Even with insurance it’s amazing how much everything is costing from doctor’s visits to medicine.
If you are shopping online anyway, please use my affiliate links and support my sponsors. Any little bit helps.
Feeling extremely generous? Check out my Amazon wishlist below. If you have suggestions on items that would help me and my family please let me know.
Cha Ching Queen's Amazon Wishlist
- 7/1/10 - Breast Cancer Update - 6 Months Later (pic)
- 4/26/10 - Breast Cancer Reconstruction after Double Mastectomy (video)
- 4/7/10 - Breast Cancer Update April 2010 w/ pics
- 2/26/10 - Light at the End of the Tunnel w/ pics
- 2/15/10 - Breast Cancer Update (video) - Done with Chemo, Now What?
- 1/23/10 - Dallas Doctors
- 1/7/10 - Appointment with the Oncologist
- 12/31/09 Last Chemo and Video
- 12/30/09 - Getting Ready for Chemo #4
- 12/27/09 - Still Recovering from Chemo and Video
- 12/10/09 Chemo #3 and Video
- 12/1/09 -Sleep... Finally and Video
- 11/19/09 - Chemo #2 and Video
· 11/17/09 – Wigs and Makeup
· 11/10/09 – Video Update - My Breast Cancer Story - Diagnosis to Chemo
· 10/30/09 – The Beginning of Chemo
· 10/15/09 – Good News After Surgery
· 10/10/09 – Post Surgery
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For those of you that don't know what's going on read here... otherwise skip to the next section.
A few weeks ago I noticed a lump. A few different doctors all thought it was just a cyst. My ob/gyn said to wait a few weeks and see if it went away. Since breast cancer runs in the family, my parents insisted I get it checked out sooner. I went to have the cyst aspirated (drained), but when it wouldn't drain a biopsy was done. Even then, the surgeon said not to worry, it was probably just tissue that needed to be removed. To everyone's surprise, I got the dreaded news on Friday, September 25. All they knew at that point was that the lump was cancerous. Other test results were still pending.
We were able to get an appointment with a top breast surgeon at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas on Thursday 10/1. So, we all made the trip to Dallas for what we thought would just be a consultation. We had a very long day that Thursday. We met with various doctors. I had a lot of tests done. We were very impressed with everything and decided to go ahead and have surgery in Dallas.
The cancer was only on one side, but we (and the doctors) decided the best thing in my case was to have a double mastectomy. I most likely have the BRCA1 gene mutation which gives me a 50% chance of getting cancer again on the other side. Since I’m young (31) they said just going ahead with that surgery (rather than just a lumpectomy) would give me peace of mind for the future.
They were able to quickly fit me in for surgery on Monday (10/5). So, 10 days after getting the bad news I was at the hospital having the surgery. I ‘m glad we got things moving so quickly.
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If you have any questions, want to talk, or know someone in my similar situation please leave a comment or email me.
Rachel
5 comments:
you are so brave and I'm glad to hear that the surgery went well and you are recuperating! :)
dreamzz12{at}aol{dot}com
rachel........you are an amazing woman. by telling your story you are going to help so many others. stay strong!
polly
cherubpk@aol.com
Has anyone ever told you that you are awesome? YOU ARE!
Have a Happy New Year!
Hi Rachel, Thank you so much for documenting everything. Actually my husband found your site and we spent all morning watching it and discussing different things. My diagnosis is very similar to yours except I am 52 and postmenopausal. I had my first treatment yesterdy and will get the first shot tomorrow. I would like to keep in touch with you. Thank you for being so brave
Hey Rachel, I just found this site... thought it might be of some help.... Di
Cleaning for a Reason
If you know any woman currently undergoing Chemo for Breast cancer,
please pass the word to her that there is a cleaning service that
provides FREE housecleaning - 1 time per month for 4 months while she
is in treatment. All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a
note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a
participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the
service. http://www.cleaningforareason.org Please pass this
information on to bless a woman going through Breast Cancer treatment.
This organization serves the entire USA and currently has 547 partners
to help these women. It’s our job to pass the word and let them know
that there are people out there that care. Be a blessing to someone and
pass this information along.
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