💜My Mom had breast cancer at age 59. She had a lumpectomy and radiation is and doing great now.
My Mom's Mom (my Nana) had breast cancer too. She was older when she was diagnosed. She is now home with God. Her cancer was more advanced. She had a single mastectomy.
My first mammogram showed that I had very fibrous, dense tissue. So, after that I started getting a mammogram and a breast ultrasound every year.
It wasn't long (maybe by my 3rd year of scans) before the Radiologists started finding stuff that they deemed "concerning." At that point, I started having breast MRIs as part of my annual routine. The more tools in the tool box, the better.
That is when the biopsies started.
The 1st time, I had a breast biopsy guided by MRI. I was so nervous and anxious. I went on our scheduled day. I had the IV put in (for the contrast), got in position, had the initial MRI to locate the mass, and was holding my breath as they were getting ready to do the biopsy when the "mass" disappeared and was deemed to be a "hormonal" fluctuation. It was a lot of anxiety leading up to not really needing a biopsy after all!
The 2nd time, it was March of 2014. I had a breast biopsy guided by MRI, it really did happen. I had always thought of a biopsy as the doctor putting a needle in and extracting some fluid and that was it. Boy was I wrong. It was literally a mini drill that goes back to the concerning mass and then a rotating cutting tool takes multiple samples of tissue. This biopsy was especially difficult because I was face down and had to hold very still while the MRI located the mass and then they had to drill all the way through to the far side of the breast and all the way back to my chest wall. It was maximum damage, this biopsy. I had a lot of bleeding and it was a hard recovery because I had more internal bleeding at home, later that night. Everything came back benign.
The 3rd time, it was August of 2014. As if I wanted another biopsy 5 months later! This time, the biopsy was guided by ultrasound. It was far easier than the last one but still no picnic. This mass was closer to the skin and the damage was much less. I still had a lot of bleeding and needed a lot of extra pressure applied afterwards. Everything came back benign.
The 4th time, it was June 7th, 2017. I had several years of peace! Well, peace in the world of breast screenings. I had been having plenty of other health issues. I had two uterine surgeries within 10 months of each other and had been having kidney problems as well as heart & lung problems.
This time the mammogram caught a "cluster of micro-calcifications" in my right breast.
The Radiologist came to talk to me in a private room. He recommended a biopsy guided by mammogram (a new one for me!). I literally said to him, "I am having a lot of health issues right now. Are you sure this is necessary?? I am not interested in an over-abundance of caution. If you really think this is something I need to do, then I will do it." He assured me that it was serious. Thank God he did.
On June 7th, I had a breast biopsy guided by mammogram. This was a crazy one. They actually did multiple mammograms first and then put my right breast in position and held it in compression the whole time they did the biopsy. This time, the nicest nurse ever (Cathy) put me in a compression wrap afterwards to prevent bleeding more at home. It worked like a charm.
2 days later, on Friday, June 9th I hadn't heard anything. I was sure it was going to be fine just like all the other biopsies I had. I called the office. The person at the breast surgeon office said that the doctor would call me at 4pm. I had a sinking feeling then. It suddenly felt like this might be bad news.
At almost 4pm on the dot, my favorite Nurse Practitioner, Tammy called me. She is who I see on a regular basis and the woman who manages my screenings (mammograms, ultrasounds, MRIs, & clinical exams).
Tammy said, "Jordan, you have breast cancer."
At that moment it just felt like a huge heavy weight just fell on me. I remember standing in our master bedroom and listening to the kids talking in the living room. The window was open and I could see my husband, Chris, outside doing something to our boat in the driveway. It was just a surreal moment.
Tammy went on to say that with my own history, my family history, and especially my age (I had just turned 40), that they would recommend a bilateral mastectomy and I could decide if I wanted reconstruction. She gave me an appointment for that Monday with a breast surgeon in their group, Dr. Lisa, who would prove to be absolutely incredible. We couldn't love her more. Tammy said Dr. Lisa would go over everything with us on Monday.
I don't really remember hanging up with her. I do remember my hands shaking and how I yelled for Chris to come in from the window.
That is where the journey began. It really is a journey. I'm not sure it will ever truly come to a close. I think having cancer and getting through the treatment changes a person. Probably forever.
My Mom's Mom (my Nana) had breast cancer too. She was older when she was diagnosed. She is now home with God. Her cancer was more advanced. She had a single mastectomy.
My journey began when I turned 30. That is when I went for my first mammogram. I thank God that I started screening when I did. I have my OB/GYN to thank for that. She encouraged me to get started because of my family history and I did. My first mammogram showed that I had very fibrous, dense tissue. So, after that I started getting a mammogram and a breast ultrasound every year.
It wasn't long (maybe by my 3rd year of scans) before the Radiologists started finding stuff that they deemed "concerning." At that point, I started having breast MRIs as part of my annual routine. The more tools in the tool box, the better.
That is when the biopsies started.
The 1st time, I had a breast biopsy guided by MRI. I was so nervous and anxious. I went on our scheduled day. I had the IV put in (for the contrast), got in position, had the initial MRI to locate the mass, and was holding my breath as they were getting ready to do the biopsy when the "mass" disappeared and was deemed to be a "hormonal" fluctuation. It was a lot of anxiety leading up to not really needing a biopsy after all!
The 2nd time, it was March of 2014. I had a breast biopsy guided by MRI, it really did happen. I had always thought of a biopsy as the doctor putting a needle in and extracting some fluid and that was it. Boy was I wrong. It was literally a mini drill that goes back to the concerning mass and then a rotating cutting tool takes multiple samples of tissue. This biopsy was especially difficult because I was face down and had to hold very still while the MRI located the mass and then they had to drill all the way through to the far side of the breast and all the way back to my chest wall. It was maximum damage, this biopsy. I had a lot of bleeding and it was a hard recovery because I had more internal bleeding at home, later that night. Everything came back benign.
The 3rd time, it was August of 2014. As if I wanted another biopsy 5 months later! This time, the biopsy was guided by ultrasound. It was far easier than the last one but still no picnic. This mass was closer to the skin and the damage was much less. I still had a lot of bleeding and needed a lot of extra pressure applied afterwards. Everything came back benign.
The 4th time, it was June 7th, 2017. I had several years of peace! Well, peace in the world of breast screenings. I had been having plenty of other health issues. I had two uterine surgeries within 10 months of each other and had been having kidney problems as well as heart & lung problems.
This time the mammogram caught a "cluster of micro-calcifications" in my right breast.
The Radiologist came to talk to me in a private room. He recommended a biopsy guided by mammogram (a new one for me!). I literally said to him, "I am having a lot of health issues right now. Are you sure this is necessary?? I am not interested in an over-abundance of caution. If you really think this is something I need to do, then I will do it." He assured me that it was serious. Thank God he did.
On June 7th, I had a breast biopsy guided by mammogram. This was a crazy one. They actually did multiple mammograms first and then put my right breast in position and held it in compression the whole time they did the biopsy. This time, the nicest nurse ever (Cathy) put me in a compression wrap afterwards to prevent bleeding more at home. It worked like a charm.
2 days later, on Friday, June 9th I hadn't heard anything. I was sure it was going to be fine just like all the other biopsies I had. I called the office. The person at the breast surgeon office said that the doctor would call me at 4pm. I had a sinking feeling then. It suddenly felt like this might be bad news.
At almost 4pm on the dot, my favorite Nurse Practitioner, Tammy called me. She is who I see on a regular basis and the woman who manages my screenings (mammograms, ultrasounds, MRIs, & clinical exams).
Tammy said, "Jordan, you have breast cancer."
At that moment it just felt like a huge heavy weight just fell on me. I remember standing in our master bedroom and listening to the kids talking in the living room. The window was open and I could see my husband, Chris, outside doing something to our boat in the driveway. It was just a surreal moment.
Tammy went on to say that with my own history, my family history, and especially my age (I had just turned 40), that they would recommend a bilateral mastectomy and I could decide if I wanted reconstruction. She gave me an appointment for that Monday with a breast surgeon in their group, Dr. Lisa, who would prove to be absolutely incredible. We couldn't love her more. Tammy said Dr. Lisa would go over everything with us on Monday.
I don't really remember hanging up with her. I do remember my hands shaking and how I yelled for Chris to come in from the window.
That is where the journey began. It really is a journey. I'm not sure it will ever truly come to a close. I think having cancer and getting through the treatment changes a person. Probably forever.
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