- B
- J
Hi everyone,
I am not a person who likes to ask for assistance, because I am too stubborn and prideful. With that being said, here is the situation. On June 10, 2020 I called my doctor because about 2 weeks prior I had discovered a lump in my left breast. I waited 2 weeks because I figured if it was nothing it would go away. Well, it didn't, it actually got bigger. I went into my doctors office they did a physical breast exam and talked to me about it, it was decided that I need to have a mammogram and ultrasound right away. I got really lucky and was able to do this the next day and the results were immediately given to me that I needed to have a biopsy. Again, having the best luck I was able to have the biopsy the next day, June 12, 2020. This is where things got a little tricky. I had to wait about a week and a half only to find out that I have what is called Spindle Cells (not normal) and they wanted me to see a surgeon about having the mass removed because they could not decipher if the mass was cancerous or not. So, I make an appointment to see a surgeon right away. I was seen on June 23, 2020. We made the plan to have the mass removed that Friday June 26, 2020. Again, super lucky to be expedited through this process.
I had the surgery and knew that the pathology report was going to take some time because of the type of cells it contained. At this point, I was feeling relieved because the mass was no longer in my breast. Fast forward to July 22, 2020 I get the pathology report results. Now, if you know me you know that I am not a patient person, I like to have a plan and get things done quickly (or done and over with). I hate things to linger. So, I use my resources and get help with reading what the report says. At this time I did not really share the results with very many people, this was because I wanted to wait until July 24, 2020 when I was seeing my surgeon for a recheck and to officially get the results.
My pathology results determined that the mass was a Phyllodes Tumor. What my surgeon told me is that it is cancer. This tumor has a high reoccurrence rate and is fast growing. It does not respond to chemotherapy. It only responds to radiation therapy and/or surgery. The minimum recommendation is to have a lumpectomy to increase the margins to at least 1cm (possibly more) with possible radiation therapy and close monitoring. My second option is a Mastectomy. I shared with him that I do not want to have to deal with this being an issue ever again. He tells me that this is not a decision he needed me to make right then. He wants me to have all the information possible to assist with my decision. I will be seeing an oncologist and a plastic surgeon. Then I will go back to my surgeon and let him know what I have decided. He said he would like this to happen within a maximum of two weeks. Right now, I am leaning to the mastectomy and reconstruction surgery. With this option it will be two separate surgeries, one for the mastectomy, then time to heal from that, then reconstruction and time to heal from that.
So, after reading my journey and where I am at. I want you to know that I do work, I do not have a lot of PTO saved, my insurance that I pay for at an outrageous rate each week with my paycheck (but I am thankful that I do have coverage) has a $6000 deductible. Then if everyone is in network it will pay at 100% for the most part. Either option I choose I will need time off work without pay and will need help with bills and expenses for items that my insurance does not cover.
I am asking for assistance from all of my amazing friends and family. Please know that I am really embarrassed about this because it is a big ask, and I never ask for help. This help will allow me the time to heal and not feel the stress and knowing that I can take this crucial time that will be needed. My biggest stress in this journey has not been the potential and now diagnosis of cancer, but the fact that I need to work (at a job I absolutely love) to help provide for my small family. Yes, Bobby works but is laid off due to Covid-19 and Rob still lives at home and works but it can be sporadic, because he has his own medical issues having Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
Any help is immensely appreciated!
All my love,
Shani
I am not a person who likes to ask for assistance, because I am too stubborn and prideful. With that being said, here is the situation. On June 10, 2020 I called my doctor because about 2 weeks prior I had discovered a lump in my left breast. I waited 2 weeks because I figured if it was nothing it would go away. Well, it didn't, it actually got bigger. I went into my doctors office they did a physical breast exam and talked to me about it, it was decided that I need to have a mammogram and ultrasound right away. I got really lucky and was able to do this the next day and the results were immediately given to me that I needed to have a biopsy. Again, having the best luck I was able to have the biopsy the next day, June 12, 2020. This is where things got a little tricky. I had to wait about a week and a half only to find out that I have what is called Spindle Cells (not normal) and they wanted me to see a surgeon about having the mass removed because they could not decipher if the mass was cancerous or not. So, I make an appointment to see a surgeon right away. I was seen on June 23, 2020. We made the plan to have the mass removed that Friday June 26, 2020. Again, super lucky to be expedited through this process.
I had the surgery and knew that the pathology report was going to take some time because of the type of cells it contained. At this point, I was feeling relieved because the mass was no longer in my breast. Fast forward to July 22, 2020 I get the pathology report results. Now, if you know me you know that I am not a patient person, I like to have a plan and get things done quickly (or done and over with). I hate things to linger. So, I use my resources and get help with reading what the report says. At this time I did not really share the results with very many people, this was because I wanted to wait until July 24, 2020 when I was seeing my surgeon for a recheck and to officially get the results.
My pathology results determined that the mass was a Phyllodes Tumor. What my surgeon told me is that it is cancer. This tumor has a high reoccurrence rate and is fast growing. It does not respond to chemotherapy. It only responds to radiation therapy and/or surgery. The minimum recommendation is to have a lumpectomy to increase the margins to at least 1cm (possibly more) with possible radiation therapy and close monitoring. My second option is a Mastectomy. I shared with him that I do not want to have to deal with this being an issue ever again. He tells me that this is not a decision he needed me to make right then. He wants me to have all the information possible to assist with my decision. I will be seeing an oncologist and a plastic surgeon. Then I will go back to my surgeon and let him know what I have decided. He said he would like this to happen within a maximum of two weeks. Right now, I am leaning to the mastectomy and reconstruction surgery. With this option it will be two separate surgeries, one for the mastectomy, then time to heal from that, then reconstruction and time to heal from that.
So, after reading my journey and where I am at. I want you to know that I do work, I do not have a lot of PTO saved, my insurance that I pay for at an outrageous rate each week with my paycheck (but I am thankful that I do have coverage) has a $6000 deductible. Then if everyone is in network it will pay at 100% for the most part. Either option I choose I will need time off work without pay and will need help with bills and expenses for items that my insurance does not cover.
I am asking for assistance from all of my amazing friends and family. Please know that I am really embarrassed about this because it is a big ask, and I never ask for help. This help will allow me the time to heal and not feel the stress and knowing that I can take this crucial time that will be needed. My biggest stress in this journey has not been the potential and now diagnosis of cancer, but the fact that I need to work (at a job I absolutely love) to help provide for my small family. Yes, Bobby works but is laid off due to Covid-19 and Rob still lives at home and works but it can be sporadic, because he has his own medical issues having Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
Any help is immensely appreciated!
All my love,
Shani