Beyond The Shock(R)

I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in November 2010 after a routine mammogram. My cancer was 1 cm ER/PR+, HR-. Lymph nodes were clean except for 'isolated tumor cell deposits' on 2 of them. I had 2 lumpectomies (unsuccessful) followed by mastectomy with tissue expander reconstruction. Then I found out I was BRCA2+ and decided to remove the other (healthy) breast with expander reconstruction and a full hysterectomy to reduce my chances of developing another breast cancer and/or ovarian cancer. Now I am finished the reconstruction. Because of a low oncotype score (13) I didn't need chemo. I didn't need radiation because margins were clean after the mastectomy. Now I take Arimidex for 5 years. My mother has had breast cancer twice and is now battling it a third time (stage 4). There I a horrible history of breast and ovarian cancer in my mom's family, but now we know exactly why as a result of my genetic testing. I hope someday not only will this devastating disease be curable, but scientists will be able to fix the underlying genetic component as well.