My Whole Story in a Nutshell

2024 to 2026 

 

December 2024 to February 2025 - Fully Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

February to May 2025 - Chemotherapy Infusions

June 24, 2025 - Single Left Mastectomy with Aesthetic Flat Closure

August to September 2025 - Proton Radiation Prep and Treatment

February 2025 to January 2026 - Anti HER2 Infusions

March 6, 2026 - Infusion port removed.

March to April 2026 - Physical Therapy

....

Follow up to monitor if the beast returns to fight again...

My Full Timeline

This is a full outline of my story as there are so many details this could take a while!

A snap shot of a blurry view into the life of a cancer  patient.  As much as I documented or I could remember 

 

2024

 

October - Noticed Mass - I caught COVID so I had to cancel my appointment. 

 

November 4th - My doctor was sick so my appointment was canceled.

November 20th - My annual OBGYN visit where the doctor confirmed my suspicious mass.

 

December 4th - Mammogram and Ultrasound. Confirmed suspicious mass and more. 

December 5th - Someone canceled their appointment, so I was able to get in for my first biopsies. 

December 6th - Work Party. Where I used black tape to hide my bandages from my biopsies. 

I find this part a little fun to share as I went fully dressed with a beaten, bloody and bruised breast. 

Take that cancer. lol

 

December 10th - I received my pathology report. I did not understand it until I researched all the medical terms. 

I already had a feeling it was cancer so I was not shocked, but the hardest part was telling everyone that my  gut was right. 

ABNORMAL : HER2 Positive , Hormone Negative, Invasive Ductile Carcinoma 

I am a "knowledge is power" and "the unknown gives me anxiety" type of person, hah.  So I like to read my reports as soon as I can. 

 

December 14th - I cut a few inches of hair off. 

(I felt it would be better for everyone to see my hair leave in stages of cuts, rather than watching it fall out slowly. I wanted to get rid of my hair myself, so I would not feel anxiety or depression from having it swiftly taken from me. I did it to myself so I felt in control of something. I wanted to be fully focused on surviving treatment. I have the power to shape who I am through creative methods. Take that cancer!)

 

December 16th - My appointment with the breast specialist to review the pathology report. 

The Specialist had a description of the possible plan for my type of cancer. She explained the tests I would need immediately and she pointed me towards some good Breast Surgeons. She wrote orders for the basic tests and told me to schedule them as soon as possible. 

As well as recommended a genetics test for possible genetic mutations. 

 

December 19th - I had my blood drawn for the Myriad genetics test. 

 

December 20th - I met my first Breast Surgeon. 

She explained all the possible surgeries and my stage with the information we had at that time, which was assumed to be stage 2b. 

She believed a lumpectomy was very possible at this time. 

 

December 21st - I went to a salon to have my hair cut to shoulder length. 

 

December 23rd - My first full body MRI which showed the depth of my invasive mass. 

 

December 26th - I met my Medical Oncologist. (Such a nice soft spoken gentleman!)

 

December 28th - My first CT Scan (Suspicious lymph nodes, later diagnosed with Sarcoidosis)

 

December 31st - Nuclear Bone Scan of full body. 

(The doctors noted issues with my spine, but no cancer in my bones as far as they could see.)

 

2025

 

January 2nd - ECHO to know the status of my heart health before I started my infusions. 

January 2nd - Met Nurse to review how chemotherapy treatments worked. 

January 4th - Blood tests to know my starting point before my treatment plan started. 

January 7th - Appointment with Pulmonary doctor to review my lung issues noted on CT scan. 

January 8th - Blood Tests before procedures. 

 

January 9th - Bronchoscopy for lung biopsies and tests. 

(Please note and learn from my mistake. I had to pee in a cup to prove I was not pregnant but I was not prepared which delayed my start.)

 

January 10th - Smart Port Placement (Infusion Port for Chemotherapy, blood draws and Anti HER2 Infusions)

(Note: I wish I would have buzz cut my hair before my port placement because washing my hair here was hard.)

 

January 16th - I met a Radiation Oncologist who reviewed what radiation is and possible complications. 

(I was placed on Antibiotics by my medical oncologist due to ear pain.)

 

January 17th - Ultrasounds of both breasts 

(The MRI showed spots that the doctors wanted to biopsy to map and mark the cancer, but they were not sure if it was possibly to do by ultrasound or MRI.)

 

January 19th - I went back to my local hair salon and got a Pixie hair cut. 

January 20th - Ultrasound of previously diagnosed uterine fibroid to see if it had grown. (It did not) 

 

January 28th - 4 more biopsies (3 in the left, and 1 in the right. Right after I had a Mammogram and MRI to see if they hit the right spots

My surgeon called me later to tell me 3 of the 4 were unsuccessful in hitting the suspicious MRI spots. Even though they had missed they still collected cancerous tissue. 

They successfully biopsied another lymph node in my arm pit that looked like my confirmed cancerous lymph node of my left by the main mass, but the doctors believed it was a false negative. These biopsies made my Breast Surgeon believe the cancer was too deep to save my natural breast. 

I knew then I needed a single left mastectomy. It was not safe to have a lumpectomy with all the satellite masses. 

 

January 31st - Port Flushed and blood draw before Chemotherapy.

(My port was to be accessed every 3-4 weeks to be flushed and/or get possible blood draws.)

 

February 4th - MRI biopsy from my right breast. 

(They collected from the correct spot this time and it was not cancerous.)

 

February 6th - Took 3 steroid pills in preparation for Chemotherapy.

February 7th - Round 1- My First Chemotherapy and Anti HER2 Infusions(7infused medications total). 

I was sent home with automatic injectable patch on the back of my arm, a white blood cell/immune system booster. 

I took antinausea pills for the first time. 

February 8th - Took 3 Steroid pills and took off patch after it injected. 

(This was the basic process for each of my rounds, 6 rounds total. )

 

February 10th - Appointments with Breast Surgeon and Pulmonologist to review all of my test results and plan for the future.

(I was exhausted and had a hard time talking and thinking. I also had a rash and many symptoms from my infusions. )

 

February 23rd - My hair started to fall out. So I buzz cut my hair at home with a guard. 

(I was warned to avoid getting any cuts due to the risk of infection from a low immune system at this time.)

 

February 25th - Blood tests for Chemotherapy and extra lung blood tests. 

 

February 28th - Round 2 of Chemotherapy and Anti HER2.

March 1st - My auto injectable patch malfunctioned and I never wanted to try it again. I was given the option to go in for a shot.

It gave me so much anxiety waiting all day for it to go off that I would rather have a shot from a human. 

 

March 3rd - went in for shot. 

March 6th - Follow up with Medical Oncologist.

March 21 - Round 3 of Chemotherapy and Anti HER2.

March 28 - Follow up with Breast Surgeon. She confirmed I needed a mastectomy and I just had to decide what type of surgery I wanted. 

I said I wanted to go flat. She wanted me to be sure so she asked me to just meet with a plastic surgeon. 

 

March 29 - CT Scan to see lung health. 

 

April - I joined a cancer group in search of opinions about my surgery and surgeon and this just helped me stand by my opinions and stand up for myself.

 

April 7 - Met a plastic surgeon to see if she would assist with my flat closure. She said she would not need to. 

April 11th - Round 4 of Chemotherapy and Anti HER2.

April 17th - Follow up with Medical Oncologist.

April 25th - PFT for lungs and ECHO for Heart status. 

 

April 30th - Follow up with Breast Surgeon. 

I confirmed again that I wanted to go half flat. One single left Mastectomy AFC. The surgeon was shocked at my choice and finally admitted it, but I stuck to my choice because I know who I am. 

 

April 30th - I also had a Skin Check at a dermatologists office. 

Since I was bald I seen this as a good opportunity to have someone look at my scalp for any issues. 

 

 

May 2nd - Round 5 of Chemotherapy and Anti HER2.

 

May 9th is a special day for me. This was the day I met my new good friend at a grocery store!

My dear friend Shay, who was a few steps ahead of me on the same journey. 

 

May 23rd - Round 6 of Chemotherapy and Anti HER2. 

Final Round of Chemotherapy! 

 

May 29th - Follow Up with Medical Oncologist.

 

June 2nd - I met a new Breast Surgeon to hear what she had to say about my situation. 

I liked her answers so much that I decided I wanted her as my surgeon. 

 

June 9th - PCP Pre surgery clearance visit.

 

June 10th - Blood tests.

June 13th - Anti HER2 Infusions

June 16th - I met with my new surgeon to review my surgery plan and what to expect after. 

 

I took about 6 weeks off of work to prepare and recover from my surgery. 

(June 23rd to August 8th)

 

June 24th, 2025 - Single Left Mastectomy with Aesthetic Flat Closure

I was given dye and metal injections as well as wires were placed to guide surgeon during surgery. 

In hospital over night. 

June 25th - Returned home. (Basic recovery took 6 weeks.)

 

June 27th - Went to Surgeons Office for JP drain tube review.

June 30th - JP Drain tube was removed due to the lack of fluid draining. 

 

July 1st - Blood tests.

July 3rd - Anti HER2 Infusions

 

July 10th - Follow up with Medical Oncologist and Breast Surgeon. 

I had received a Pathological Complete Response and was considered in remission, but I was only half way done.

I still had to go through radiation and finish the full year of Anti HER2 infusions. 

 

 2026

January 5th - Follow up visit at Breast Surgeons Office for 6 month review. 

I had AWS/Cording, pain and all different issues from my treatment. Recovery was far from over.

 

January 6th - Blood tests.

January 9th - Anti HER2 Infusions.

January 10th - Hair cut at salon.

January 16th - Started Physical Therapy again. 

January 21st - Physical Therapy.

January 22 - Follow up with Medical Oncologist.

January 26th -  Physical Therapy.

January 27th - Blood tests.

January 28th - Physical Therapy.

January 30th - Last Anti HER2 Infusions!

 

February 3rd - Circulating tumor DNA test and annual blood draws for PCP.

February 4th - Physical Therapy.

February 5th - Last ECHO.

February 6th - Physical Therapy.

February 7th - Mammogram (Single Right)

February 9th - Physical Therapy

February 11th - Physical Therapy

February 16th - Physical Therapy

February 18th - Physical Therapy

 

February 28 - Hair cut at salon. 

 

March 6th - Port Removal. 

 

To be continued...

March - Physical Therapy