My story

I have been asked numerous times about what led me to get a mammogram. So I have decided to write my story here. ***DISCLAIMER: GIVES DETAILED INFO***

It all started several months back, honestly I couldn't tell you exactly how long. I was still nursing Eli, mainly for naps and bed and the occasional snack. I favored my left side all throughout him  nursing but we nursed on both sides. I would say probably the end of March is when he stopped nursing completely on my right side. Shortly there after I  noticed a change in my breast. It wasn't a drastic change but I thought perhaps it was related to nursing and that I was drying up on that side. So we continued to nurse on the left side only. I tried the right side now and then but he wouldn't latch on and would just scream. I did notice a change in the nipple, which is why he wouldn't or couldn't latch on. I called the nurses at my Dr's office and I explained what I was experiencing and they said it was because I was drying up. I agreed and I decided to wait to see if it got better. Now I still had a thought that maybe something was wrong but really thought because I wasnt nursing on that side, that I was drying up and it just wasnt doing well because I was still nurisng on the left side. So finally we finished nursing I think in April and just waited to see if it changed. Now I did notice a skin color change but it was a little red and I thought that it was dry because it had been itchy and it was from scratching. I'd put lotion on it and it did seem to help. Finally I decided to call my OB to see if I could get in because there was no change and the itching actually spread more over the entire breast rather than just the right side.

On June 19th I finally called the Dr. back and she was out of the office but they called me on Monday and said she wanted to see me since it had not changed. I got in to see her on June 23rd and it went well. She examined me and said she wanted to do a mammogram because she thought I could have a clogged duct that would need to be drained. So I got in for a mammogram the next day June 24th at the Breast Center in Lafayette. They did a mammogram and and ultra sound. After that was done a Dr came and and said that there was a lot of calcification in my breast and they wanted to do a biopsy to find out what was going on. Ok, I didnt think it would be anything serious. They do biopsy's all the time that arent looking for that dreaded "c" word. They scheduled it for a week later, July 1st.

July 1st hubby and I go in for my biopsy, my awesome friend Rose offered to watch the kids so he could go with me. He couldnt go back obviously but it did take 2 hours for the biopsy. So I changed into a gown and they took me into a room to answer questions and fill out a few forms. I asked the nurse what they were looking for and she brought the Dr in. I asked her (she was amazing btw and was very concerned for my health) what they were looking for and she looked me straight in the eyes and said, "We are proving this is cancer." My heart sank. She said that word NO ONE wants to hear. Of course tears started and she told me there were 3 things that concerned her the most. 1. My left breast was absolutely normal, 2. there is a large palpable mass in my right breast, 3. the skin had thickened, which is a sign that cancer is spreading. She ordered skin biopsy and brought in my surgeons nurse to look at it and schedule my biopsy for the very next day. I went back for my biopsy and the Dr was great as well as the nurses. The Dr. left after that and HAND DELIVERED my tissue sample to the lab at the hospital and told them she needed the results yesterday. Talk about a lump in the throat when you hear that!

July 2nd, hubby and I head to the surgeons office at 8 am for my skin biopsy. Now at this point I dont feel confident that the results are going to be good. But after I left the surgeons office we both felt more confident that it would turn out ok. He told us how Dr's can tell you the extreme or the worst case and he didn't want to scare us and make us go crazy, I told him it was too late. He seemed confident that it was nursing related and asked me a lot of nursing related question. He said if it was benign then they wouldn't do surgery but just give me an antibiotic in case there was a deep line infection but just let it clear up. So we left the appointment a little happier and decided that we would continue on our trip to Idaho to see my sister and her family. We were scheduled to leave July 5th. So we went and did some more shopping for our trip. Well later that day I get a call from the Breast Center about my results. The Dr. who did my biopsy told me my results, and it wasnt good. She told me that the sample showed cancer cells. She said they were in my lymph nodes and in the duct (which is where it starts usually). It's a grade 3 which means that the cancer is active. It is also invasive so it's invading my breast rather than staying contained in my duct.

So, our world in a matter of hours was flipped upside down. I was in shock and didn't cry when she told me my results but I certainly cried after. She told me that my oncologist wanted to see me that day, since their office was closed Friday in observation for the 4th. So, the boys were napping and I had to find someone to watch the kids so we could go to this appointment. Luckily our sitter was coming to help get things ready for our trip and showed up just in time. I had to break the news to her but she watched the kids while we met with my Oncologist. She is amazing! Dr. Narayan was so sweet and explained everything to us in terms we can understand. She drew it out on paper for us, even. She knows I will beat this and was very sympathetic. She even asked to see pictures of my kids. She told me that I would be doing 5 months of chemotherapy and then a mastectomy after that providing all my scans looks good. I might also have to have something called antibody therapy on top of the chemo if my labs come back with something called a her2 (I don't know exactly what that is but it tells them if the antibody therapy is needed).

So in a matter of a day our world was turned upside down, but ladies (and gents) I know that I can beat this. I have such a strong faith in God and I know he is walking by my side through all of this. He has a plan and I haven't figured it out yet, but I will in time.

I will tell you this PLEASE note any changes you notice to your breasts. I saw them but thought they were due to nursing. This is real and I have NO breast cancer in my family. Also I nursed 3 babies and I still got breast cancer. I'm not trying to scare you I just want you to be aware that this can happen even to a young woman/mother like me. I want to educate you and I want you to note any changed and bring them to attention. Had I pushed the issue I'd probably already be on treatment but I did wait a bit. I still kick myself about it, but it is what it is. It's in the past and I have to move onward. The fact is, we caught it, mostly likely early, but we caught it and we are proceeding full speed ahead.

I have been told to not research this online, as I wouldn't anyways. There is a lot of misleading info out there so if you have any question please ask me. I have resources to get info and I'd be happy to get you that, I myself want some info. Inflammatory Breast Cancer is a rare aggressive cancer and we are working quick and aggressively. I am thankful for my OB/GYN for getting me a mammogram and for not just brushing it off. I am thankful for the amazing nurses and Dr's at the Breast Center for moving quick and realizing this was a serious case. I am thankful for all of the people who have done scans on me, who have scheduled my appts. or who have just called to give me info. I am thankful for my Oncologist who is moving quick and not dragging her feet. They have been so sweet and caring and I have been told my numerous nurses that my Dr is one of the best and for that I am grateful.

If you have any questions on anything please ask me. I'd be happy to share more with you or get info for you. Like I said I don't want to scare anyone but I do want to educate you and to help you be aware of any changes. It might not seem like a huge deal at the time it's definitely something to contact your Dr about. It could save you life!