This journal is about my journey with DCIS which began in January 2024. Ductal Carcinoma in Situ. A form of breast cancer. I didn't tell many people. Family, a handful of close friends. I didn't even tell my bosses at the museum where I teach. Somewhere along the line after much prodding and poking, I decided the My DCIS Journey was too boring so retitled the journal Adventures of the Poor, Little Boob.
The Poor, Little Boob has been cancer-free since June 0f 2024, and still has another year of taking hormone therapy and being monitored by an oncologist. My target date for ending the medication and this journey is June1, 2027
One thing that I want to mention, that I didn't mention last week, is my diagnosis was found on a routine mammogram and the cancer was caught in a very, early stage. I had no pain, no bumps, lumps. Nothing out of the ordinary. I had no clue anything was going on. So, if you're putting off getting that mammogram, don't! I urge you to keep up with the mammograms. I know it's a PITA, but I'm the poster child for routine mammogram and early cancer detection.
I finally got a call from my primary care and she went over the results of the biopsy and diagnosis. I told her that I would like to be treated at Dana Farber and she said she didn't think that was a problem. She thought many patients from the medical group had been treated there.
Now that my diagnosis was official, there were so many emotions that I felt. Worry, fear, and not knowing what was going to happen. Shock, sadness. Why me? The feeling of being lost at sea and anger because I was not going to have control.
My cancer was caught very early. So reasonable to assume a positive outcome. That also made me feel guilty. What I was going to go through wasn't close to what others had gone through. I had Imposter's Syndrome. Like saying I had cancer when it really was a hangnail. So that's why I didn't tell many people I had cancer.
I went to get "my" mammogram this year.
ReplyDeleteI lost both parents to cancer and guess... wouldn´t know what to feel if...
Hope all stays well, for all of us.
Bestimmt. Definitely
DeleteI can only imagine all those emotions you went through when you received your diagnosis. It is scary stuff. I have 2 close friends now who also recently had a breast cancer diagnosis but both were also caught early. I hope you, and they also, don't see any reoccurances.
ReplyDeleteFrom your fingers to Gawd's and the Universe's eyes
DeleteI TOTALLY get the guilt/imposter syndrome feeling!
ReplyDeleteI feel seen
DeleteI think you had a perfectly normal and legitimate reaction to your diagnosis. I'm glad it was caught early and that you're nearly at the end of your treatment.
ReplyDeleteI’m glad I’m nearing the home stretch, too - CJ
Deleteit’s like grief…what is it they say, seven stages. and sure we all SAY, or THINK, what if, …if we are diagnosed with…., but the reality of it, IS ……when it becomes ……fact to our own self….does this even make sense??
ReplyDeleteYes, it does
DeleteI think i would be angry at the Universe for trying to take me down so sneakily (is that a word)... but proud that you were on top of it and caught it early and gave that S.O.B. the middle finger.... Ahem... ok i'm done now.. lol Hugs! deb
ReplyDeleteWell, the middle finger actually came from my Care and Support Team
DeleteI don't think any of us know how we will react!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story. I'm so pleased it was caught early and as you say it is so important to have our mammograms.
All the best Jan
Yup, we've all put them off from time to time, but I'm a reminder not to do that any more. Get 'er done.
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