for a total knee replacement as the cartilidge was totally gone in both knees. This will now have to take a back burner while I deal with my current adventure.
Some days I feel just like an automobile, that keeps getting letters recalling some of its parts! LOL
