On Thursday, January 24th, 2013, I (Noelle) was diagnosed with second stage Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC). Brad and I have been spending the last few days coming to terms with the diagnosis, informing immediate family, and researching like crazy (I knew those three years of pre-med classes would come in handy some day!) We've decided that it's important for us to be open with others about our journey, so this is the place I'll try to keep updated on what's happening with me. And, while this may be encompassing for awhile, we're determined to not let this define us and our family. So, for those who want to know more, please feel free to ask. For those who prefer not to, please pass by my medical updates and focus on my family ones. Everyone deals with this differently, and we know that this diagnosis means that it isn't just happening to me. We're doing okay...taking it day-by-day. And, while we absolutely know that there are tough times ahead, we know it will strengthen us individually, as spouses, and as a family. And we know that God will shoulder what we give Him and be with us always.
Background:
On Monday, January 21st, 2013, I met with a surgeon to have, what was believed to be, an abscess drained from my left breast. Ultrasound showed that the fluid was no longer there and instead, it appeared to be a large mass. Instead of taking two biopsies, as the surgeon had planned, he took seven, and told us he hoped to have results by the end of the week at the earliest. Fast-forward to Thursday, and I received a called from our family physician's nurse who asked for Brad and I to come in together to meet with the doctor to go over our results (da, da, DOM!) I dropped Brendan and Megan off at a friend's house and headed to our appointment determined to roll with whatever punches may be headed our way. At the appointment, our physician informed us of the diagnosis (gotta say, that must SO be the worst part of a physician's job!) As I stated above, we spent the day trying to adapt to the news, while keeping as calm as possible for the kids.
What We Know:
Not much. Yet. Based on our initial analysis, I have Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, with a Nottingham grade of II characterized by a Tubule score of 3, a nuclear score of 2, and a mitotic score of 1, making a total Nottingham score of 6 of 9. It's a Focal ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), intermediate-high nuclear grade, solid type with intraluminal necrosis and no evidence of angiolymphatic invasion. It's a hormone-fed cancer (75% estrogen positive and 25% progesterone positive) with HER2neu analysis pending. We are meeting with our referral physician, Dr. Dawn Johnson, at the Piper Breast Center in Minneapolis on Monday, January 28th. We hope to know more after that appointment, but are trying to prepare ourselves for having lots and lots of questions and not many answers right away. This first month will be hard (as I want to know all so I can plan, plan, plan), but we're trying to slow down and take things as they come.
My Family:
The kids don't know yet. Brendan can sense that something is going on and asks me a couple times a day how I'm feeling (he just melts my heart!) We plan on talking about it with Brendan at his level, and with Megan at hers, after we meet with the surgeon on Monday. I plan on gradually weaning Emily for the next couple weeks, and enjoying as much rough-and-tumble time as I can with my kids now, while I can. Brad's still pretty shaken up, and keeps wishing it had happened to him instead (which I don't think I could have handled) and wishing he would have made me go in to the doctor earlier (which there was no way of really doing, as we all thought it was a plugged milk duct and the ultrasound wouldn't have shown a tumor anyway.) Brad's been absolutely amazing, and I couldn't ask for a better person to go through this with me. I'm doing okay. Really. Sometimes I feel dazed, sometimes it feels just crazy that these words are coming out of my mouth, sometimes my brain feels foggy from all of the info I'm trying to jam into it and the emotions I'm dealing with. I refuse to think about horrible outcomes. I haven't really been able to break down and cry over this, and I've realized I need to give myself a break and not keep pressuring myself to do that. I've been the most affected with the outpouring of support and acts of those who know. We feel surrounded with love and prayer. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
The Future:
Looks beautiful.
No comments:
Post a Comment