Timeline

Discovered the tumor in the shower by accident, but assumed it was a cyst. I felt a very large lump and large blue veining from the site.

Gyno appointment to get this lump checked out. Ordered a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound - scheduling would call to set up.

Diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound - radiologist diagnosis as “metastatic breast cancer.” We both cry. I have a biopsy and confirm - it is breast cancer.

First surgeon appointment with Dr. Clifford Deal - spend 2+ hours discussing what’s next.

I have staging scans, meet my medical oncologist - Dr. Elke Friedman, and have my port put in. I also attend a much needed week long trip to the beach with my girls.

One month post diagnosis I start my first chemo infusion - Carbo and Taxol. I will have weekly infusions of Carbo and Taxol for 12 weeks.

I have the girls over to shave my head. I was 3 treatments in.

My final Taxol + Carbo infusion. Overall, my tumor was shrinking and could barely be felt.

I begin my first infusion of Adriamycin and Cytoxan - aka The Red Devil. I will have 4 total infusions, once every 3 weeks. I lose my eyebrows, eyelashes, and every hair on my body.

I have a neutropenic fever and COVID. I’m hospitalized for 4 days. Overall, no COVID symptoms and hospitalized out of caution. I had a platelet and blood infusion. The Red Devil had depleted all of my white blood cells.

Final Red Devil infusion - chemo is over! The fatigue was the biggest side effect but I had a week of feeling good before each infusion. This begins a 4 week break from treatments to rest before surgery.

Breast MRI to plan for surgery. Results are disappointing. There is still a lot of residual cancer remaining (over 5cm.) my surgeon advises we will need to do a mastectomy. I begin searching for other options as surgical scheduling with my surgeon aren’t ideal.

Visited Johns Hopkins for surgical opinion - decided my safest and best option is to stick with my original surgeon in Richmond and have the two phase surgery.

Right mastectomy without reconstruction - surgery goes well.

I receive pathology results from my mastectomy - they removed 20 lymph nodes with 17 positive for cancer. The residual tumor is retested for hormone and HER2 receptors. After further confirmation, my residual tumor is now HER2+. My tumor cloned from Triple Negative to HER2+ and regrew during the Red Devil Chemo.

We decide to forgo the second surgery (left mastectomy and reconstruction) to return to targeted treatments as soon as possible.

Happy Birthday to me! I have PET Scan to ensure the cancer did not spread.

My PET Scan results are in - all clear! I am officially No Evidence of Disease.

I begin targeted HER2+ therapies, Herceptin and Perjeta. I will have this infusion every 3 weeks for a full year.

Radiation begins! I have 25 total sessions - every day Monday through Friday for 5 weeks.

Radiation ends!!

I can finally run my hands through my hair again!

Xeloda begins - chemo pills I take daily morning and night for a 2 week on and 1 week off cycle. I will repeat these cycles for six months.

Project Koru - Costa Rica Camp for a week of recovery, connection, adventure, and joy! Pura Vida!

Cardiotoxicity from Herceptin is identified. Monitoring begins.

Tamoxifen begins - click here to learn why

On 1/13/23 I had a bone scan followed by a Hip MRI on 1/16/23. I learned the night of 1/16/23 that my cancer has spread to my bones.

I started 5 rounds of radiation of to my hips to reduce pain and potential fractures.

First Zometa, bone building medicine, infusion.

Multiple scans to show no disease in organs other than bone, and 2 bone marrow biopsies to determine subtype.

Learn subtype is Triple Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer, with HER2 Low.

Begin Enhertu infusions and cold capping.

Scans remain stable, pain free, and travel to Italy!

Scans remain stable. Enheru induced Interstitial Lung Disease suspected, pause treatment for one cycle, repeat CT scans in 3 weeks.

Follow up lung CT indicated enlarged left lymph node, biopsy proved the cancer progressed to this lymph node. Enhertu failed. Testing begins for new treatment protocol.