JULIE'S STORY - In November of 2008, I went in for my yearly mammogram and was told they saw something and needed an additional look to see what it was. Two years prior to this, I experienced the same thing and was subsequently sent to a surgeon. He said it was nothing to worry about and no biopsy was needed. This time I was again sent to a surgeon after the radiologist told me that what he saw on the films was of concern. I saw the surgeon in December and he told me that a biopsy was in order. On December 29, 2008 I had a biopsy (the size of a roll of nickels removed from my left breast) and waited for the pathology results. I was calm as I really did not think anything would come of it. On January 6, 2009, the surgeonﾒs office called and said the pathology was in and to come in to meet with the surgeon. I went in alone as I was still sure it was all going to be fine. In retrospect, I should have called my husband to go in with me. When the surgeon told me it was breast cancer, I was stunned. I was 47 years old with no family history of breast cancer. He reassured me that only a lumpectomy was needed and radiation, no chemo. I went out to my car (it was pouring rain) and started crying. I calmed down and called my husband with the news. He was very upset that he was not there with me and we prepared how we were going to tell our daughters about this (ages 10 and 12 at the time). The 12 year old handled it all very well and asked a lot of questions. The 10 year old was very upset and did not want to talk about it for a few weeks (she told me later about her fear that I was going to die). After a lot of discussion with my husband and friends, I decided to contact a long time friend and fellow church member, who is also a very well-respected surgeon in town. I did not want to bother him with the biopsy, as I was sure it was not going any further than that. My husband and I met with him 3 days later and decided that a mastectomy and chemo was the route that made me feel most comfortable. I had an overwhelming sense of peace after meeting with him and it has followed me to this day. So, on January 19, 2009 I had a left mastectomy. One of my dear friends stayed in the hospital over night with me so that my husband could stay with our girls. It was very comforting to have someone there with me all night. All went well, but 2 other small lumps were found. A lumpectomy would not have been sufficient, I knew I had made the right choice.

I had a lot of support from friends and family. My Bunko group brought dinner for my family for 11 days straight (they also gave a goodie bag with night gowns, robes and slippers for the hospitals stays) and then my Sunday School group and other friends kept the meals coming. I do not think I cooked dinner for a month!!!

I then met with the Oncologist and he laid out my options which were very clear to me. Chemo was the path for me if I wanted to be sure I had done everything I could to rid my body of cancer. It was time to look for a good wig. I looked and then brought in the family for final approval.

I also knew I was going to have reconstructive surgery. My new surgeon recommended a surgeon in Dallas and my husband and I met with him on February 13th. I loved him and was confident he would be the right surgeon for the reconstruction. We discussed my options and decided I would wait until after chemo and do the tissue expander with and implant and surgery on the right breast for symmetry.

I started chemo on February 16th. I would have 4 rounds of chemo with taxotere and cytoxan every 3 weeks. After the first round, my white blood cell count dropped very low ﾖ I had to have a shot of Neulasta after each round of chemo. My hair fell out after 14 days and was not as hard as I thought it would be. My friends and family were very supportive and complementary of my ﾓnewﾔ hair (the wig). Chemo went well. I felt a little nauseated for a few days after and lost some weight. The worst part was the sleep problems that developed very quickly ﾖ I had weeks where I did not sleep almost at all. I then tried some prescription sleep medicine, but that did not help much. My husband was there by my side for every treatment. My girls came for the treatment during Spring break and my parents came from Minnesota to be with me for a treatment and help with the girls. April 23, was my last chemo!!! I have had 2 check ups since and received good reports. I also had the BRAC analysis done, I always have to know all of the facts, and was overjoyed to find out that my cancer did not have any genetic component. My girls were safe!!!

On June 16, 2009, I underwent the first step of the reconstructive process. The expander was put in place. It would be followed by many drives up to Dallas for ﾓfill-upsﾔ over the next few months. In July, my hair started to come back in (it still is not back to its former state ﾖ I am trying to be patient). On October 16, 2009, the expander was removed and the symmetry work on the right breast was done. This was the most painful surgery and recovery of all. But I was back to driving after a week, because I had things to do!!! On December 21, I had nipple reconstruction done and am recovering nicely. The surgeon said I may have some tattooing in a few months to finish up the final touches of the reconstructive work, but that may be the end of the surgeries related to breast cancer!!!