Forewarned is Forearmed!

I called the  radiology department to ask some question after my diagnosis and they put me in contact with a "Breast Health Navigator."  Seriously, I need my own personal Breast Health Navigator!!  

Couldn't someone else navigate so I don't have to participate?  

I need to make so many decisions...decisions...decisions...REALLY...I hardly know a thing about breast cancer! My mind was racing, my thoughts were like a pin ball machine, I couldn't sleep or eat.  Steroids are going to be part of my regimen, however, I haven't even started them.

I quickly realized that learning about my disease, surgeries and treatments was going to empower me and help me regain a sense of control. Knowledge/Information is incredibly empowering!! The more you understand about something, the less power it has over you!!  

Several months ago, Ralph and I had a planned trip to Vieques, Puerto Rico.  My breast surgeon said that this is not a medical emergency, take time and study your options.  It was the best thing we could have ever done.  Our stress levels were at an all time high, we were both crying and depressed.  I studied breast cancer for several hours each day, by the pool, overlooking the ocean...in pure paradise. 

 The option was to do the same thing, but in Buffalo.  

Ralph would sit next to me and I would interrupt him with questions and interesting facts.  I know it was exhausting for him, however he never left my side and was patient and understanding with my constant banter.  I looked forward to our evening routine of a very late lunch, of pita and hummus, a glass of wine for me and a manhattan for R.

Here are My Stats:

Prognosis:   Excellent
Multi centric Invasive ductal carcinoma = not so good
Architecturally poorly differentiated cells = not so good
Low nuclear grade = good
BRAC 1 & BRAC2 negative = good
ER & PR Positive = good
HER2/neu negative = good
Stage 2 = better than 4

Here is what it all means:

Prognosis A prediction of the course of the disease, the future prospect for the patient.  For example, most breast cancer patients who receive treatment early have a good prognosis..... frosting!!
Multi Centric Describes cancers or suspicious micro calcifications located over more than one quarter of the breast.
Invasive  Cancer that has spread outside its site of origin and is growing into the surrounding tissue
Ductal Cancers beginning in the milk ducts and comprise the largest number of cancers occurring in women
Carcinoma Describes a malignant or cancerous growth
Poorly Differentiated These cells have lost most of the characteristics of the cell from which they came.  Usually aggressive.
Low Nuclear Grade This is an evaluation of the size and shape of nucleus in tumor cells and the percentage of tumor cells that are in the process of dividing or growing.  Cancers with a low nuclear grade grow and spread less quickly than cancers with a high nuclear grade.
BRAC 1 & BRAC 2  Genes identified to increase risk of hereditary breast cancer..... frosting!!
ER & PR This refers to the presence of estrogen (ER = Estrogen Receptor) and progesterone 
(PR = Progesterone Receptor) receptors in the tumor cell nuclei.  It tells the physician whether the tumor was stimulated to grow by female hormones and is very important in determining what type of treatment will be used after surgery.  If a tumor is positive, that means it was stimulated by estrogen or progesterone and usually carries a more positive prognosis..... frosting!!
Her2/neu  Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 is a protein identified in breast cancer indicating increased aggressiveness.
Stage 2 When pathology results are received, your cancer is staged on a scale from zero (in-situ cancer) to four (a cancer with distant metastasis).  A stage zero cancer is the earliest form of breast cancer and has the best prognosis.  Staging is an estimate of how much the cancer has spread. 

" Know thy Enemy"...

What an understatement!

I learned so much about breast cancer in the first few weeks after my diagnosis.  There has been so much information to process...its like trying to take a sip of water from an open fire hydrant!!