Kate: Can you buy a domain name for me?
Bob: Sure.
Kate: cancerouskate.com
Bob: are you aware that katecancer.com and cancerkate.com are both available
Bob: ?
Bob: as btw is tittiecancer.com
Kate: I don't think I should go for tittiecancer.com
Kate: cancerouskate sounds sort of badass
Bob: Your call, you're the one who has cancer.
Kate: cancerkate sounds like I'm a sales rep for cancer
Bob: the problem with cancerouskate is that it reads like cankerouskate, which is not as badass.
Bob: and you're sure no tittiecancer.com?
Kate: cantankerouskate
Bob: that would have the added benefit of being true.
I found out last Thursday that I have breast cancer. I had a routine mammogram, and got the call to come back for further screening. This has happened a couple times before, as I have dense breast tissue. No big deal. There was one thing that was different this time: they wanted me for further screening and a possible biopsy.
At Region's Hospital for the followup, I was surprised when the biopsy was recommended, and even more surprised when I got the call with the results.
I blacked out for a few hours after that. (I actually had a couple work calls, which were a great distraction.) Then I sent a note to my high school buddy, pathologist Tim Myers. Tim is at Methodist Hospital, and he invited me to get treatment there. I wondered if I could get some sort of signing bonus. As Methodist is (sort of) the same system as Regions (Health Partners), Tim could see my test results and reassured me that the affected area is very small, it seems to have been caught early, and the prognosis is likely good. I decided to move treatment from Regions to Methodist. Methodist is closer than Regions, gives me a reason to drive right by Trader Joe's, and has Tim.
I name dropped Tim's name with the receptionist at the Park Nicollet (Health Partners)* Jane Brattain Breast Center, who connected me to the nurse navigator "who has been there the longest, and knows the most." I don't think we've ever met, but my nurse navigator Jeanne Harkness happens to be my friend and former boss Jim Harkness's sister.
My primary care doc, Dr. Sarah Mazig, called right away after receiving the results of my biopsy, basically to see whether I was freaking out and try to reassure me that while it's never GOOD news to find out you've got cancer, this is really small, early, good prognosis, etc., etc.
I have invasive ductal carcinoma, left breast, close to my armpit. I'm ER+/PR+, HER2 negative. (This is all good news.) Tim kept using the phrase "pre-cancerous cells," so I asked if I actually just have pre cancer. It's not real cancer at all, but PRE cancer. No. Tim said no. It's cancer. And I'm not a unique flower: this is the most common kind of breast cancer.
I have an appointment for an MRI Thursday afternoon, and will meet with nurse navigator Jeanne Harkness Friday, followed by a meeting with Methodist surgeon Dr. Keith Heaton. It is likely that I will have some sort of surgery within a couple weeks of that appointment, and don't know what happens after that. There are still many questions, but I'm feeling good about next steps.
*It's kind of confusing, but Health Partners/Regions/Park Nicollet/Methodist/Jane Brattain Breast Center are all sort of the same health group.