Date of Birth: October 5, 1960
Female – age at diagnosis: 51
Diagnosis (Left Breast)
- Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC)
- Stage IIA (2.5 cm – 6 o’clock)
- Node negative (0/6 nodes)
- Grade 3, poorly differentiated
- Morphology: triple negative (weak progesterone): HER- ER- PR+
- BRCA negative
- Subtype classification (BL1, BL2, IM, M, MSL, LAR) – unknown
Procedures / Tests / Reports
- 3/29/12: Ultrasound (PDF)
- 3/29/12: Lump biopsy (PDF)
- 4/04/12: MRI – bilateral breast (PDF)
- 4/05/12: EKG (PDF)
- 4/05/12: Hematology (PDF)
- 4/05/12: BRCA gene test (negative)
- 4/06/12: Surgery / Pathology report: lumpectomy, sentinel node biopsy (PDF)
- 4/27/12: CT scan – chest, abdomen, pelvis with contrast (PDF)
- 4/27/12: PET scan – base of skull to mid-thigh (PDF)
- 5/01/12: Whole body bone scan (PDF)
- 5/08/12: Start acupuncture
- 5/22/12: Surgery: IV port implant (right side)
- 5/22/12: Chest x-ray
- 5/29/12: Chemotherapy: Adriamycin (60mg/m2=95mg) / Cytoxan (600mg/m2=930mg)
- 5/30/12: Echocardiogram (PDF)
- 5/30/12: Neulasta 6mg
- 6/22/12: Bryan passed away
- 7/12/12: Bryan’s memorial at Chenoweth Woods
- 7/30/12: Breast CAT scan – radiation setup
- 8/02/12: Surgery: IV port removed
- 8/07-10/12: Whole breast radiation – 4 days/doses
- 8/15/12: Letter to Dr. Chaiken (PDF)
- 9/20-21/12: Mom in ER, ICU, hospital
- 10/05/12: Mom starts palliative care at home.
- 11/13/12-03/07/13: Physical therapy – left shoulder (frozen)
- 06/20/13: MRI – bilateral breast (PDF)
- 8/23/13-12/13/13: Physical therapy – right shoulder (frozen)
- 11/13/13: Blood – lab results 2013 (PDF)
- 11/26/13: 23andMe Genetic Test (PDF)
- 06/12/14: Forehead: basal cell carcinoma – biopsy
- 08/11/14: Forehead: basal cell carcinoma – Mohs surgery
- 09/03/14: Mom passed away
Scans / Imaging
(View images with free DICOM viewers below)
- 2012 Ultrasound / Bone Scan (zip 32MB)
- 2012 MRI / CT Scan (zip 185MB)
- 2012 PET / CT Scan (zip 89MB)
- 2013 MRI (zip 90MB)
DICOM Image Viewer
Family History
- Mother (01/21/1929 – 09/03/2014): died at age 85 due to Lewy body dementia.
- Brother (11/07/1958 – 06/22/2012): died at age 53 due to liver failure from hepatitis C complications.
- Father (06/18/1920 – 01/25/2010): died at age 89 due to prostate cancer.
Notes
I had a lumpectomy with sentinel node biopsy and recommended treatment plan after was chemotherapy: 4 rounds Adriamycin/Cytoxan every two weeks, followed by 4 rounds Taxol every two weeks (regimen: dose dense). The first round of A/C resulted quickly in major depression and physical wasting, and I determined the treatment would kill me faster than the disease, so I decided to stop. My oncologist suggested changing to a different regimen that might be tolerated better – 4 rounds Taxotere/Cytoxan – I declined. During this time, my brother passed away unexpectedly on June 22, and I was managing care for my elderly mother who suffered from Lewy body dementia (misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s.)
After my brother’s memorial in July, I met with the radiation oncologist who recommended a 35 day plan, whole breast radiation with 3D conformal radiotherapy. After four days of treatment, I was in intense pain and heightened anxiety – another downward spiral was beginning. I didn’t return and decided my best chance at survival was to allow my body and mind to recover fully.
There were complications with my mother’s condition a few weeks later, and she ended up in the ER, ICU, and hospital – it was a major setback for both of us. The short version of the story is I have continued with acupuncture and psychotherapy, and began physical therapy and massage in November to treat my left shoulder that had become frozen. I have regained overall strength and exercise 4-5 days a week. The residual physical effects of treatment are chronic pain in both shoulders and burning mouth syndrome. I see the oncologist regularly for a checkups.