On September 28, 2023 I had to have titanium markers placed in my left breast. They also took several biopsies. On October 5, 2023, I was out of state helping a friend and I was told to immediately get to my doctor. I already knew.

I have Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.

So I have HER2-negative cancer. This is great news in Cancerland, by far the worst amusement park until MAGA comes up with one and there’s a Kid Rock soundtrack on just loudly enough to irk you.

What HER2-negative means
If breast cancer cells do not have abnormal levels of HER2 proteins, the breast cancer is considered HER2-negative.

Even if your cancer is HER2-negative, it may still be estrogen-positive or progesterone-positive. Whether or not it’s hormone-positive also affects your treatment options.

What HER2-negative means
If breast cancer cells do not have abnormal levels of HER2 proteins, the breast cancer is considered HER2-negative.

Even if your cancer is HER2-negative, it may still be estrogen-positive or progesterone-positive. Whether or not it’s hormone-positive also affects your treatment options.

It involves hormone blockers, then chemo or radiation after lumpectomy and if I’m likely to have either an immediate implant or I may wake with no breast. The PET scan will show how my recent abdominal surgery has healed.

Hormone blockers can cause intense pain, per my first oncologist (I’m interviewing), so given my medical condition, I’m not sure what that looks like.

Staging only occurs after MRI of the breasts and ducts and lymph nodes. There’s been so much pain and rubbing, I’m a bit scared.

This particular surgery team has a rib and sternum team, and thoracic can make decisions about fixing my pectus excravatum when she’s in there or look to see it gets done.

So that’s where I am today.