Dr. Zuurbier sure knows how to read those mammogram films. The test results came back just as she thought they would. (Note to all women reading this in the DC area: I highly recommend Dr. Zuurbier at Sibley; she is the best.)
The results:
- Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS), or Intraductal Carcinoma, which is breast cancer in the lining of the milk ducts that has not yet invaded nearby tissues in the left breast.
- Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) in the area where Dr. Zuurbier was looking at the 1.3 centimeter mass in the left breast.
- The tumor is 100% Estrogen Receptor Positive and 60% Progestin Positive. (Um, 14 years on the pill probably didn’t help…So long, birth control.)
- A clear bill of health for the right breast (the MRI saw something suspicious, but it turned out to be nothing).
- No lymph node involvement seen on the mammograms, MRI, sonograms and Pet Scan. Good, please stay that way.
- A clear Pet Scan. (OK, so when they scan your whole body, you are thinking they are going to find something else lingering somewhere…phew.)
- Genetic Testing Results were negative. I don’t carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.
The treatment plan:
- Double mastectomy with partial reconstruction (saline extenders inserted) done at the time of surgery. (Sorry right breast, I know you are just an innocent bystander, but I am trying to do the breast cancer thing only this one time.)
- Chemo? Radiation? I will know more about this after the full pathology report comes back after surgery.
- Reconstruction. I will be getting silicone implants and nipple reconstruction (yes I said nipple reconstruction, since the cancer is in my milk ducts the poor nipple takes the hit too, and since I like symmetry, adios to the right nipple too.)
- Live life well without cancer.
