It's mastitis! You have mastits. "But I thought you only got that when you are breast feeding!?!" I ask my friend. You can get it when you are pregnant. I am very angry at this--what a shaft. I go to my OB--yes, you have mastitis. Let's try this antibiotic. One week follow-up, nothings changed. They decide I should be looked at by the breast specialist, thankfully right next store. I don't have time for this. The doctor palpates and does an ultrasound, yes--you have mastitis. You have no mass, possibly a stubborn cyst. Let's try X antibiotic, but to be safe and possibly check the type of infection, lets do a thin needle biopsy.
New antibiotic in hand i leave--Two days later, the doctor, not the nurse calls. His voice is more shocked then I feel. "We found proliferative cells." I have no idea what this means, but I know by his tone, it is not good. He goes on that these can be normal with pregnancy, BUT pathology wants a core biopsy next Wednesday. I cry on the metro home. Strangers look at me. I get home and go to Google. Proliferative = cancer. Then, STUPIDLY, I Google core biopsy and watch in horror as one is performed on a woman.
That next Wednesday, I head to the office. I meet another doctor, he confirms its probably a stubborn infection--then reads the pathology report. The look of confusion on his face is comical, and i laugh out loud. Then another specialist comes in -- she looks at the ultrasound, palpates--"Yes, its an infection," then she looks at the pathology report. I laugh again as she makes the same face all 3 doctors made when they saw the report. She was to perform the core biopsy--but as there is no mass/tumor it is determined she can't. There is nothing from which to take a "core." They decide to wait one more week to see if the infection clears up and to get me further along in the pregnancy--i'm 15 weeks at this point. The next option is a surgical biopsy, and the further along I am the better.
I return one week later--it hasn't improved. Surgery is scheduled for 2 days later, my choice. I am sick of thinking about this--this off chance of breast cancer, that everyone assures me is improbable. I agree--what are the odds?!?! No mass-young age-no other symptoms. It's an infection. My doctor lets me know she may not be able to give me an answer, we may not determine the type of infection or cause of inflammation. All she'll be able to tell me is its not cancer. That's an answer--ruling that out, so let's go. Friday I have a surgical biopsy, finally get this thing over. I am to call the office the following Wednesday for the results.
Tuesday night, November 12 at 8:30pm the doctor calls. My son is screaming in the background so I give him some chocolate chips--a rare treat. He quiets down. She tells me it's cancer. She hasn't seen the report, pathology just called her. I am to come in the next day at 4:30 and meet with oncology Friday at 4:30. Oncology--the word is very heavy with meaning and fear.
I call my husband and tell him to come home immediately. I go into the kitchen to put dishes away and start sobbing. I'm hiding from my son, worried he'll start crying if he sees me cry. My husband is home in a matter of minutes--he walks in the kitchen, my son trailing and I choke the words out, "It's cancer." We go to the couch. He assures me it'll be fine, my son has is now in clear view of my sobbing. I try and pull it together so he won't start crying, but he shocks me. This little 2 year old comes over and kisses me on the cheek and whispers, "It be okay mama." I laugh. How do you argue with that?
To be continued . . .
New antibiotic in hand i leave--Two days later, the doctor, not the nurse calls. His voice is more shocked then I feel. "We found proliferative cells." I have no idea what this means, but I know by his tone, it is not good. He goes on that these can be normal with pregnancy, BUT pathology wants a core biopsy next Wednesday. I cry on the metro home. Strangers look at me. I get home and go to Google. Proliferative = cancer. Then, STUPIDLY, I Google core biopsy and watch in horror as one is performed on a woman.
That next Wednesday, I head to the office. I meet another doctor, he confirms its probably a stubborn infection--then reads the pathology report. The look of confusion on his face is comical, and i laugh out loud. Then another specialist comes in -- she looks at the ultrasound, palpates--"Yes, its an infection," then she looks at the pathology report. I laugh again as she makes the same face all 3 doctors made when they saw the report. She was to perform the core biopsy--but as there is no mass/tumor it is determined she can't. There is nothing from which to take a "core." They decide to wait one more week to see if the infection clears up and to get me further along in the pregnancy--i'm 15 weeks at this point. The next option is a surgical biopsy, and the further along I am the better.
I return one week later--it hasn't improved. Surgery is scheduled for 2 days later, my choice. I am sick of thinking about this--this off chance of breast cancer, that everyone assures me is improbable. I agree--what are the odds?!?! No mass-young age-no other symptoms. It's an infection. My doctor lets me know she may not be able to give me an answer, we may not determine the type of infection or cause of inflammation. All she'll be able to tell me is its not cancer. That's an answer--ruling that out, so let's go. Friday I have a surgical biopsy, finally get this thing over. I am to call the office the following Wednesday for the results.
Tuesday night, November 12 at 8:30pm the doctor calls. My son is screaming in the background so I give him some chocolate chips--a rare treat. He quiets down. She tells me it's cancer. She hasn't seen the report, pathology just called her. I am to come in the next day at 4:30 and meet with oncology Friday at 4:30. Oncology--the word is very heavy with meaning and fear.
I call my husband and tell him to come home immediately. I go into the kitchen to put dishes away and start sobbing. I'm hiding from my son, worried he'll start crying if he sees me cry. My husband is home in a matter of minutes--he walks in the kitchen, my son trailing and I choke the words out, "It's cancer." We go to the couch. He assures me it'll be fine, my son has is now in clear view of my sobbing. I try and pull it together so he won't start crying, but he shocks me. This little 2 year old comes over and kisses me on the cheek and whispers, "It be okay mama." I laugh. How do you argue with that?
To be continued . . .
Hey Jess, it's Val (I used to be in Alexandria ward 3 years ago.) What symptoms first led you to go to the doctor? What were the mastitis-like symptoms?
ReplyDeleteI think you are amazing! Receiving the port sounds awful. I had no idea it was like that. You are constantly on my mind. You are in every prayer I say. I have always been amazed by you. Love you.
Of course I remember you Val--so happy for your news, by the way!! Twins. WOW!!
DeleteMy symptoms were breast tenderness and redness. Both breasts were sore, being pregnant I didn't think much of it. But, the right one was more sore. Then the redness began. Just red skin, it came and went and slowly covered more and more of the breast. I emailed Skij and Deni (remember them!!??) and they both emailed back saying it is mastitis. I was ticked and worried this would impact my ability to breast feed. That is the ONLY reason i went to the doctor, because I know mastitis doesn't go away on its own, you must take an antibiotic. I think if I wasn't pregnant or if those 2 hadn't told me it was mastitis I would have let it go for a long time. It is a VERY aggressive cancer, so that could have been disastrous.