Facts

So, the facts until now are this:

10/14/2008 - Tuesday - Discovered a lump in my right breast.
10/15/2008 - Wednesday - Appt with my Doctor's office - They sent me for a Mamm/Ultrasound
10/17/2008 - Friday - Mamm and Ultrasound done
10/21/2008 - Tuesday - Results from Mamm/Ultrasound - nothing significant with the lump (lump did not show up on either test)
10/22/2008 - Wednesday - Made appt with family doctor
10/26-10/31/08 - Out-of-Town
11/04/2008 - Tuesday - Appt with family doctor - He recommends a specialist
11/07/2008 - Friday - Appt with Surgical Oncologist - 4 options; nothing/MRI/needle biopsy/excision biopsy
11/14/2008 - Friday - Excision Biopsy of Lump in the Right Breast
11/18/2008 - Tuesday - Biopsy results shows smattering of Cancer cells within the lump that was removed - DX is Infiltrating/Invasive Lobular Carcinoma -
What is Invasive Lobular
Carcinoma (ILC)?
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma, also known as Infiltrating Lobular Carcinoma, is a type of breast cancer that starts in a lobule and spreads to surrounding breast tissue. If not treated at an early stage, ILC also can move into other parts of the body, such as the uterus or ovaries. ILC is the second most common type of invasive breast cancer, accounting for 10 to 15 percent of all breast cancer cases.
Who is most likely to have ILC?
Women between the ages of 45 and 56 are most likely to have ILC. About 20 percent of women with breast cancer have a family history of the disease.
What characterizes ILC?
ILC is characterized by a general thickening of an area of the breast, usually the section above the nipple and toward the arm. You may not be able to feel a breast lump or hard mass. Instead, an area of breast tissue may only feel differently than the rest of your breast. ILC also is less likely to appear on a mammogram. When it does appear, it may show as a mass with fine spikes radiating from the edges or appear as an asymmetry compared to the other breast.

11/20/2008 - Thursday - Appt with Surgical Oncologist to discuss diagnosis and treatment. Options include an additional lumpectomy in the same area to remove additional tissue, a single mastectomy or a double mastectomy; with any of the three a lymph node test and surgery would be performed. Medical treatment would include some or all of Chemotherapy; Radiation; & Hormone Therapy. Reconstructive options include immediate or delayed, and then saline, gel, or other. MRI and PET CT tests were ordered. Genetic testing for the BRCA1 and the BRCA2 were done.
11/21/2008 - Friday - Appt with plastic surgeon to discuss options.
11/24/2008 - Monday - MRI at St. John Moross
11/24/2008 - Monday - PET CT at St. John Macomb
11/25/2008 - Tuesday - Results - MRI ok; residual cells in right breast, left ok. PET CT showed indeterminate results in Left Neck and 4 skeletal areas
12/01/2008 - Monday - Appt with Medical Oncologist - Wants surgery first, then treatment; ordered Bone Scan to check on the indeterminate results of PET CT. Blood drawn.
12/02/2008 - Tuesday - Confirmed surgery for Friday, December 5 - Bilateral Mastectomy with cyst in neck removed as well
12/03/2008 - Wednesday - Bone Scan at St. John Moross
12/05/2008 - Friday - Surgery - Right Total Mastectomy; Left Prophylactic Mastectomy; Removal of Sebaceous Cyst Left neck; Sentinel Lymph Node Surgery on Right Side (ended up Auxiliary Lymph Node Surgery).
While I was in surgery, the Medical Oncologist called Al and told him that my Bone Scan came back clean, and the blood tests came back good. Great news.
12/06/2008 - Saturday - Discharged
12/10/2008 - Wednesday - Results from surgery - Left neck ok; left breast ok; right side residual cells. Lymph nodes - 41 of 41 positive with cancer (I like to score high :-)). DX - Advance Lobular Carcinoma - Stage 3.
Genetic testing came back positive for BRCA2 (Deleterious) mutation. This means that at some point in the near future I will need an Oophorectomy (Ovaries removed) and that the decision to have the bilateral mastectomy was a good decision.
12/12/2008 - Friday - Appt to have drain tubes removed. Kelly and Kim did their genetic testing.
12/18/2008 - Thursday - Picked up Prostheses and Lymphedema Sleeve.
12/19/2008 - Friday - Appt with Medical Oncologist - wants ovaries out first before treatment. The Gynecologic Oncologist is out of the office for two weeks.
Said I qualified for a Clinical Trial that gives the same Chemotherapy, but adds an additional drug with the Chemo drugs that has been proven in Colectoral Cancer.
There was the big snow fall this day. We spent a long time at the doctor's. Then we went to the OB/GYN office to sign a transfer of medical records. We decided to check with them for an Appt for the ovary removal. They had a Monday appt.
12/22/2008 - Monday - Appt with OB/GYN - Should be able to fit me into his surgery schedule ASAP.