TITS AND PITS

Sorry. I know the word can be offensive. But it got your attention. That's the whole point.
When you check your "TITS"....check your PITS. My new ad campaign. Would make great t-shirts, don't you think??
I found the lump in my armpit...."accessory breast tissue." Didn't even know breast tissue went that far up and under the arm. (Divine intervention led my fingers there because I never knew to check the pits. So many women I've shared my story with didn't check their pits either. Now they do....and I hope you do too). In fact, according to Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book 5th edition "breast tissue extends from the collarbone to below the rib cage, from the the breastbone to the back of the armpit." Wow.

So here is my lump story in a nutshell:
36 year old E! Host Guiliana Rancic comes on the Today Show in October revealing her breast cancer story.

                                           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ued2p5--AI


I see the segment thinking to myself, wow, women are getting diagnosed younger and younger. What is going on??
So I do a self exam.
Even though I just had my yearly clinical exam weeks earlier.
Even though my screeenings were clear at the beginning of the year.
I checked because her story affected me that particular day.
Thank god I did. And thank you Guiliana.
I'm pretty sure I'll never meet her, but if I ever do she will have to brace her little self for a big bear hug. I'm sharing my story because she shared hers. And it made a difference.

So as we all know the lump turned out to be breast cancer. 20% of lumps  are.
For those of you that have asked....because we all have lumps and bumps.... it was distinct. I knew right away it didn't belong with the pack.
Those initial weeks are wait and worry. Worry and wait. It's enough to make even the most level headed person come unglued.
Best description? Insanity. Surreal. A rollercoaster ride that you can't get off. When you finally get the official pathology report, it's almost a relief to just confirm it and get on with it.


A bit of advice. Before you make any sudden moves or panic-based decisions...seek out a second or even third opinion. Don't rush into anything even if you think the tumor is going to explode or kill you the next day if it stays in your body (yes I did think that, but what I learned is that in some cases there are logical reasons not to remove the tumor right away). If the first doc gets insulted or gives you a hard time, not the doc FOR YOU. 


Every morning at the bus stop I remind my kids to BE THE PILOT, NOT THE PASSENGER.  Well, looks like I just earned my wings. Time to tackle this cancer thing. Wheels up, full speed ahead. So when I start booking appointments and they tell me "okay we have an opening in 2 weeks"... no, no, no. Do not slam the brakes on me.
As a patient you want to be seen NOW. Can't wait. I have cancer man. Cancel the sore throat complainers, this is an emergency. Problem is, so many other people have cancer too. There is no conspiracy here, the staff on the other end of the phone are doing their best to help you out. All I can tell you is that persistence pays off (maybe my former life as a reporter is what paid off!).

Don't take no for an answer and keep calling (bothering). Seriously! Radiology couldn't get me an appointment when I wanted it (pronto), so I called back every few hours to see if there was a cancellation. Sure enough I got in the next day (there was probably a code red alert going out every time I called "just give this pain in the ass lady an appointment to free up our phone lines"). 

After researching and calling everyone under the sun that I thought could help me, I settled with three opinions. I would have kept going but at some point you have to pull the plug. Time is a tickin'.
 I chose a "center of excellence" for breast cancer in  Boston for my surgery. They confirmed a Stage 1 diagnosis. Not the least aggressive tumor, but not the most aggressive either.
But when you have cancer, you still wake up at 3 in the morning asking, really? You guys sure??? Let's go back in and triple, quadruple check that it didn't spread. Fact is, nobody can guarantee that 100%. But  I have been reassured that I caught this on the early side.  Finding the right team of doctors is KEY. Its like finding your spouse or house. You just know when it's the right one. Everything I read stressed the importance of finding the right doc FOR YOU - and every survivor I spoke with agreed.


One very smart and positive survivor I spoke with on the phone (I found that talking to women who had been through this was and is EXTREMELY helpful) gave me a fantastic piece of advice. She commanded me to STAY OFF THE INTERNET. Oh, it's so hard. Like salty potato chips, you go in thinking you'll have just a handful. Ya right. With the internet, next thing you know it's 2 a.m. and you're diagnosing yourself with breast, lung, and brain cancer. A slippery slope with a lot of misinformation out there. The two websites I found to be credible and helpful are www.komen.org and www.breastcancer.org. I'm sure there are more, but these are the two I choose to stick with.
Check out these tips  for proper self exams. http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/self_exam/bse_steps.jsp



In addition to those websites, my breast cancer library is growing daily. So many books that have been borrowed, bought, and/or stolen (just kidding...wanted to see if you were still paying attention).

My neighbor gifted me with "DR. SUSAN LOVE'S BREAST BOOK (5th edition)". Over 700 pages of info, it's been a great resource for me and my husband.
"LIVING THROUGH BREAST CANCER" by Carolyn Kaelin is another gem lent to me by a good friend who is a warrior survivor. This one was written by a Harvard educated breast cancer surgeon who went through breast cancer herself.
So if you have a family member or friend dealing with any kind of cancer, disease, or ailment I say empower them with knowledge. The gift that keeps on giving.

One last tidbit no matter what kind of illness you or a loved one is dealing with, bring another person with you to TAKE NOTES at every appointment. I promise you will be lucky to retain 10% of what they throw at you. Info overload at a time when your head is spinning. I write all of my questions in the notebook prior to the meeting so I don't forget, then my husband writes down everything they say. Those notes have been INVALUABLE. I have a huge folder where I keep all my films, reports, etc and I bring it with me every time. I look pretty silly carrying this bulky thing around but I could care less. Maybe I should stuff it all in a briefcase and pretend I'm a pharmaceutical rep. 

For treatment I decided to stay local. 4 opinions for me on the oncology side of things. 2 formal, 2 informal. Hey, I like shopping around. Retail therapy for chemotherapy. All 4 docs agreed on the regimen. Can't argue with that. Very happy with the oncologist here in Connecticut. Again, you find the right doc FOR YOU and don't look back.

Chemo will consist of 4 treatments every 3 weeks. Then onto more fun stuff. But one thing at a time. One day at a time.

Next blog will be about my kitchen pharmacy. Hint... think of the color green
.
Wishing everyone a safe, healthy, and joyous holiday. Everyone keeps asking me if cancer plus Christmas is too much to take. Honestly, I did the cancer "nesting" thing back in early November. The day  I was diagnosed, I didn't go home and cry. I went to Target (Target execs...feel free to throw me a gift card for the plug). Then I wrapped presents until 1 a.m.  I  also banged out our Christmas cards and made all my cookie dough for the freezer. Just saying.

One positive out of this cancer thing I recently discovered, nobody will ask you to bring a dish to a holiday get together!  And my cancer trumps anyone elses ailment. Even my brothers couldn't get their normal attention....despite their pathetic efforts!  

Nice try guys. But poison sumac and shoulder surgery is for whimps.

Funny how quick one heals when one thinks nobody is looking.