I beat Cancer ... I hope :)

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  • hauntingfamiliar
    hauntingfamiliar Wilmington, NC Posts: 10,370
    Thank you all! It's been a wild year, but everything has fortunately been best case scenario. So here's my story. If anyone can learn anything from it, then it was worth telling.

    I was diagnosed last summer after a routine mammogram. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.  The type was Estrogen Progesterone +/HER2- which I learned was a very slow growing, "well behaved" cancer as my doctor called it. It is the most common type of breast cancer and also the most curable. It feeds off of estrogen so they immediately yanked me off my birth control pills. I had genetic testing done where they tested for genetic mutations in 50 plus cancer genes, around 20 were breast cancer genes. I tested negative for all genetic mutations including the  Brca1 and Brca2 genes. Fortunately this, along with the type of cancer (well behaved, slow growing) and the fact that they caught it very early, ruled out a double mastectomy.

    I had surgery for a lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy last October,  20 rounds of radiation in December and January, and then I was put on an estrogen blocker.  I'll be on that for the next 5 to 10 years. The margin around the tumor was clear, meaning it hadn't spread and the lymph nodes were clear. That ruled out chemotherapy. I have some minor nerve damage in the arm from the lymph node biopsy. They only took 3, but I can't imagine what it would have been like if they had to remove all of the nodes in that area. I dealt with some swelling at first but it has gone away. I still can't feel my armpit, but that's no biggie. It has taken a while to adjust to the medication, but I'm managing. 

    I had my mammogram last week and it was clear! I don't have to go back again until next year. It has been a lot to deal with, but it was all "over" within a year. Ladies, get your mammograms. Fellows, please encourage the women in your life to get them every year. I had a baseline from going yearly so the smallest change was easily detectable. Early detection can save your life, and your tatas!!! 🩷🩷 😉😃😃😃
  • hauntingfamiliar
    hauntingfamiliar Wilmington, NC Posts: 10,370
    Halifax2TheMax said:
    hauntingfamiliar said:
    I just beat breast cancer. I think??!!!

    It's a hard thread to reboot. 
    Yea you did! And you’ll continue to beat it. Silly. All while sticking up your middle finger and saying, “Fuck you cancer! You suck and I beat your stupid ass!”

    I know this.
    Hell yeah. F off cancer!!

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