Lesson 3: FAQs

Each day, I probably tell a concise, pre-packaged, interview-style version of my breast cancer experience at least FIVE times!!! As an educator, this is not new to me and I certainly don’t mind sharing most of the time, but I figure that I can nip some of it in the bud by sharing my progress via this blog. I’ve also included some cool links to websites where more information can be found.

***Please be advised that some of the images on the websites and in this post are explicit.***

 K, here we go… J

Q: What did you have?

A: I was diagnosed on March 23, 2012 with stage 1a high grade, high proliferative, invasive triple negative mammary carcinoma, or breast cancer. Stage 1a is considered early stage, where tumors are less than two centimeters and have not spread beyond the breast. High grade means that the cells are aggressive. High proliferative means there is fast cell growth rate. Invasive means that the cancer cells spread beyond the ducts into nearby tissue.

http://www.partnershipforbreastcare.org/PBC/problems/cancer/stages.aspx

Q: What is triple negative breast cancer?

A: Triple negative breast cancer diagnosis means that a tumor is estrogen receptor-negative, progesterone receptor-negative and HER2-negative, thus giving rise to the name "triple negative breast cancer." The most successful treatments for breast cancer target these receptors Because of its triple negative status, however, triple negative tumors generally do not respond to receptor targeted treatments. Depending on the stage of its diagnosis, triple negative breast cancer can be particularly aggressive, and more likely to recur than other subtypes of breast cancer. This type of breast cancer is typically responsive to chemotherapy. 

http://www.tnbcfoundation.org/understandingtnbc.htm

Q: Did you feel your tumors?

A: No; I had two tumors in my right breast, and even up until the day of my surgery, I could feel neither of them.

Q: How did you find out?

A: In February, I went to my doctor to discuss and schedule a preventative bilateral mastectomy, due to my family history of breast cancer and my BRCA-1 positive gene mutation status. After a series of clear mammograms and ultrasounds, my nurse practitioner suggested that I have an MRI as an extra precaution. Thankfully, my two tumors were detected through the MRI. The diagnosis was confirmed through ultrasound and a biopsy, and I was notified days later.

Q: What were your options for treatment?

A: Due to the stage and type of breast cancer, surgery and chemotherapy make up my treatment regime. I opted for a modified radical mastectomy on my right side and prophylactic, or preventative simple mastectomy on my left. This means that both of my breasts were totally removed (breast tissue, skin, etc), in addition to my axillary sentinel lymph nodes on my right side. My sentinel lymph nodes were removed so that they could be examined to see if my cancer had spread.

Q: Why did you decide to remove both breasts if cancer was just on one side?

A: Because of my continued risk associated with my gene mutation and family history, I decided to take the most preventative measure possible. Plus, I had already planned to have a bilateral mastectomy even before my diagnosis. I made the decision to have the bilateral mastectomy at the time of my diagnosis when I could be sure that both breast removals and subsequent reconstructive surgery would be covered by my insurance.

Q: What was surgery like?

A: I was diagnosed on March 23, and my surgery was scheduled for April 30. Sean and my best friend Benita were with me the morning of surgery while my kids were in school. There were three parts to my surgery: 1) axillary sentinel lymph node removal; 2) Chemotherapy port implantation and breast removal; and 3) tissue expander implantation. All I remember is dapping them up (I think J) and then waking up to some pretty crazy chest pains.

Q: What was recovery like?

A: Pretty intense pain and restricted movement for two weeks. Also, I had to take care of two surgical drains that came out the sides of my torso. Biggest bummer = not being able to hold my babies.

Q: So you are telling me you had no boobs at all?

A: Nada. The goal was to remove as much breast tissue as possible. Therefore, all skin, nipples, breast tissue, etc. were removed. I was left with what looked like baseball stitches across my chest.

Q: ***blink, blink*** No boobs?

A: During my surgery, I also underwent the first phase of my reconstructive surgery. I had tissue expanders implanted under my chest muscle wall. Tissue expanders are like little balloons that are placed under a layer of chest muscle. Over the months following the surgery, saline is injected bi-weekly into the expanders so that my chest muscle stretches to form a cavity. The tissue expanders will eventually be replaced with silicone implants. A perk (pun intended) = these tissue expanders don’t move and are as hard as rocks right now ***burns bras***

Q: And nipples?

A: Prosthetic nipples can be implanted down the road. A skilled tattoo artist will also come in handy J

Q: Sooooo, do you or will you have the “feeling” of breasts?

A: Nope! But, I will be alive and well, and that is winning in my book!

Q: How is chemotherapy going?

A: Chemo sucks! There is no more eloquent way to put it! But, I am thankful for the treatment and for what it is supposed to be doing for my body.

Q: Why do you have to have chemotherapy is the cancer is already removed from your body?

A: I ask myself this question every day! But here are the nuts and bolts… My continued risk of getting cancer is 25% without chemotherapy and only about 5% with it within my lifetime. Having a gene mutation pretty much means each cell in my body is constantly deciding IF and WHEN to give me cancer. Chemotherapy helps to change “the minds” of my cells.

Q: What is chemotherapy like?

A: Chemotherapy affects many folks in different ways. I have personally experienced the nausea, fatigue, hair loss, tingling hands and feet, and change in taste and appetite that was described to me. In addition to some revolutionary nausea medications (folks used to have to be hospitalized after infusions), slow walks, good music, and Subway sandwiches help with some of the side effects of chemo.

Q: How long will you have chemo?

A: I have been prescribed five months of chemotherapy – 4 biweekly cycles of “the nasties”, followed by 12 cycles of “a lesser nasty”. Two nasties down, two more to go!