Pinkbean, it’s a really tough time going through discovery and then the dreaded diagnosis. I went through this first week of Jan. 2022… putting all notions of a Happy New Year to rest! although I had a “normal” mammo in October, an MRI picked up two malignant tumors with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma ( IDC) in the same breast ( multi foci) and one positive node ( ultimately 2 sentinel nodes were positive ).

Both tumors were bio similar in my case. It is possible to have two or more tumors in one breast that are not biologically similar and each require a different treatment. The world of breast cancer is way more complex than I had ever known with many types and variables. Incredible research has helped identify and treat all types even if different in the same breast.

I had a unilateral mastectomy in February. My diagnosis (tumor feature) made me eligible for an ONCOTYPE analysis that determined that chemotherapy would not be of benefit . As I am estrogen positive ( tumor needs estrogen to live) I take an AROMATASE INHIBITOR (AI) daily to help prevent estradiol from converting into estrogen.

For some breast cancers, chemotherapy is needed to shrink tumors prior to surgery so more biopsies are sometimes needed. It is indeed very difficult to learn that more concerns are being found each time. The diagnostic phase is excruciating and the wait unbearable.

During an unbearable 3 week waiting on ONCOTYPE my oncologist advised me to go out west and visit my daughter and grandchildren. Hard to imagine but I did relax and enjoy and put IT aside.

So, if you can find some opportunity to put this “aside” while you wait, I encourage that you do.

It turned out that my HAPPY NEW YEAR was diagnosing that I had BC … so that I could take every measure to treat as early as possible.

I’ll be thinking of you. Let us know how you are doing as you learn more. This is a safe place to “ talk”. Hugs 🌸