April 19, 2001.  Routine visit to OB/GYN reveals a lump in the upper left quadrant of my left breast.  Dr. Montano told me it would be best to get a mammogram very soon.  Her office set me up for an appointment on April 24th.  

April 24, 2001.  Mammogram shows a mass approximately 1.2 cm in size.  Dr. Wier, the radiologist, came in and spoke with me.  He didn't tell me in words he suspected cancer, he told my by his mannerisms.  He said he would call Dr. Montano and get her office to get me up for a biopsy.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOU:  I am NOT proud to say that I have been very irregular in getting mammograms.  Last one was about 6-7 years ago.  My cancer could have been caught years ago.   PLEASE, PLEASE get your mammogram.  If not for you, then for your family.  

IF YOU LOVE YOUR MOTHER, WIFE, SISTER FRIEND, INSIST (EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO DRAG THEM) TO YOUR NEAREST IMAGING FACILITY FOR THEIR MAMMOGRAM!!

April 30, 2001.  I had my biopsy done today.  There was some type of mix up in records and that is why there was a delay in getting me a date for my biopsy.

Dr. Tucker is a super lady as well as an exceptional surgeon.  She came in the room and ask me why I was shaking. I said "I'm a little apprehensive about the biopsy."  She shook her head, grin, and said, "There's nothing to it.  No pain involved.  So what else is bothering you."  
    "The results of the biopsy"
 She said "what about it?"
    "I could have breast cancer"
 At which she replied, "So?  There are a lot of worse things I could tell you."

She then sat down on her rolling stool, pulled it up close to my chair.  My husband was standing beside me.  She took both of my hands in hers, looked up once at Dennis and then back at me.  She said, "You have breast cancer."  She didn't give me time to grieve or feel sorry for myself.  She went right on.

The biopsy wasn't bad at all.  It did string just a little and I felt a little tug, but there was no pain at all.  She was right about that.  

May 1, 2001.  Received that terrifying phone call from Dr. Tucker.  The pathology report confirmed our fears; I have breast cancer.  I knew it.  She had told me the day before.  The radiologist report had said, "highly suspicious" with all the wording associated with cancer, but somehow, somewhere in my mind, I thought that perhaps they all were wrong and the pathology report would say benign.

Dennis (husband), Ginny and April (my two daughters) and I met with her later that afternoon.  Preliminary pathology reports indicate that I have early stages of cancer so, therefore, I have the option of having a lumpectomy or a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction.

All through this evening I have been struggling with the decision as to whether to go with the lumpectomy or mastectomy.  I'm reading literature, exploring the internet, talking with other breast cancer survivors.  

May 2, 2001.  I felt like the more I knew about both sides, the better off I would be.  I called and was able to immediately get an appointment with a plastic surgeon.  Dr. Billy Lynn told me that my left breast was a very good candidate for reconstruction if I went the mastectomy route.  He also said he'll make the right and left breast match.  He wouldn't give me any more advice than anyone else as to whether to have the lumpectomy or the mastectomy.  He did, however, say that he does not care for the affects that radiation have on a person.

May 4, 2001.  For some reason, I came to a peaceful decision.  I am having the mastectomy.  I've sorted through all of the information that I have received and it the decision I feel most comfortable with.  Each woman has her own reasons for her choice in this.  My decision were based solely on what I feel best about.

May 8, 2001.  A date for surgery still has not been set.  I do have a few specifics now. I have Stage 1, Grade 2, Infiltrating (Invasive) Ductal. The tumor size is 1.2 cm.  I plan to have a "Skin-Sparing" Mastectomy with immediate reconstruction.  (Tough way to get a boob job!). 

May 9, 2001.  Received my surgery date.  May 22, 2001 @ 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

May 14, 2001.  I have been spending a great deal of time researching Breast Cancer in books and on the Internet.  I have learned so much and with knowledge comes power.  I am extremely interested in the new procedure where the surgeon removes just the Sentinel Lymph Node, does a biopsy on this node, and if it free of cancer, no more lymph nodes are removed.  

Unfortunately, my surgeon, nor any surgeon in my area, does this procedure.   At the point I am at, I don't have time to seek a physician in a remote area, get a referral for a second opinion, drive for the consultation, schedule the surgery, etc.  Because my tumor is growing rapidly now, and because it has already been invaded with a biopsy, I will go with the May 22nd surgery here in Augusta, Ga.

I will say this.  I have an outstanding surgeon.  I feel very comfortable with Dr. Tucker.  And my plastic surgeon, Dr. Lynn is just as incredible.  I feel blessed to have this team working with me.

If you catch your cancer early (THROUGH ROUTINE SELF-EXAMS AND MAMMOGRAMS), then I highly suggest you research the Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy.  It could possibly keep you from having unnecessary lymph nodes removed and setting yourself up for the possibility of developing lymphodemia.

May 15.  Went to my first support meeting last evening with The Pink Magnolias.  What a great group of ladies!!!  Friday night I'll be walking in the American Cancer Society RELAY FOR LIFE.  I'm excited about participating in such a worthwhile event.  Wish me luck!!

May 16.  Cried until 5:00 this morning.  Is this normal?  I've been doing so good, being so strong.  Now it has really hit me, "I have cancer and I'm going to lose part of my body."  Even today, there is a feeling of doom hanging over me.  My Dennis has been wonderful.  He has held me, cried with me, tried to cheer me, tried to accommodate my every wish.  I refuse to let this get me down any longer today.  I will go now and say and prayer and then get busy with my life.

Fear is conquered by action.
When we challenge our fears, we defeat them.
When we grapple with our difficulties, they lose their hold upon us.
When we dare to face the things which scare us, we open the door to freedom
~Wynn Adams

May 26.  Surgery is over.  I'm resting comfortably at home.  Dr. Tucker removed 18 lymph nodes, all of which were negative.  I am thrilled by this news!!  My prayer would be that everyone receive such great news.  When Dr. Tucker gave me the news, I said, "This is one of the happiest days of my life!!"  The nurse, standing nearby remarked, "I don't think I've ever heard a cancer patient say that" and I replied to her, "But I don't have cancer.  Dr. Tucker and the good Lord took care of that!!"  Isn't it wonderful how the Lord gives us reasons to be grateful!

June 20.  I am doing well.  Everything is progressing as it should be.  However, our family received some very sad news today.  My husband's 47 year old brother underwent surgery for what we thought was colon cancer.  When the doctor opened Ken up, he found advanced stages of cancer.  Ken's pancreas was almost totally encapsulated in cancer.  All the doctor could do was sew him back up and tell us to pray for a peaceful death.  My husband is taking this very badly.  Ken is his only brother and they were quite close.  Please, please pray for our family.  There is great power in prayer!! 

June 21.  Talking about the power of prayer!!  This morning the surgeon came in and spoke with Ken, his wife Bunny and Dennis.  He said that there is a possibility that with radiation and chemo, Ken's tumor could be shrunk to a size that is operable.  WHAT A CHANGE FROM YESTERDAY!  I was standing there and heard, myself, the doctor tell us there was no hope for Ken.  NOW, there is hope.  I honestly believe that a night of prayer changed the diagnosis.

June 23.  Sitting home alone today.  Family is at work and friend's.  When it's quiet like this, I have a lot of time to contemplate things.  Part of me wants to get upset and angry because of my cancer and Ken's cancer.  But a bigger part of me is thankful that my prognosis is good and Ken's is hopeful.

I still have so much trouble with my arm.  I guess any breast cancer patient would tell me this is normal.  I can just never seem to get comfortable.  Sometimes I would just like to escape from my body for just a little while.

I have had 3 injections into my breast expander so far.  That is one positive thing; I'm growing a nice round, firm breast.  I had been told the breast expander would be uncomfortable, but so far, I've had no problems with it.  Thank goodness!!

June 27 I met with my oncologist yesterday. She told me that I needed to have a "porta-cath" inserted in my mid-chest area for access to my veins during chemo. They'll do this sometimes next week. I'll be under general anesthesia, but it'll only be day surgery. I'll start my chemo next Thursday, July 5th. She is going to treat me with AC; Adriamycin and Cytoxin. I'll lose all of hair, but I guess I can live with that. (I picked out a cool wig this morning).

July 20.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SON, TODD!!!

Sept. 11, 2001.     This is a day we will always remember.  It has placed a deep scar in our hearts that will never go away.  But we must go on.  And in honor of those who died in this terrible tragedy, we must go on stronger, and more brave and more faithful in our God than ever before.  We cannot let their deaths have been for nothing!

Sept. 20.  It's been two months since I've updated.
       Porta-Cath:  Porta-cath was inserted with very little difficulty or pain.  I've been happy to have it during my four chemos.  My plastic surgeon will remove it when he completes my reconstruction.
      Chemo:  I completed my four treatments of Adriamycin and Cytoxin on Sept. 12th.  Treatments #1 and #3 were the worse for me.  During each treatment I was given Zofran to help with the nausea.  Then I had Phenergan and Ativan pills to also help.  Only after treatment #3 did I actually throw up and need to return to the office for IV fluids.
      Fatique:  I was really fatiqued for the first week after chemo.  Then I'd start to feel stronger.  By 3 weeks, I was feeling really good...just in time for another treatment.  
      Blood Counts:  I had problems with low white blood counts after each treatment.  I was given Neupogen shots and it always corrected the problem in a timely manner.
      Hairloss:  10 days after my first chemo, I had my hair cut very short.  I knew I'd have hairloss and I thought the shorter that my hair was, the easier it would be.  My hair started falling out at about 15 days after the first chemo.  At first it was slow; I'd find a few hairs on my pillow or on my shirt.  Then on day 21 (exactly 3 weeks after my first chemo), I got into the shower and it came out in clumps.  It was almost impossible to get it all rinsed off of me.  My twin sons have hair clippers and are always cutting each other's hair.  I had one of them go ahead a shave the little bit of remaining hair that I had (see photos).  The only remaining hair I now have is my eyebrows and eyelashes (however, they have thinned quite a bit), my forearms (which was so light originally that I can't exactly tell if there's been much hair loss there), and some on my legs.  Wouldn't you know I'd still have to shave my legs?!?!  It does grow much slower and there's alot less so I don't have to shave as often!
Sooo...here I sit at 8 days after my last chemo.  I'm feeling physically stronger everyday.  I'm actually looking forward to returning to work within the next 2 weeks.  I believe that if my heart weren't so heavy over our country, I'd be feeling as emotionally high as I'm feeling physically. 

Oct. 14, 2001.  Feeling much better every day.  I've started back to work and that makes me feel like life is returning to normal.  I'm growing quite a bit of 'fuzz' on my head.  Yippee for hair!!!!  Reconstruction surgery on my breast has been scheduled for Nov. 30th.  That seems soooo far away!  I'm off to church this morning.  I've always gone to church, but I think I did it out of habit.  Now I go every Sunday and Wednesday night and for a different reason....because it feels good and I have so much to be thankful to my Lord and Jesus for.  And you know what I have realized?  I always had alot to be thankful for; I was just too selfish and inconsiderate to realize it.  Now that my Christian eyesight is so much sharper, I see so many beautiful things and people everyday.  "Thank you, Lord, for giving me 20/20 vision."

From My Pathology report:
Tumor size at removal: slightly over 1.5cm
Cancer type: actually there were 2 types found; Invasive Ducal Carcinoma and Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
Stage: T1
Grade: between 2 and 3
Estrogen and progesterone receptors: Positive
HER2/neu Factor: Positive
Click here to see Meanings of Pathology Report

Reconstruction with the Tissue Expander:
Because so many have ask me questions about my reconstruction, I have decided to make a webpage about it. Included are pictures of my ongoing reconstruction, pictures of others who have had the reconstruction, questions and answers about the reconstruction, and links about breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Because of partial nudity on this page, I have decided not to link to it directly from any of my pages. However, if you are interested in the reconstruction for yourself or a loved one, please email me and I will send you the link to this page. Thanks.