MRI. October 11

Dr. Guirguis orders an MRI to determine if there are any spots of concern in the other breast or overlooked in the one with the known tumor. Incidentally, the size is a Stage 1 (1.2 cm), another good feature, but there are many other factors which can alter that initial clinical staging. It's all about getting as much information as possible. Now, I will wait for a second meeting with the surgeon and then, likely, choose to schedule a lumpectomy. In recent years, the goal is toward breast conservation—lumpectomy plus radiation has proven to be as effective as a mastectomy. Mastectomy is still appropriate for large tumors or several sites of cancer in the breast but the goal is to hang on to what we have.

At the time of surgery there will be a sentinel node biopsy to determine if the cancer is in the lymph nodes. More pieces of the puzzle to find out “what kind of cancer is it?” In between, it's a waiting game. I am going to survive (because I say so) and grow stronger from this.