At age 51, my primary physician saw a lump on my left breast but thought it was a lipoma, so I did not do any follow-up — as I was (and still am) a workaholic attorney, ironically, a health care regulatory and transactional attorney!
Several months later, I noticed the nipple becoming misshapen, and I sought a biopsy. In January 2008, I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. I had a mastectomy and 6 positive nodes among those removed. The immediate follow-up treatment regime was both chemo and radiation, but with the strong support of my wife Jean, I was able to work throughout those treatment periods. The chemo took some toll; I lost my hair and some weight, but finished treatment at the end of July. All in all, something quite doable if one remains positive and is blessed with supportive friends and family.
I was on Arimidex and symptom-free until September of 2017. Then a tumor appeared on my temple on the same side of my body as the diseased breast. Mohs surgery, expertly performed by a dermatologist/surgeon, removed the tumor. The hole in the side of my face was substantial, but he “sewed me up” expertly, and today no scars are visible.
I had follow-up radiation, which was not fun because I am claustrophobic and it required a mask, but once again, I got through it without it slowing me down much at work. Again, kudos to my wife Jean.
Today, I am on Tamoxifen and tolerate it well as I did the Arimidex. I have persistent lymphedema in the arm where the nodes were removed. That is annoying, but the swelling is confined to the upper arm and not extreme. My recommendation is regular work on weight machines in the gym to address the symptoms, including use of an AB wheel. I tried the fancy pneumatic compression pump, but the setup time, etc., did not fit my schedule.
All and all— I “survive” quite well! PTL, I am symptom-free almost twenty years post-discovery of the disease, and I remain grateful for every year. Of course, profound thanks also go to the great clinicians who treated me, including my oncologist, Dr. Fred Smith, who has been watching over me for decades now.
Let us also give a shout-out to all the women and men who pioneered the treatments—as researchers or patients. All of us benefit from the support female and male survivors have given to research into treatments and to each other.