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I don't have details other than money goes to the American Cancer Society to fund research.
But YOU guys can find out all about it while I'm maybe even before I go into surgery.
What ? I'm still out in the dark?
No matter - you light up my life with your generosity and laughter and keeping me company through what can be very scary rattling around inside my thoughts.
I am so amazed and appreciative.
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Invasive, sometimes called Infiltrating, is a scary word. In most cases this form of breast cancer has been present for 8–10 years when detected by a mammogram or physical exam.
In my case there was clearly an area that felt thickened or dense on December 6, 2007. A mammogram the next afternoon was not able to detect it but it clearly appeared on ultrasound and was confirmed by multiple biopsies the same day.
During those 8 to 10 years the cancer took to become apparent to me, there has been plenty of opportunity for those invasive cells to get out of the breast and spread to the rest of the body.
It is after all, by definition, an invasive form of cancer.
Each year about 190 thousand women are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the US and about 40 thousand women will die of the disease. The larger the mass is when discovered the more risk. Mine had tentacled almost 5cm into the surrounding tissue and two other areas in the breast were discovered as well.
My chances of living another 10 years without cancer in another area are about 40%. The likelihood of one of my other underlying health conditions doing the job before that is 20%. it took a few months to get used to that idea.
Now though my attitude is that at least I know what I'm facing. It's just not what I expected. Life changes in an instant.
I didn't want to get my mammogram this year, and I found a new fun way to do it- I actually got it done with a friend (also my gynecologist, by coincidence). We both went together and had lunch afterwards.
It was great to have this support, especially since Maria lost her Mom last year to inflammatory breast cancer, while Maria was pregnant with her twins. Going to get the mammogram was was necessary yet scary for us both- especially since Maria, at 44, now has a lot more riding on her health with two babies at home, and a family history of a very aggressive form of breast cancer.
I hope everything goes well, Susan, and while my skills at avatar manipulation make adding peas difficult for me, I want you to know I am thinking of you, and if you need anything, we're just up in Philly and would be happy to help however we can.
Posted by: Whitney Hoffman | Dec 21, 2007 at 07:10 AM