Dear Family & Friends,
This will be repeat information for some of you; for others, it will be an introduction to the events that have transpired over the past two weeks: On May 26, I had a routine mammogram, which indicated a dark spot on my right breast. Two days later, I had an ultrasound and both reports were sent to my Family Practitioner, Dr. Patricia Hogan. She referred me to Dr. Jeffrey Crooms, Surgeon, for a core needle biopsy, which he performed on June 2. Stephen drove me to this appointment, drove me home, and was with me when Dr. Crooms called, two hours later, to inform me that the I had a cancerous tumor in the right breast. Stephen and I immediately returned to Dr. Crooms’ office and he ordered an MRI, which I had on June 5. I have not yet received results from this test.
Specifically, I have Stage One Invasive Ductal Carcinoma [IDC]. This is a common type of breast cancer: Among all the women who have breast cancer, 70% of these women have this type. Stage One refers to the size of the tumor, which is between 1 and 2 cm. Invasive does not necessarily mean that the cancer is aggressive; it means that it travels outside of the milk duct.
What are the next steps for us? We are preparing for surgery in June to remove the tumor — a lumpectomy. While I am on the operating table, the surgeon will remove a few lymph nodes and a pathologist will examine them. Following the lumpectomy, I will recuperate and receive radiation. Until we receive the results of the post-operative biopsy of the tumor and the lymph nodes, we will not know what further treatment will be required.
Please pray for us.
Coram Deo,
Margo
Margot’s Corner 