How this all got started.My Story by Jann

16.5 years ago I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in my left breast. At that time *in the dark ages before home computers* Mack and I went to the library, the American Cancer Society, and the Hospital resource centers (more than one) to research the disease, the prognosis, and the available treatments to help me decide on a course of action.

My surgeon was not very supportive of *my/our * decision. I/we opted at that time to have just a lumpectomy, followed by radiation and then hormone therapy as there was no lymph node involvement, as it was “only” a stage I cancer. I have been very faithful about doing my self exams and in getting my annual mammogram's, which have always been clear.

Fast forward 16.5 years, to Valentines Day of this year 2008, when I had a sudden painful swelling under my right arm. I also felt a lump at that time in my right breast. Since it was time for my Annual mammogram I went ahead and scheduled it. Within a day I got a call that I needed to schedule an Ultra Sound of the right breast as they didn't like the looks of it on the mammogram. Next, I had an Ultra sound biopsy which came back positive for Cancer.

I was sent to see a surgeon who after examining me suggest that I needed to talk to an oncologist as (he was concerned about being able to get clean margins during surgery because to the size of the tumor) (this one is of a size that it's questionable if they could get "clear margins" in surgery). He was also fairly certain from his exam that the lymph nodes are involved this time.

I went to see the oncologist. We discussed a number of options including that perhaps we could do chemotherapy first to shrink the tumor so that the surgeon could get clear margins, and then do chemotherapy again, radiation and hormone treatment. However to be more sure of what we are dealing with he ordered a bunch of test to be run.

So far I've had a full body Bone scan, a Chest, abdomen and pelvis CT scan, a scan of my heart and an MRI of my head. The MUGA (heart scan) came back wonderful. The MRI results are NOT in yet. The other two scans were not good. The cancer has spread to my left iliac crest (top of my hip), my spine at about T-5, a possible spot on my right lung and something (not sure what) on my liver. All these sightings make it Stage IV Cancer this time. Since it is in the bone Radiation is out.

At this time my options are:
1) Surgery, chemotherapy hormone therapy
2) Chemotherapy, surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy
3) Study (just chemotherapy) followed by hormone therapy
4) The one no one wants to think about, DO NOTHING

A lot has changed in the last 16.5 years; many medical advancements have been made. We now have home computers with fairly easy internet access to a whole lot more information than we had from manual sources the first time. I’m armed with more information and many more questions.

Tomorrow, Monday 02 June 2008, I am meeting with the research nurse to discuss the Study Program and see if I am eligible.