This Is How It All Began

On October 28, 2016, I went in for an annual mammogram at the Menorah Breast Center where I have been going for years.  All my previous mammograms have been negative so it was a bit of a surprise when I was informed that I needed to come back in for a sonogram because of something they saw on the latest mammogram that had not been seen before.  They were very reassuring.  On November 3, I went in for the sonogram.  Clearly there were two small round masses that were adjacent and maybe even attached. Again my treatment was very professional but gentle and kind.  Before I left the office I was told that a biopsy was advised.  Since we were going to visit Matt in Arizona, for the next week or so, we scheduled the biopsy for Monday, November 21, right before Thanksgiving.  Gary accompanied me for this appointment at the same Menorah Breast Center...that was really comforting to have Gary and to be going back to a familiar setting. The biopsy was sonogram assisted so I was able to watch the screen and see the masses as they were suctioned.  After the biopsy they told me it might not be until Monday that I would hear any results because of the holiday.  But on Wednesday before Thanksgiving I got a call from the nurse navigator.  She was very professional and asked if I wanted hear the results or to wait to talk with my primary care physician with whom she had already talked and who had said she was fine with the Breast Center providing the information to me. (I had just changed primary care physicians because my last doctor had left the practice.  Dr. Humphreys had seen me only once on November 4, the day after the sonogram and before any other results had been obtained.)  I opted to hear what they had to say right away so the nurse navigator explained what she could.  I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.  Here's where the magic began. The nurse navigator has the job of coordinating my treatment.  That is a huge thing for me.  I would not have had a clue as to where to begin.  What a relief to have someone else contacting doctors' offices and scheduling appointments!  First she reassured me that she would only recommend the best doctors...after getting the doctors' names I did a quick Google search that showed each had excellent references.  All are women who specialize in breast cancer.  I feel like I am getting and will continue to get the best care.  So for now the first visit is with the surgeon on Tuesday, November 29.  Next is a visit with the medical oncologist on November 30.  Hopefully a plan will be developed and we will get the ball rolling on my treatment immediately.