I Found a Lump

I was a 42-year-old mother of two when I found a lump in my breast. This is what happened next. (Spoiler alert: It was breast cancer.)

Thursday, July 2, 2026

7/2/26: Cardiology Blood Test Result

 My lipoprotein (a) test came back normal. Yay! That's one less thing to worry about.

- July 02, 2026 No comments:
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Timeline

In January 2019, I found a lump.

On June 17, 2019, I was diagnosed with multicentric (14 mm and 10 mm) breast cancer in my right breast. It was an invasive carcinoma with ductal and lobular features, stage 1, grade 2, ER-positive and PR-positive, HER2-negative.

On August 23, 2019, I had a double mastectomy (no reconstruction) with bilateral sentinel lymph node biopsy.

The surgical pathology report indicated clear margins and no cancer in the lymph nodes. I do not need radiation, and I am NED (No Evidence of Disease). The surgery additionally found a tubular carcinoma (4 mm) in my left breast (validating my decision for a double mastectomy). This tumor was stage 1, grade 1, ER-positive and PR-positive, HER2-positive.

On October 4, 2019, I started adjuvant therapy to lower my chances of recurrence. For 12 weeks, I got weekly infusions of Taxol (chemotherapy) and Herceptin (targeted therapy). I also started Lupron (hormone therapy via ovarian suppression, resulting in medically-induced menopause), a shot administered every 4 weeks.

I finished chemo on December 20, 2019. On December 26, 2019, I started the second phase of targeted therapy, getting a maintenance dose of Herceptin every 3 weeks for the remainder of a year.

On January 17, 2020, I started exemestane (hormone therapy via a daily aromatase inhibitor pill for postmenopausal women).

I finished Herceptin on September 24, 2020. Routine echocardiograms showed that I sustained some loss of heart function due to the Herceptin.

On January 22, 2021, I stopped exemestane and started Tamoxifen (hormone therapy via a daily selective estrogen receptor modulator pill for premenopausal women) after learning that the Lupron was not sufficiently suppressing estrogen production in my ovaries for me to be considered postmenopausal.

In February 2022, I was diganosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (steatosis grade S3, fibrosis stage F0-F1), presumably a consequence of taking Tamoxifen. I stopped Tamoxifen on February 15, 2022.

On February 22, 2022, I started anastrozole (hormone therapy via a different daily aromatase inhibitor pill for postmenopausal women).

In April 2022, blood tests again showed that the Lupron was not sufficiently suppressing my ovaries for me to be considered postmenopausal.

My last Lupron shot was on June 10, 2022. On June 16, 2022, to achieve full ovarian suppression, I had a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.

Pre-surgery testing showed that I had borderline QT prolongation, presumably a consequence of taking Lupron. Follow-up EKGs after stopping Lupron were normal.

In August 2022, blood tests showed that my liver function had returned to normal.

In December 2022, I got covid. In the summer of 2023, I started having "weird" EKGs, though follow-up stress test results were normal.

On January 11, 2024, I had my final follow-up appointment in the Breast Center.

I am expected to continue with hormone therapy for 10 years total. Routine bone density tests have shown that I developed osteopenia due to the hormone therapy.

Cost

Total cost to date: $481,186.34
With insurance, cost to me: $16,908.63

Featured Posts

  • How to Help a Friend with Breast Cancer
  • Why I'm Getting a Double Mastectomy
  • Why I'm Not Getting Reconstruction
  • Things to Bring to the Hospital for a Double Mastectomy
  • Things to Have for Double Mastectomy Recovery
  • What to Expect from Chemotherapy
  • Being Flat (No Reconstruction): Prosthetics and Clothing
  • Books I've Read About Cancer

By the Numbers

To date, my treatment has included...

4 Mammograms
4 Breast Ultrasounds
2 Pelvic Ultrasounds
1 Abdominal Ultrasound
1 FibroScan
1 MRI
2 Biopsies
1 Double Mastectomy
1 Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy
1 Stress Test
5 Appointments with PCP
9 Appointments with Breast NP
2 Appointments with Breast Surgeon
16 Appointments with Medical Oncologist
1 Appointment with Oncology Nurse
9 Appointments with Medical Oncology NP
4 Appointments with OB/GYN
3 Appointments with OB/GYN Surgeon
2 Appointments with Cardio-Oncologist
5 Appointments with Cardiologist
3 Appointments with Hepatologist
4 Appointments/Procedures with Interventional Radiology
7 Echocardiograms
10 Electrocardiograms (EKG)
3 Bone Density Tests
12 Taxol + Herceptin Infusions
14 Maintenance Herceptin Infusions
36 Lupron Injections
14 Prescriptions
37 Blood Draws
21 Appointments with Physical Therapy
7 Conversations with Social Worker
4 Appointments/Conversations with Genetic Counselor

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Labels

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  • blood draw
  • bone density test
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  • bruise
  • cardio-oncology
  • cardiology
  • chemo brain
  • chemotherapy
  • clothes
  • colonoscopy
  • cording
  • coronavirus
  • cost
  • decision
  • diet
  • double mastectomy (DMX)
  • drains
  • echocardiogram
  • electrocardiogram (EKG)
  • emotions
  • exercise
  • finding
  • flat
  • genetic counselor
  • genetic testing
  • hair
  • hepatology
  • HER2
  • hormone receptors
  • hormone therapy
  • inconclusive
  • infusion nurse
  • insurance
  • interventional radiologist
  • itchy
  • letter
  • Lyme Disease
  • lymph nodes
  • lymphedema
  • mammogram
  • mastectomy
  • medical oncologist
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  • MRI
  • multicentric
  • multifocal
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  • nurse
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  • oophorectomy
  • osteoporosis
  • pathology
  • phone
  • physical therapy
  • physician's assistant
  • plastic surgeon
  • port
  • port nurse
  • primary care physician (PCP)
  • prophylactic DMX (PDMX)
  • prosthetics
  • race
  • radiation
  • radiologist
  • reconstruction
  • referral
  • sebaceous cyst
  • side effects
  • sleep
  • social worker
  • stitch
  • supplements
  • support
  • targeted therapy
  • ultrasound
  • variants of unknown significance (VUS)
  • weight

Related Links

  • Breast MRI
  • Invasive Breast Cancer (IDC/ILC)
  • IDC Type: Tubular Carcinoma of the Breast
  • Cancer Grade and Size
  • Breast Cancer Stages
  • Breast Cancer Hormone Receptor Status
  • Breast Cancer HER2 Status
  • An Overview of Triple-Positive Breast Cancer
  • HER2-positive breast cancer: What is it?
  • Ask an Expert: Breast Cancer Growth Rate
  • Age is a well-established risk factor for breast cancer.
  • Do Hormonal Contraceptives Increase Breast Cancer Risk?
  • Going Flat: Choosing No Reconstruction
  • Prosthetics: An Alternative to Reconstruction
  • Variants of Unknown Significance
  • Surgical Margins
  • Surgical Drains
  • Double Mastectomy Recovery: What to Know
  • Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
  • Effect of Low-Fat Diet on Breast Cancer Survival: A Meta-Analysis
  • Exercise Has ‘Astounding’ Effect on Breast Cancer Recurrence, Mortality
  • Interpreting Your Breast Cancer Surgical Pathology Report
  • Axillary Web Syndrome (Cording)
  • Chemotherapy After A Mastectomy, Is It Necessary?
  • Who Gets Chemotherapy?
  • Understanding Chemotherapy
  • About Your Implanted Port
  • Understanding Your Lab [Blood] Test Results
  • Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer
  • Echocardiogram
  • Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer
  • Ovarian Suppression
  • When Is Radiation Appropriate?
  • Understanding No Evidence of Disease (NED) in Breast Cancer
  • Bone Density Test
  • What is a Pelvic Ultrasound?

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