Before bed, while watching TV at 54 years old, I noticed a small lump just to the left of my right nipple, about the size of a pea. I visited my primary doctor and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. Luckily, I caught it early; the lump was barely Stage I.
I underwent a lumpectomy in June 2010, followed by a mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy later that month. The biopsy revealed Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, ER positive, PR positive, and HER2 negative, classified as Stage IA, T1b invasive ductal carcinoma. There was also extensive DCIS, but the sentinel lymph node was negative, and all margins were clear.
My treatment plan included taking the drug Tamoxifen for five years and having yearly mammograms. Thankfully, everything was going well. However, just as I finished the five years of treatment, a study emerged recommending Tamoxifen for ten years. My oncologist at the time was uncertain about extending my medication, and I ultimately decided to stop taking it. In hindsight, I wish I had continued.
In 2018, I began experiencing shortness of breath and intermittent ‘stabbing’ pains in my right chest. After a year of visiting various doctors, seeking care at Urgent Care, and receiving steroids and an inhaler, there was no improvement. I have an annual physical every August, so in September 2019, I prepared a list of my symptoms and shared them with my primary doctor, whom I greatly appreciate. She ordered an X-ray, but the radiologist misinterpreted the results and suggested I might have pneumonia. Fortunately, my doctor was not satisfied with that conclusion and promptly ordered a CT scan of my chest.
In September, I consulted with an oncologist, and it turned out that my cancer had metastasized to Stage IV, just three months after I retired. Quite frustrating, especially right at the start of my retirement. I now have Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, which is spreading within my chest cavity, part of my lung, a few vertebrae, some ribs, and my right femur. Because of this, surgery is not an option. I will be on oral hormone therapy for the rest of my life, taking pills instead of receiving chemotherapy through an IV.
Additionally, I get injections of Eligard and Xgeva every few months. I feel fortunate to be retired because I can’t imagine how someone working would manage this situation. Given that I only need to take two pills each day and receive two injections every few months, it’s a relatively manageable way to maintain my health.