What we know so far.

After some pain, noticing some dense tissue and that my breast looked different, I visited my midwife who ultimately recommended a mammogram. That led to biopsies on June 10 and an ultrasound that revealed a mass, which was also biopsied. 

June 14 I was officially diagnosed with cancer with more details yet to be revealed. In the week since, we have learned it's inflammatory and invasive -- throughout my entire breast. It's considered Stage 3. 

We met with a surgeon June 21 who explained how invasive the cancer is as well as two major factors that help determine the course of action. First, we learned that the HER2 oncogene is present, which only appears in 1 in 5 cancers of this kind. That means that it's far more aggressive. On Monday, June 27 I had surgery to insert a port for easy IV access. The next day I will begin chemotherapy -- every three weeks for 18 weeks. During chemo, I'll get two drugs that specifically target the HER2 genes. After chemo is done, I will continue to receive one of the HER2 drugs every three weeks for 7 1/2 more months. 

Within a month of chemo ending I will be having a mastectomy as well as radiation, but there's lots more to determine there in the next few months.

We also know the cancer is estrogen receptor positive, meaning it's fed by estrogen and is also more aggressive because of that. After surgery, I will be put on medication that will put me into early menopause, thereby cutting off its supply. I will stay on this medication for the next 10 years.

I will be working with a naturopathic oncologist alongside my regular oncologists. He will be helping to support me so I'm as healthy as I can be while going through treatment, doing things to help offset the side effects of chemotherapy and medication, etc. He has me taking many different supplements that will support my vital organs (which can be hit hard by chemo), my immune system, help me sleep, etc. I'm very grateful to know doctors like this exist, to have been referred to a great one and for my oncologist to welcome it. He also says I need to start working out, so if anyone wants to get back into yoga with me, I think that's where I'm going to start. 

We are doing OK. It's been a real doozy of a week. Claire is away for the week, so we will tell her when we see her on Sunday. We ask that if you see her around Royal Oak, etc. this weekend, please say nothing. James doesn't have a clue, of course, other than knowing I have some boo-boos and I suppose it will continue that way. My mom will be taking her for the weekend and into next week so we can focus on getting some things in order, spending Sunday alone with Claire and deal with the port and chemo number 1 more easily. 

Chemo isn't the chemo of the movies anymore. I'm told very small percentage of patients get nauseous or actually throw up and if I do they can give me more/different meds to help. I apparently will actually feel OK for the first couple of days and, after the drugs they give me with chemo wear off, I will feel pretty tired. A friend who recently completed 20 weeks of chemo said at worst she felt like she had a really bad flu and had some pretty wicked heartburn. I'm hoping to fare so well. The first chemo will be several hours. After that, they said to expect 3-4 hours each time. 

My doctor does not want me to work throughout chemo. I will likely cut my hair short in the next few days. I'll probably be bald by the Fourth of July.

A lot of people are asking what they can do and right now. A friend is setting up a GoFundMe page and another a MealTrain page, so we'll share those at some point soon.

I'm sure there are times we will need some help perhaps entertaining James, buying food, etc. In fact, food will be a major one. I probably won't be much up to cooking and will be eating vegan with no refined sugar and limited refined carbs. We will probably frequent the handful of vegetarian and vegan restaurants and juice places (Inn Season, Cacao Tree, Seva, Anita's, Om Cafe, Drought, Urge)  in the area for takeout as well as the good delis at area markets, like Whole Foods, Plum, Holiday, etc. Of course, Daniel and the kids won't be on as strict of diets. 

For everyday household expenses and supplies, gas, etc. general Visa gift cards and Target cards or maybe Amazon would come in very handy. 

Until things are further underway we are keeping the news off of Facebook, so we would appreciate it if you could as well. In the last week I have reached out to three friends who have been or are going through this and two of them, had it not been for Facebook, I would not have known. After the dust settles and we get past next week I may be a little more out there with it because this stinks and if I can help someone down the road because they knew I went through it, I would love that they came to me. That being said, you are welcome to tell anyone or share this page with anyone who you think would want updates.

Thanks for all the love, 
Kirsten and Daniel