Hello all !

As some may or may not know Michelle is going through the fight of her life! Please consider donating to her and her family during this journey !

Hello Friends and Family!

First off, thank you to everyone who has reached out and supported me on this journey thus far. It has not been an easy 5 weeks!

Here is low-down on the events that have brought me here today:

Early June, I felt a lump in my left breast the size of a large marble. I let it go a couple weeks before scheduling a diagnostic mammogram and left breast ultrasound.

On July 6th, I had these completed and was told by the doctor before leaving the appointment that she was 90% sure this was a malignant (cancer) finding.

I returned for a left breast biopsy on July 15th with the pathology results being processed and reviewed with me on Monday July 18th. Not only did it indeed confirm it was cancer, but it was triple negative breast cancer. This, if you are not aware, is the most aggressive form of breast cancer and has the highest likelihood of return and a poor prognosis.

They advised for me to return for a bilateral breast MRI for further imaging on Tuesday July 19th, the evening before our vacation.

I received those results the following day on Wednesday July 20th, Michael’s 8th birthday, while driving to SC. The breast lump had grown from 2.5 cm around to 1.8x5.4x7.8 in 13 days and there were questionable areas at my lymph node and right breast. They advised for us to cut our trip early to return for a biopsy of a left axillary lymph node and further testing on Monday July 25th. The news was devastating to hear that it had grown so much in such a short time and that it could potentially have already spread elsewhere.

But God!

The lymph node biopsy and CT scan of my chest/ abdomen/ pelvis were negative/ normal for malignancy! As was my bone scan on Wednesday July 27th!

On Tuesday August 2, I had my first ever surgery for a port placement for chemo.

Since then, I have met with a genetic counselor, my oncologist, dietitians, and had numerous blood work all in preparation for chemotherapy.

Due to my breasts being very dense and the fact that each breast can have two different types of breast cancer, I am scheduled for a Right breast MRI guided biopsy today.

My first round of chemo is tomorrow and will be weekly for 12 weeks, then every other week for another 12 weeks. Surgery cannot happen until about a month after this with subsequent radiation.

My good friend, Michele recommended I create a page to not only share my journey, but also to receive words of encouragement and to keep everyone informed while not stressing over updating people individually. I have been trying to keep up with everyone so far but I know this will be a LONG journey and do not know if I will be able to keep it up.

Thank you again, for taking the time to read what I’ve shared. Your thought and prayers have already gotten me through so much already. I know nothing is impossible without God and am trusting and believing that I can beat this!!!

Much love

Michelle

#breastcancer #triplenegativebreastcancer

#ButGod

#faithoverfear