October is breast cancer awareness month
I’ll start by saying: Thank you. Whether you knew it or not, you helped me through my breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in 2020 and 2021. I found it painful to share the news as it was happening, but I assumed your support, even if I didn’t tell you what was going on at the time. It helped.
Here’s my story.
In early 2020, I went to my annual physical, and asked when I should think about a mammogram, knowing I’d be turning 40. My doctor did a breast exam, found nothing of concern, and told me without a family history, I could wait until I was 45.
I had taken a break from work to recharge, and over the next several months I spent a lot of time getting back into shape, gardening, and doing more meal planning and cooking than ever. I wanted to be 140 by 40, and by August I hit 137. Woop! I even started dating, which is something I had always found it difficult to find the emotional energy for. I was finally in great physical and mental health.
My right breast started hurting a little in August. It was not unlike the pain that sometimes comes on a monthly cycle, but it didn’t go away. But, I thought, I’m a woman. Our bodies do things like this. It’s annoying, and almost always nothing. I celebrated my birthday with my sister on the Oregon Coast, camped my way home, then picked up a friend and drove to Ross Lake in the North Cascades for a camping adventure.
When I got back, my breast was still feeling sensitive, and my friends told me to go get a mammogram. I was 40, it would be covered. I even noticed a little divot in my skin. I expected it would be a benign fibroid, because many women in my family have had those. A mammogram would give me a baseline for monitoring it. I wasn’t working, so I had no excuses to delay. I asked my doctor for the referral.
She read my note and said, why don’t you come in so I can check out this pain. When I did, she said, I’m going to refer you to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance for a diagnostic mammogram with an ultrasound, rather than a screening one we would do here. When you make your appointment, ask for one before 2pm, so that if they want to do a biopsy, they can get it done while you’re there. Shit.
Then they wanted to do a biopsy. Then they wanted another.
Then I had to tell my family. And my best friend, who was celebrating 3 years free of cancer that same week.
My doctors started my treatment plan within a few weeks, a mastectomy, radiation, and reconstruction. I extended my break from work an extra year to focus on recovering.
There are plenty more details, but some notable pieces… I was grateful I was in great shape. I rode my bike or e-bike to almost every appointment I had throughout my treatment. I didn’t get COVID, which would have stretched out my treatment. One of my doctors got COVID, but she recovered just in time to do my reconstruction surgery. COVID caused the hospitals to restrict their visitor policies, but I was able to have visitors after each surgery. In the year between surgeries, I met a lovely man and adopted a wonderful puppy. Having a fluffy bundle of joy to look after, and a tall bundle of joy looking after me, helped me to heal. And throughout, my family and friends were incredibly supportive.
Next month I will mark three years free of cancer. My body is not the same as it was three years ago, but it’s not stopping me from having the kind of adventures I love.
