So you're telling me I have breast cancer

The past couple weeks have been a total whirlwind. Never did I expect to hear a doctor tell me I have breast cancer, especially at 33. I remember everything about the phone call, every little detail from the nurse -  "We got your results and I'm afraid it's not good news." 

I was sitting at work when I got the call. It was 5pm on Friday, March 6 and I had just poured myself a glass of wine. The nurse was very nice and explained everything to me as best she could and then told me about my appointments I had lined up for the next week. Oncologist? Was I seriously going to see an oncologist? Here goes nothin. Little did I know that I'd be in a different doctor's office every day for the next 8 days. 

On Monday, March 9 Matt and I met with my surgeon and she explained the pathology results in a little more depth to us. The cancer is slow growing (yay!), estrogen and progesterone receptor positive, as well as HER2 receptor positive, otherwise known as triple positive. We like triple positive, it's treatable and, even better, it's curable! In terms of a breast cancer diagnosis, I've got the good one - after my treatments, this asshole tumor will be gone for good. I plan on having a big going away party for it, boob themed of course. 

The next several days consisted of other doctors appointments ... two oncologists, my gyno, an MRI, a fertility doctor, an EKG/Echo & getting my port put in. I've been in 8 different doc offices since Monday, March 9 and tomorrow will be the first day where I don't have an appt. Hallelujah! 

The results from the MRI were great. I have the one small tumor in my left breast & all of my nodes looked clear. Best news we could have hoped for! I'm slowly turning bionic now that I have a titanium clip in from the biopsy and a port in my chest. I had no idea what a port was before this experience ... it's basically this little heart shaped catheter that is under my skin under my collarbone and has a tube that goes to a major vein in my chest. It's how I'll receive treatments so I don't have to keep getting poked in the arm every time they do chemo, need to take blood, etc. I just got it put in this morning and it hurts, I'm not going to lie. I've been told it'll hurt for a few days and then I'll never even be able to notice it. Fingers crossed. 

The next steps are treatment. Chemo - ugh. I'll have 6 treatments total, one every 3 weeks. There will be a whole cocktail of meds I'll be receiving, some specifically to attack that HER2 positive receptor, and from what I know, these are cancer wonder drugs. My tumor will likely be totally gone when I'm done with treatment and I'll just have to have a simple lumpectomy. All my doctors tell me that I shouldn't feel too bad as I go through treatments and that I should be able to work and live a normal life for the most part. 

I'll try to keep this updated as much as I can since I know there are so many people following me along in this journey. I appreciate & love you all. I've never felt the love like I have in the past couple weeks. It's been nothing short of incredible. 

My first treatment hasn't been scheduled but it's likely to occur within the next week. The next 4.5 months will be a roller coaster - chemo isn't going to be a party but it's better than the alternative. I'm so lucky we found this early and am so fortunate to live in a city with incredible doctors. One step, one day, one treatment at a time. Time to kick some cancer ass! 

xo,

Ali