This is my 60th blog post since June, I guess. So, a quick recap.
June: Diagnosed with triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma in my right breast and ductal carcinoma in situ on my left breast. I had a genetic test and it came back showing I have a BRCA1 mutation.
“In situ” means “in position” - basically, it’s cancer that’s going to start at some point. It’s just waiting for its moment.
Triple negative breast cancer is 10-15% of all breast cancers and means that it is not caused by hormones. This type of cancer grows and spreads faster, the treatment options are limited - I was offered one type of chemotherapy before I went on my experimental drug - and generally have a worse outcome than ‘normal’ breast cancers.
I was getting screened. We caught it much, much earlier than if I had not been getting screened. Yay family history! At the time I was initially diagnosed, I had a breast MRI and a full body PET scan. The MRI said, yep! Cancer. The PET scan agreed. The best part? It showed no sign of cancer beyond what we had found.
Assuming they don’t find cancer in my lymph nodes or when they do my reproductive organ removal? 5-year survival rate is approx. 91%. Those are good odds.
Where are we? BRCA! The BRCA mutations - 1 and 2 - are carried in a very small percentage of the population. Lucky me? There are other mutations that have been linked to breast cancer, but these are the most ‘common’ - so we’ll stick with this. I am BRCA1. I had a 55-65% chance of getting breast cancer by age 70. I beat that! Ha! I also had a higher chance of a triple negative cancer. Winning…?
My chance of ovarian cancer? 35-70% because they really have no idea for sure. Your chance, as a ‘normal’ female? Less than 2%. So don’t freak out. You’re probably fine.
This is why prophylactic mastectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy are a thing. Prophylactic means removing it before you get something, such as cancer. I would have done that if I’d known. Truly. I am choosing to remove my ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and cervix even though they show no signs of cancer at this time.
All of this surgery will reduce the chance of cancer appearing in my body again by 85-95%. I’ll happily trade away my breasts and reproductive organs for those odds. I’ve got a lot of stuff to do still.
Recap: Breast cancer/both sides, genes that apparently want to kill me, chopping a bunch of stuff off/out so I can live a long and happy life.
Cancer will always be a part of my life. I’ll have to continue being screened for stuff for forever, but, hey! No more mammograms! Hopefully I’ll be one and done with this surgery on Wednesday. That will alleviate my fear of laws changing and my insurance being able to evict me because I’m a pre-existing condition. That’s what I’ll be for the rest of my life, so if you are in a place where you are healthy and can advocate for sensible health laws, please do. The sick people get tired of being the only ones to say, “Uhm. These laws are dumb and need to change to protect all citizens, not just those who can afford to pay for it.”
And the last point I’ll make: Support each other. Whether it’s a cancer diagnosis or a global pandemic, we need to support each other. And support choice. I had options and choices to make about my treatment. I am choosing flat closure, no reconstruction. Others may choose reconstruction with implants or with a fat transfer surgery. Support us.
I am choosing not to do any fertility treatments/harvesting of eggs. Others choose to go through that process because the cancer treatments may very well remove your ability to reproduce. Support us.
It’s impossible to know what choices you’ll make unless you’re in a particular situation, so please just support each other. And be nice. Darn it.
Note: Gabe, my husband, will send an update after my surgery either Wednesday or Thursday this week. I’ll update as soon as I’m able as well. If you’re on self-quarantine/social distancing, it’s time to find a hobby! Mine is having surgery in the middle of a global pandemic, apparently.