11 days ago my 45 year old wife mentioned that she had noticed a new lump in her right breast - in the same location that she had a cyst around two years previously. She also had some discomfort in her right armpit. She was sure it would be another cyst, but made an appointment at the breast clinic anyway. The mammogram came up clear, but the ultrasound showed something suspicious and a biopsy was taken - the radiologist was so confident that it was cancer that he said he would want a second biopsy if the first came back negative. The surgeon was discussing it as cancer before the result came back, so they seemed pretty sure. Initially referring to the size as 3.5 cm.
Then began the horrific wait to see if it was indeed cancer and what the situation was. She since had an MRI and PET-CT Scan (which was a scary process in itself with the radioactive tracer).
The follow-up consultation confirmed it is invasive ductal carcinoma, Grade 3, and much larger than they originally thought from the ultrasound - 5.4 cm in size - he mentioned that it was more of a group of individual tumours in one location, rather than one tumour. On the positive side, it sounded like the MRI and PET Scan did not show anything elsewhere.
The whole thing has been a total shock and now it sounds like we just have to wait till the results from pathology come back. So far they know it is ER+ and PR+ but the HER2 status is not yet known. From what the surgeon has told us, if it is positive, she will be heading for chemotherapy as soon as possible. If it is negative the biopsy will be sent for Oncotype testing.
He has said she would need a mastectomy because the cancer is so large relative to the surrounding breast tissue.
This news has shaken our world, and the uncertainty around results and forthcoming aggressive treatment is difficult to deal with. We are trying to stay as positive and upbeat as possible, especially around our 7 year old daughter. But it is difficult at times.
My wife has always been so healthy, in great shape, eating well, and rarely getting ill. It just came so out of the blue. She is finding it really difficult to contemplate the treatment and is worried about the effects of chemotherapy in the long term in particular.
We are just trying to take each day as it comes at this stage, and just reaching out to others going through the same or similar experiences.
