Round 1...FIGHT

On June 27, 2013 I was told I tested positive for breast cancer. I have struggled with how to tell friends and family and keep them informed with everything that I have been going through without calling every single person. So I decided to write a blog to document my year in karate chopping breast cancer cells.

It all started in February of 2013 when I felt a mass in my left breast when I was showering. I was a little concerned but from talking to numerous people I just assumed it was a fibroid that I had gotten from drinking SOO much coffee (Seattle will do that to you). Being an overworked teacher I decided it was more trouble to go to the doctor to get it checked out then to just wait and get it checked out later. Sub plans are the bain of my existence so I waited till end of March to go to a primary care physician. My physician seemed a little concerned by the mass in my breast and referred me to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance for an ultrasound. Yet again, being a teacher I put it off until the end of May when the mass started to hurt. At the end of May I went in for an ultrasound and the doctors found a cyst on my left breast that was very large. They aspirated the cyst and sent the fluid to pathology to make sure there were no cancer cells. A few days later the doctor called me and told me the pathology tests came back negative. They informed me that the cyst may grow back over time but it is nothing to worry about because it is negative for cancer. So I resumed my daily routines and put it all in the back of my mind.

Then Sunday, June 23, 2013 I had sharp pains and fluid coming from the same location my cyst was. The cyst had grown back almost as large as it was before. This freaked me out and I called the doctor who referred me back to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. On Tuesday, June 25th I went back to SCCA and doctors found a large mass that was under where the cyst had been previously aspirated. They biopsied the mass to make sure it was nothing alarming.

On June 27, 2013 I got a phone call that has forced me to change the way I look at my life. I have always been someone who said that if a murderer was chasing after me I would just give in and let them kill me. I have never truly valued the life that was given to me; I have just lived it. Well on that day I was told I tested positive for breast cancer. Right then I knew I had to fight for my life. I now have to find value in my life and I am going to karate chop this cancer.

After I received the news of my positive results I had to wait a week for an appointment with an oncologist, radiologist and surgeon to see what steps to take and also to find out really how bad it was. Last Friday, July 5th was a long day of test and information. I will spare you all the details to the tests but after speaking with all three specialists here is what I found out:

-I have grade 3 breast cancer. That means the cells no longer look like breast tissue. It is not a stage but a type of cancer.

-The doctor said the mass is about 9cm in length and in my left breast only. Due to the size they think it is at least Stage 2.

-The surgeon also believes, according to my MRI, that the cancer may have spread to my lymph nodes under my arm.

The specialists then explained to me how my treatment would pan out:

- First I will get a few more scans and biopsies to make sure it has not spread throughout my body.

-  Then I will have a port implanted in my chest for chemotherapy.

- Chemotherapy will last 4-5 months each treatment 2 weeks apart with another drug weekly.

- After chemo ends I will have a month recovery and then have a mastectomy or double mastectomy (depending on the results from my genetics test).

- Then I will have reconstructive surgery and recovery time of up to 6-8 weeks .

- After surgery I will then have 2-3 months of radiation to make sure it is all gone.


It is all very overwhelming but I have an amazing support group back home and here in Seattle that are all more than willing to help me in any thing I need and have given me the confidence to fight. I will keep this blog updated weekly to let people know how I am doing and what I am doing in this year long struggle.