Pink Rollercoasters

Some of you might wonder why I've been so quiet lately. Others are well versed in the past few months of my life...

The long and the short? I've been riding a giant pink rollercoaster.

Most of you know that I lost my Mom to breast cancer when I was 10. She was diagnosed at the age of 41, and fought cancer like a warrior for 8 years.


So, when I turned 31 in 2009 I decided that it was time to begin the journey of breast health and mammography. I thought that I would be a responsible adult.  I scheduled my first (baseline) mammogram innocently for the day before Thanksgiving and thought nothing of it.


You see where this story is going...


There was something on the scans that required I come back to the hospital for more images. I dutifully scheduled a followup appointment - thinking that it would be a good idea to get as many baseline images as possible. Hah!


After a few more hours of imaging I wound up having a core needle biopsy the first week of December. I studied up on the internet to remind myself of the difference between benign and malignant. I read everything I could get my hands on that discussed young women diagnosed with breast cancer. I was amazed how long it can take to get results, how the world stands still and rushes all at the same time. I was frustrated. I was consumed.


The core needle biopsy showed atypical cells. (Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia for those of you who want to know more) This was great news. However, the pathologist wanted a second opinion. So for the next few weeks as the holidays approached I tried my very hardest to pretend everything was OK as I began to wonder if I might have some sort of cancer, pre-cancer, or pre-pre-cancer. I dreaded the idea of being the bearer of bad news for the holidays.


After stalking my surgeon's office, meeting with some of the top MDs in Connecticut that work with young women, and waiting impatiently for my pathology to come back from some far off laboratory I started to really freak out. Poor John was stuck listening to my rants - my fears - my ideas - my childhood stories - and everything in between. Yep, he was stuck with it all. I was a mess.


The team of doctors I had amassed determined that it would be in my best interest to have a lumpectomy. This way they could remove the lesion and get a better idea of what was going on. So as we ushered in 2010 I scheduled my surgery.


Towards the end of January my little lump was removed and the slides showed pretty much the same information as my core needle biopsy. Atypical cells, no cancer. We did a little happy dance.


And now I'm working with my gaggle of Docs to keep the cancer out of my life. There are lots of recommendations, tests, and studies to look at. I'm still scared. But in the meantime, I'm taking time to realize how fortunate I am to be healthy and have fantastic friends and family in my life.