October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

In the spirit of breast cancer awareness month I sent an email to my family and friends.  Then I thought about it - I consider some folks in the online community to be friends.  Many of you have sent your positive vibes, blessings, encouraging comments and concerns since I began chronicling my experience with breast cancer back in March immediately following the diagnoses. 

I'm certain bits and pieces of the letter are familiar to some as I have communicated most things I have learned and went through in this journey right here and on Vox. 

The letter to my friends:

"You are receiving this email because you are a family member or someone I consider to be a friend.   As many are aware October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month!  This year has a different meaning for me being diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year.   I don't consider myself a "survivor" yet as I'm still in treatment.  I'm "surviving!" It has been a challenging past six months for me, without my family and friends support I know I wouldn't have made it this far.  Even though I have no hair, no eyebrows, dark nails and have lost weight just to name a few side affects from treatment I feel VERY BLESSED!

It was March 2008, most things were right in my world.  I was planning to go to the "Big Easy" to celebrate my 42nd birthday.  I felt a lump in my right breast when my hand grazed the top of it while pulling a t-shirt over my head.  I had my yearly Well Woman visit scheduled for later in the month, so I figured I would bring it to my doctor's attention.  Didn't think much of it, so I headed to New Orleans and had a wonderful time. Upon my return, I went for my yearly check up - my doctor agreed, the lump felt odd.  I had two abnormal mammograms in past years that didn't amount to anything I needed to be concerned with, so I naturally thought this was the case with the recent finding.

My doctor sent me for a diagnostic mammogram.  The Radiologist said the lump was "suspicious" and scheduled me for a biopsy the next week.  On March 28th I was told the words no woman should ever hear - "I'm sorry but you have breast cancer."

Specifics about my breast cancer:
It is Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) - In situ (noninvasive) breast cancer refers to cancer in which the cells have remained within their place of origin -- they haven't spread to breast tissue around the duct or lobule. The most common type of noninvasive breast cancer is ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is confined to the lining of the milk ducts. The abnormal cells haven't spread through the duct walls into surrounding breast tissue.

I am Hormone Receptor Negative.  HER2 Positive - This gene drives production of the growth-promoting HER2 protein.  About one out of every five breast cancers is HER2 positive, meaning these cancers have greater than normal amounts of the HER2 protein. These cancers tend to grow and spread more aggressively than do other cancers.

The tumor was actually pretty small being 1.9 cm.   In May I had surgery, a Lumpectomy and Sentinel node biopsy to remove the tumor from my right breast and 18 Lymph Nodes from my right armpit in which two were determined cancerous.   In June I had surgery for the installation for a Medi-port in my right upper chest area for the administering of the chemotherapy drugs.

My cancer was classified as Stage II, which is considered to be early detection.  In this stage of breast cancer the tumor is fairly small in size but has spread to lymph nodes in the armpit OR cancer that is somewhat larger but has not spread to the lymph nodes.

My treatment regimen is 6 cycles of Chemotherapy.  I received Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin every 21 days.  I finished my last chemotherapy treatment on September 19th.

Although I won't be receiving any more chemotherapy drugs I will still have to return every 21 days for the next six months to be administered the drug Herceptin.   Herceptin was included in my "chemo cocktail" all though it is not a chemotherapy drug.  Because of the type of breast cancer I have I must have this treatment for a full year.

It is a monoclonal antibody that is a type of biological therapy.  Herceptin only works on breast cancer patients with high levels of the protein HER2 such as I have.  This prevents the cancer cells from multiplying and growing.

Next up for me is Radiation Therapy.  In which I will have to go for treatment everyday for 61/2 weeks.   I will be meeting with the Radiologist Oncologist in the next 2-3 weeks for my Radiation consultation - treatment will begin some time in October.

My life has not been the same since March 28th 2008.  But, I think this experience will make me a better person and help me view and live my life differently.   I'm hoping my experience can help someone else.   PLEASE, PLEASE PLEASE, women do a monthly self-breast exam.  Don't wait until you are 40 to have a mammogram - if you suspect something is wrong, or have a family history of breast cancer request one, even if your doctor says you are too young or doesn't feel you need one.  And remember, men get breast cancer too!  Men, encourage the women in your life to check their breast regularly.  I wouldn't wish this disease on my worst enemy!  I will be walking in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on October 18th wish me luck! 

Every hour 5 women die from breast cancer and 20 women will be told, "you have breast cancer."