I came home from November Paris attacks to a letter from the Mary Ellen Locher Breast Center . . . mammogram on November 11 . . . abnormality . . we would like you to return in six to twelve months. The next day, a nurse called to inform me that I needed to come in STAT. Poor lady–she was more shaken up than I was.
We sent you the wrong letter.
I reported the next day for a second mammogram and ultrasound. I’ve seen cancer before. When I read that 75-80% of these findings are negative, I knew I’d not be in the favored percentile.
A full mastectomy and phase 1 of reconstruction was complete on March 23.
Today, after a grueling night shift, my husband told me of the surgeon’s call:
Left breast, invasive cancer. 1.8cm. entire breast DCIS entered into the left nipple. Lymph node, 3-4 cells. Herceptin. Tumor board meets today.
I don’t remember, but he told me I said,
Well, let’s do this.
transparentsy 