My ‘Dense’ Story

31.12.13 / Breast Density, Uncategorized / Author: admin

My Mum passed away in 2001 from secondary breast cancer in the Liver.  It had metastasised.  It was 3 weeks before her 61^st birthday.

From then on I had annual checks on my Breasts.

I had always been told I was ‘lumpy’ and had dense breast tissue.  Every now and then there was a lump that was investigated through an FNA (Fine Needle Aspiration).  But everything was clear.

This year (2013) I went to the Dr for my usual ‘girl’ checkups, including a breast check.  I mentioned that I’d been particularly sore on the right side and that it seemed to last a lot longer than the usual menstrual cycle issues.  She agreed I was very lumpy, and suggested I see a new Radiologist who specialises in Breasts.  The downside was that it was a private practice and I would end up paying more.  He might even suggest an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan.

But off I went.  I had the usual Ultrasound and Mammogram and everything was clear.  I also had a consultation with the Radiologist, Jeremy Price, in regards to Genetic Testing.  As my mum was the only family member we know of that has had Breast Cancer, my risk was very low, so we decided not to do the genetic side of things.  I also later found out that the tests are quite expensive.

However, further discussion around Breast Density decided me on having an MRI, just to be sure.

Jeremy found a lump in my right breast but thought it was a Fibroaedenoma.  A biopsy would confirm if this was the correct diagnosis.  It was a slippery little sucker to find!  The radiographer couldn’t find it with ultrasound so went out to get Jeremy.  In the meantime, I rolled onto my left side and located it right around near my armpit of my right breast.  Lying on your side is not a position that we are suggested to use during self checks!  But this appeared to be the only way to locate it.

Even after I located it, finding and keeping it in the viewer proved challenging – but the biopsy was finally done.

Four days later, my Dr rang with the news that the biopsy showed an Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) and my Breast Cancer Journey began.

The lump was approximately 5mm (very small) at the time of the biopsy.

Nearly 3 weeks to the day of my diagnoses, I was in surgery for my lumpectomy.  Five lymph nodes were also removed.  These are checked while you are under anaesthetic using a quick test by a pathologist who is in the Theatre at the time of your surgery.  This is so they can decide if they need to do a full auxiliary clearance while in surgery (i.e. remove all the lymph nodes) if cancer has been detected.  No cancer was detected in my quick tests.  However, the lump and nodes are still sent off for full pathology.  And you get to wait 10-14 days for the results.  This can be hard, but I kept positive and busy until the results.

In the meantime, I read and read and read (see ‘Taking Control’).  By the time I got my results at the next surgeon’s consultation, I had a good understanding of what they, and the report, were saying.  I also made sure I was given a copy of the report for my files.  Keep copies of EVERYTHING.

The lump was 2.5x2mm (some had been removed during the initial biopsy), margins were clear, all 5 nodes were clear.  I was HER2 negative (this is good) and the cancer was Oestrogen and Progesterone positive (also good as this can be treated with hormone receptive drugs).

Bottom line:  we got it all, you won’t need chemotheraphy, you will have a 6 week course of Radiation Therapy, then go onto Tamoxifen for 5 years or until menopause.

BREATHE.