At the age of 33, in April 2014, I was tested for the BRCA2
mutation because my mother, grandmother and aunt were recently discovered to be
positive for the mutation. In early May
2014, my results were positive for the BRCA2 mutation. I had been asking my GYN in previous years to
have a mammogram, because my grandmother had breast cancer in 1995 and
2012. I was refused the testing because
I was “too young”. I changed
gynecologist because mine had retired.
My new GYN was aware of my mothers’ positive results for the genetic
mutation, my grandmothers’ breast cancer and positive genetic mutation, and my
aunt having positive results for the genetic mutation as well.
My GYN ordered the genetic testing. As soon as the presence of the genetic
mutation was verified for me, I was referred to a breast specialist, and had my
first mammogram the same day I saw her.
My mammogram showed suspicious micro-calcification lesions, so two days
later they had me come back for magnification views of the lesions. Two days after that, I was in to have a
stereotactic breast biopsy. The initial
results of the biopsy showed stage 0 DCIS.
Within a week, the final results came back with stage1 invasive ductal
carcinoma. I had already decided that I
was going to have a bilateral mastectomy if I was positive for the
mutation. I was going to plan out my
time for when I was going to have my preventative surgeries. Now with the cancer diagnosis, my time table was
adjusted and put on the fast track.
Before the end of May, I had seen my plastic surgeon and the date, June
20, had been coordinated and scheduled for my sentinel lymph node biopsy and
bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction.
When I went to my breast specialist, for my first post-op appointment, I
was informed there were cancerous cells in the lymph node. I was referred to an oncologist for
treatment.
We discussed treatment options, but he wanted to order
further testing on the nodes and breast tissue to determine my risk level for
recurrence, before we started any treatments. The samples were sent off and
within a month the results were in. I was at a high level risk of recurrence.
The next week I was back in surgery for a port placement. One week after, I was
to start 4 treatments of Taxotere and Cytoxan every 3 weeks. My chemo journey
was far from routine…one week after my 1st treatment, I developed a
nasty infection in both breasts. I was on multiple antibiotics to try and
combat my infection for a week to no avail. This infection refused to leave, I
felt so defeated from this and the effects chemo was having on me. I also had
lost all my hair at this time, I mean, let’s add insult to injury! I ended up
in the emergency room on a Friday night in early September. That evening I was
taken in to surgery and woke up with no breasts again, the expanders had been
compromised/infected and had to come out. I spent 4 days in the hospital on
heavy IV antibiotics before I was able to come home. My second chemo was a few
weeks after surgery, this time I ended up with a nasty itchy rash all over my
body. To this day all I have been told was they were hives and we still do not
know exactly what the cause was. Chemo 3
and 4 went much better than the 1st two, and my biggest problems
were fatigue, neuropathy and no appetite. It was impossible to do anything
around my house and needed help with my children and showering myself. It took
me a few good months to start feeling human again. Two months after chemo, I
had a complete hysterectomy. Another month later I went back to my plastic
surgeon and had my expanders put back in place. I am currently awaiting my
final exchange to implants. This has been a long exhausting process and it is
nearing the end. It will be just over a year from the 1st surgery
before everything is complete.