Quick Update

Well we found out another piece of the puzzle today.  Nicole tested negative for the BRCA gene. BRCA is commonly called the 'breast cancer' gene because women who test positive for changes in this gene are the most likely to get breast cancer.  With BRCA, you are much more 'destined' to get cancer than, like Nicole, just having some seriously bad luck.

A negative test means the likelihood of recurrence is much less than if she were positive.  In most cases of a positive test, the doctors will recommend a double mastectomy because the recurrence rate can go as high as 60-80%!

Again, this is a positive development that keeps all treatment options available, and we're one step closer to having a plan to beat this thing!

MRI...

Hello,

Well each day brings new updates and swings of emotion, and yesterday Nicole had her MRI of both breasts. The radiologist was able to call her as she was reading them and said they show two additional 'spots' of concern in the breast, and a lymph node that might be swollen.

It's obviously not the news we had hoped for, but it also shows that any spread of the cancer at this point is at a very small level and very containable. There are more tests upcoming. Ultrasound will be done on these new spots Tuesday, and if they show up on ultrasound, she'll have them biopsied on the spot and sent to pathology.

What does this latest development mean? Even if these are proven to be positive for cancer, they will still consider the cancer local and early stage. If the lymph node is positive, they will likely remove all the lymph nodes on that side of her body and she'll have chemotherapy. If the other spots in the breast are positive, they will likely recommend mastectomy as well. Again, it's all speculative at this point so it's not fair to leap to conclusions, but with each new piece of the puzzle we're able to narrow down the pathways.

We are disappointed in this latest curve ball, we had definitely hoped to avoid chemo, but both of us are just anxious to get moving on a plan, whatever that might be. Nicole seems to be doing better than me, just because I'm so anxious to get into the fight at this point. I'm thankful for their thoroughness in diagnosis but the waiting is maddening and Nicole and I both have our moments of frustration. The bottom line is that they want to be as cautious as possible and kill every last cancer cell while they have their chance, and that's a very good thing.

On a positive note, I keep telling Nicole that regardless of what comes of the following weeks, she will be healthy and cancer-free by Christmas, and that makes us both feel better and keep our perspective. Nicole is headed for Michigan tomorrow for a long weekend of no doctors, no tests, no Steve, and hopefully some cooler weather. I am going to be in Charlotte trying to make it a few days without Googling breast cancer articles, which is pretty tough these days.

Thank you all again. Nicole says 'hi'...

Quick Update...

We spent the entire afternoon meeting with the team of docs and nurses, a really neat program that allows you to get a second opinion on practically everything. Nothing really new from the docs, we still won't know the course of treatment and exact stage of the cancer until the surgery, which at this point is likely within 2 weeks.

We did find out one really good piece of news today...the cancer tested positive for estrogen and progesterone, and is HER2 negative! All that means to us is the cancer cells need hormones to grow. You turn off the hormones, you turn off the cancer. This is a great development and means that all the treatment options are still on the table, including the potential to avoid chemotherapy altogether (though there is still much to determine so we're not getting excited just yet).

Interesting side note that I found fascinating. A tumor the size of 1cm (about the size of Nicole's), growing at an average rate, would have been growing in her body for 10 years! That means Nicole started working on this little surprise in college! And you thought she was studying...

The meetings begin...

Hello everyone,

You are all going to tire of hearing me saying this, but thank you again for your outpouring of support. Nicole and I have been overwhelmed with the information and offers to help. Thank you all very much.

We just returned from the initial consultation with the surgeon. I'll say upfront that we don't really know anything more than what we did on Friday, but we are beginning to funnel the information and develop a clearer picture of the near and distant future.

Today we saw numbers on paper, and according to the somewhat crude measurements obtained from the ultrasound, the tumor appears to be about 1 cubic centimeter. Combined with the preliminary films showing no signs of lymph node involvement, that is VERY good news, and likely lands us in the very early cancer stages. The surgeon said the skin depression that we see was a gift, because the tumor is small enough that, without the outward sign, we may not have caught it for some time.

All of that said, there are still so many unknowns. We are waiting on the hormone results from the biopsy, which will likely arrive tomorrow, and the MRI on Wednesday of both breasts. By Thursday, we should have a much clearer and accurate picture of the size and extent of the existing mass. But until the surgery, and the physical removal of lymph nodes and test of tissues, we won't know anything for certain.

Tomorrow we have a 'multi-disciplinary clinic' scheduled. That's a fancy way of saying we get to have a discussion with a whole roomful of doctors, all of which enter the process at some point for cancer patients. We will simultaneously get a second opinion from some fresh eyes and be able to fire dozens of questions at them. MRI on Wednesday, results on Thursday, and more blog updates from there.

The process is fluid and each day reveals some new data, but we certainly are cautiously optimistic by what we've seen so far. Keep the thoughts and prayers coming!

Here we go...

Hello everyone,

Nicole and I first want to say thanks for everyone's support thus far, we love you guys!

A few months ago Nicole noticed the skin changing on her right breast. There was a distinct 'depression' of the skin over time. She showed me about a month ago and I just said go get it checked out and be done with it.

We got the diagnosis about 3 hours ago, invasive mammary carcinoma, aka breast cancer. The problem with breast cancer is that there are so many different kinds and types and treatments that we don't know what step 2 is, other than more doctors and tests and anxious times.

As of me typing this, I just got off the phone with the Radiologist, and he said a few things:

1. The existing tumor is small.

2. There is no evidence of lymph node swelling

3. This diagnosis is consistent with 'intermediate' cancer - meaning it is not the most aggressive.

All of these are positive. Combine that with the fact that young, strong, healthy women always beat this thing, and there's a lot to be thankful for.

According to the radiologist, we already know who the surgeon will be, and will be meeting with a host of specialists over the coming weeks to determine the status of the cancer and the best treatments. During surgery they're able to test a lot of the surrounding tissues and lymph nodes, so we'll know even more later.

So for now, that's really all we know. I will be updating this regularly to keep everyone in the loop, so check back on us from time to time.