The Beginning - April 2010

It started as a routine mammogram. Being too busy, I had let some time pass between mammograms. In fact, when I stopped to really think about it, it had to be at least 5 years, maybe 7. YIKES. So my new primary care doctor (who is now my ex-primary care doctor) wrote the scrip and off I went to the breast center on April 1.

It had been quite a while since I had had one and now they are all pretty much digital. Gone are the days of waiting 1-2 weeks for the radiologist to read it. But in my case, I got the call about 4-5 days later to come back for another one.

Back I went, still not too concerned as I have always had cysts and figured that was the deal. After the mammo, the tech took it to the radiologist. She came back and said they wanted to do an ultra-sound. I'm starting to get a little anxious about here. So we went and did an ultra sound. As she was rubbing around, one area was tender. Turns out THAT was the area. US was not clear enough so next up was a biopsy. This was on 4/8 and my work schedule was brutal for the next two weeks so I had the biopsy done on 4/28 (after I returned from several out of town appts. and the Microsoft Convergence Conference).

I had told myself that there was no use getting my bowels in an uproar since there was nothing I could do about it so just meet the work committments and deal with it after I got back.

So Friday 4/30 came (they said most likely they would have the pathology back then). Called the Breast Center where my nurse navigator told me my doctor wanted to tell me the results. So I told her my doctor is closed on Friday so what am I supposed to do? I asked her if it was bad. She said she was not allowed to say. At that I am like 'Uh oh.' She gives me the doctor's cell number. I call leaving her a freaked out message.

It is now 3:00. She finally calls me at 3:45. Here's how it went:

her - 'Ms. Archer I am sorry to have to tell you you have breast cancer.'
me - 'How bad is it? What kind is it?'
her - 'I'm not an oncologist. You need to consult an oncologist.'
me - 'What was the pathology diagnosis?'
her - 'You really need to consult and oncologist. Here is a referral: Dr XYZ phone 555-1212.'
me - 'Why can't you tell me the diagnosis?'
her - 'I'm sorry.'

OK, picture this: it is 4PM on Friday afternoon and this bimbo tells me I have cancer and I have to get the diagnosis from an oncologist? Where the hell am I going to find an oncologist at 4 on a Friday afternoon and how am I going to get the diagnosis to him from the hospital? I am flipping out. I call the Breast Center and of course, they are closed. So I call the oncologist she recommended. Can't get an appointment until THURSDAY!! I take it then freak out.

After my 1/2 hour of freaking, I began my PhD in Breast Cancer studies at 5PM on Friday April 30, 2010.