Friday, March 6, 2015

It all started 17 years ago...

In 1998 I was diagnosed with leukemia.  I spent two years in treatment of chemotherapy, radiation and eventually a stem cell transplant.  I then spent the next 10 years 'recovering' and keeping up the maintenance - diagnosed with thyroid disease, early menopause, osteoporosis, cataracts and just recently diabetes.

Now, in February of 2015, I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. 
I found a lump during a routine exam.  After fighting with the doctor's office for several days, I finally got a referral for a sonogram and a mammogram.  I spent a whole day in testing before the doctor recommended a biopsy.'

At this point, I was scared and turned to the only people I knew would give me honest answers - my pediatric oncologists.  Once they read the reports and I told them what had been done, they immediately referred me to a breast specialist they knew.  I made an appointment with her for two days later.

Once at her office, she examined me and performed a biopsy - which we were sure was cancer.  Three days later, it was confirmed.  My official diagnosis was a stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma.  But I would have to wait to find out how they were going to treat it.

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