I was diagnosed with breast cancer on September 3, 2015 at the Wende Breast Clinic in Rochester during a routine mammogram. It was the week before my 48th birthday. Though it initially looked like Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS), later pathology reports confirmed that I have Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Stage 2, HER2+. Because the abnormal area in my left breast was over 4 inches long, I had to have a unilateral mastectomy on September 24. I had ten lymph nodes removed, and two had cancer in them. I am getting chemotherapy now: Taxotere, Carboplatin, and Herceptin. The worst of the chemo will be finished at the end of February 2016. I will get Herceptin until October 2016.
The Best Worst Case
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The Best Worst Case 
Hi Leah, I noticed you stopped by and read my blog post titled That God Damned Bell. And I wanted to see who (aside from those who know me personally) would take the time to read about cancer crap (of course it’s usually others fighting cancer themselves). I am so sorry to read that you’re having to deal with all this too. From what I’ve read here about you, I have no doubt that you will hang tough and persevere. The side effects of chemo will dissipate as your chemo treatments subside. If you continue on with Herceptin (for the HER2+ target therapy), the side effects of that are rather nominal by comparison to standard chemo. There is a great support group on fb for HER2+ patients, which I have found to be very comforting (since no one I know personally has even heard of HER2+ bc, let alone has it). My pearls of wisdom, for whatever they’re worth, are to keep super busy with your regular routine of life (work and play) as your energy allows, so that cancer doesn’t dominate your every thought. I created a music playlist (upbeat) that I listen to whenever I feel my mind wandering where I don’t want it to go. I am motoring along in spite of cancer. Try to live in the here and now every single day…Don’t look back and don’t worry about tomorrow either. We can’t change WHAT IS, we can only change how we manage our here and now. Sending you all good wishes, healing thoughts and the offer to reach out if you need an ear. Thanks for the ‘like’ on my post…I just wish we didn’t have CANCER in common.
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Thank you, I’ll take all the wise words I can get. I joined the FB group. I also love the forums on breastcancer.org, it’s been a wealth of info.
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