Lumpectomy Surgery

2/23/12 - Thursday

Surgery was scheduled for 2pm, which meant nothing to eat or drink after midnight.  I had to be at the hospital at 8am, which was better than sitting at home not eating or drinking.  Manned with tons of magazines (compliments of my girlfriends that provided lots of Hollywood gossip) and my lap top, Steve and I arrived bright and early.  By 9:30, I was in radiology having radioactive dye injected in my boob (ouch), which would assist in the Sentinel Node biopsy.  More waiting then back in radiology for pictures and markings of the nodes.  By 11, I was done, and it was truly just waiting for surgery.  I had great compression socks to prevent blood clots that Steve and his mom helped me put on.  It was pretty funny.  They were SO tight we were giggling trying to put them on, which was probably more stress related than really funny.  We settled in reading, watching TV and just waiting.  My Sister Joey also came to wait with us. 

A little before 2 it was time to go.  I was starving, but so ready to get in the OR and get home.  The one good thing about surgery when you are asleep, it goes by really fast and before you know it you are waking up in recovery.  I will say, my experience with the hospital was great.  I am pretty low maintenance so I am sure that helps, but all the nurses and doctors I met were wonderful. 

During surgery our friend, Kevin, came to wait with Steve.  They went and had crab cakes, which I should be so jealous about, but I was glad Steve had a male friend to take his mind off my surgery.  He had a great iPhone app that shows what you will look like bald.  Steve will be so cute when he shaves his head with me :O)  Once I get my nerve up, I am totally going to see what I will look like.  Steve’s mom and Joey did the pacing and waiting while I was under. 

Even though I had stopped pumping a week and a half before surgery, I was apparently very full of milk, which squirted all over the OR.  I kind of wished I was awake just to see the reactions in the OR.  I pictured something from Grey’s Anatomy when things squirt all over unexpectedly.  I woke up pretty quickly in recovery, and I think I was in the car on the way home in under an hour.  I was starting to feel the pain, but after some really great pain meds, I was in bed soon after I got home.  The next couple of days I was pretty stiff and sore.  The worst was under the arm where they took the nodes.  I had a port-a-catheter put in, which was also uncomfortable. 

Charlotte was staying with Grandmom and Papa for a couple of days, which gave me time to recover and rest.  We picked her up on Saturday, and it was so hard not being able to pick her up and carry her around, but I was happy to have her little smiley face back. 

2/28/12 - Tuesday

Back to see the surgeon for my post-op visit.  I was so excited to get the bandages off, but so anxious to hear the verdict.  See diagnosis to more info.  I am healing wonderfully.  I have three scars, which are still taped up right now so I am not really sure what they look like yet.  Overall, my breast looks pretty good considering the size and surrounding tissue that was removed.  The location of the tumor was under the boob, so there should be no visible scares this summer (aside from the port-a-cath).

We left a little down with the verdict of the lymph nodes.  It was very discouraging to learn the cancer had in fact started the decent to the nodes in such a short period of time.   Still a lot of questions on our minds as we plan for our meeting with two different oncologists next week.        

Waiting

I am so impatient for tomorrow afternoon when we hear the results of the lumpectomy.  Today was a tough day just thinking about it.  We did enjoy most of the day at my brothers just hanging out with him and the girls.  It was fun just to hang out and not sit at home thinking.  I am healing well.  It's still tender, but I can pick up Charlotte now, which is so much better than just sitting with her on my lap.  It will be nice to get the tape and bandages off tomorrow.  Fingers crossed the incisions are not too bad.  I will update with my diagnosis tomorrow.  Prayers for some much needed good news.

The Beginning

In January of 2011, I decided it was time to have a lump in my breast checked out.  This was after I heard the news about a friend of a friend who had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer at age 30.  After a visit to my gynecologist and a trip to Advanced Radiology, where I had a sonogram performed, it was determined the lump was just a dense tissue mass, non-cystic, and nothing to be concerned about.  We took a sigh of relief and went on with our lives. 

A few weeks later I found out I was pregnant.  The next 9 months were filled with anticipation and planning.  I had a wonderful pregnancy without any complications.  After 13 hours of labor, I gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl we named Charlotte on 10/9/11.  I started breastfeeding and was very successful.  You could say I was an over producer.  My body worked overtime as I produced 48oz of milk per day.  Baby C grew like crazy, and we are so blessed to have her in our life. 

The lump was still there throughout my pregnancy, and it had never been completely out of my mind.  Unfortunately, breastfeeding did make it more difficult to tell if the lump had grown, or if it was just lumpy milk ducts.  As my milk production leveled out, I started to feel a change in the lump.  It was more round and seemed a lot bigger.  During a visit with my mother-in-law (who is a nurse) I asked her take a feel, and she agreed it seemed bigger then back in Jan 2011.  I made an appointment with my gynecologist. 

This was exactly one year after I first investigated the lump.  In the hopes that the lump was a cyst, my doctor tried to drain it, but was unsuccessful.  This procedure ruled out the possibility of a cyst.  I was referred to a surgeon at the hospital for further investigation.  On 2/6/12, I had a core biopsy performed.  It was not the most pleasant experience I have ever had.  The worst part was pumping bloody breast milk for the next few days as my milk ducts healed.  

On 2/10/12, we sat down with the surgeon to hear the results.  The words you hope you never hear came out.  This is cancer, and we need to treat it.  With baby C in my arms and Steve holding my hand, the reality of what we just heard came crashing down on us.  No one, not even the surgeon, thought in a million years this would be cancer.  Doctors have told me that breast cancer passes from the mom’s side of the family.  In my case, the history of breast cancer is only on my dad’s side. 

The day we heard the news was the last day I breastfed Charlotte.  Although there are no hard studies that say breastfeeding with breast cancer is dangerous, it’s hard to justify breastfeeding your baby from a boob with a cancerous tumor growing in it.

On 2/23/12, I had a lumpectomy and 3 lymph nodes removed.  Plus, I now have the addition of a port-a-cath located below my collarbone for future chemo treatments.   

We are patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for the results that will determine how extensive my treatment will need to be.  We have a great support group of family and friends to help us through this difficult time.     

We know there are lots of people praying for us as we go through this difficult time.  We know with these prayers, and the support of our family and friends, we will get through and come out stronger than ever.  We pray for guidance as we are presented with various treatment options in the next couple of weeks.
                   

About Me

Hello, my name is Erin.  I am a 30 year old wife and mother who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.  I am married to a wonderful man named Steve.  We have a beautiful 4 ½ month old baby girl named Charlotte.  Charlotte Adamarie was born in October of 2011.  She was given the middle name Adamarie after our dear friend Adam, who passed away in 2010.  Becoming parents has changed our lives completely, but we have loved every minute.  It has been such a fun time watching Charlotte grow and change in the last few months.  Charlotte is truly a blessing, and we are so thankful she is a part of our lives.  She brings a smile to my face whenever she is around.    

I have a wonderful, crazy, huge family that includes 2 brothers, 3 sisters, 2 sister-in-laws, 3 brother-in-laws, 7 nephews, and 8 nieces.  Oh, and my mom and dad, who created this mad house.  Holidays are so much fun with this big family.  I also have a great in-law family that I inherited from Steve which includes a sister, 2 brothers, 1 step sister and 4 parents.     

I work for a great company located in downtown Baltimore where I have worked for 5 ½ years. 

Steve and I work very hard, and we reward ourselves by playing hard.  We love taking vacations, playing on our jet ski, and boating with friends.  We love hanging out with friends and enjoying our weekends. 

My most recent hobby has been decorating cakes for friends and family to enjoy.  I love starting a new project and coming up with a new cake idea.

The news of cancer came just as we were settling into a routine as new parents.  We were getting back to normal, or what our new normal would be.  I was settling in at work, and Charlotte had transitioned to day care wonderfully. 

We are now at a standstill in life as we wait to hear the results of the tumor, which will shape the next few months.