Started hormone treatment.
Time line
29th Dec - Mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy.
5th Jan - Biopsy results confirm breast cancer. Referred to a surgeon.
7th Jan - Diagnosed with grade 3 aggressive and invasive breast cancer. The tumor is 18mm and will require a lumpectomy as well as the removal of the sentinel lymph node.
8th Jan - Further scans.
14th Jan - Scans are cleared.
21st Jan - Surgery.
29th Jan - Post surgery appointment. Tumor was 25mm but removed with a clear margin. Lymph node has small traces of cancer cells.
30th Jan - I've got new wheels (new to me). Yes. I'm aware that the number plate starts with BS and that it refects this whole situation. It has 320000kms on it. I'm aiming for an even 500000. I love goals. Actually I love achievable goals. 400000 would be a win.
2nd Feb - Appointment with an oncologist.
9th Feb - Chemo information session
10th Feb - Pre chemo heart ultrasound
12th Feb - Chemo starts - that was aweful
24th Feb - Hair starts coming out so we cut my plaits off.
26th Feb - Second dose of chemo - sucked big time. Couldn't do much at all for eight days.
1st March - Shaved my head. Hair falling out is annoying.
12th March - Appointment with the genetics counsellor and blood test for the defective BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 gene.
9th April - Last dose of doxorubicin.
29th April - Had a reaction to taxol. Will have to have steroids before each dose.
7th June - Got the genetic results back. I don't have the mutant BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.
12th August - Finished chemotherapy.
24th August - Radiation planning scan.
7th September - Start of radiation therapy.
6th October - Finished radiation.
11th October - Started hormone treatment.
5th Jan - Biopsy results confirm breast cancer. Referred to a surgeon.
7th Jan - Diagnosed with grade 3 aggressive and invasive breast cancer. The tumor is 18mm and will require a lumpectomy as well as the removal of the sentinel lymph node.
8th Jan - Further scans.
14th Jan - Scans are cleared.
21st Jan - Surgery.
29th Jan - Post surgery appointment. Tumor was 25mm but removed with a clear margin. Lymph node has small traces of cancer cells.
30th Jan - I've got new wheels (new to me). Yes. I'm aware that the number plate starts with BS and that it refects this whole situation. It has 320000kms on it. I'm aiming for an even 500000. I love goals. Actually I love achievable goals. 400000 would be a win.
2nd Feb - Appointment with an oncologist.
9th Feb - Chemo information session
10th Feb - Pre chemo heart ultrasound
12th Feb - Chemo starts - that was aweful
24th Feb - Hair starts coming out so we cut my plaits off.
26th Feb - Second dose of chemo - sucked big time. Couldn't do much at all for eight days.
1st March - Shaved my head. Hair falling out is annoying.
12th March - Appointment with the genetics counsellor and blood test for the defective BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 gene.
9th April - Last dose of doxorubicin.
29th April - Had a reaction to taxol. Will have to have steroids before each dose.
7th June - Got the genetic results back. I don't have the mutant BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.
12th August - Finished chemotherapy.
24th August - Radiation planning scan.
7th September - Start of radiation therapy.
6th October - Finished radiation.
11th October - Started hormone treatment.
Helpful tips
Don't ask Cal if he's going to shave his head for me. It's not actually a helpful suggestion. Why would we want two of us to loose our hair?
I'm really appreciating the hugs, but do so at your own risk. I might turn into a covid super spreader. If you're a non hugger (like me), let's just avoid it. Two non huggers is just asking for a truck load of awkwardness. Adrian O, thank you for keeping your 1.5m, so that there is some normality to this whole situation.
Jon is a great husband but he is dairy free, but yes, the rest of us love cheese.
Please dont ask our kids how I am. You can read that here. Ask Callum about trains, Liam about Star Wars and Erin about what she is currently watching on Netflix (and if it's inappropriate, let us know).
Message or call me whenever you like. It makes me feel not alone in this. I'll get back to you when I can but it might take awhile. More than ever before, I can't spend my days with my eyes on my phone when my family are in front of me. It's always on silent and is starting to spend big chunks of time not with me.
Consider subscribing to Callum's YouTube channel. It's interesting and you'll learn stuff. The link is below.
I'm really appreciating the hugs, but do so at your own risk. I might turn into a covid super spreader. If you're a non hugger (like me), let's just avoid it. Two non huggers is just asking for a truck load of awkwardness. Adrian O, thank you for keeping your 1.5m, so that there is some normality to this whole situation.
Jon is a great husband but he is dairy free, but yes, the rest of us love cheese.
Please dont ask our kids how I am. You can read that here. Ask Callum about trains, Liam about Star Wars and Erin about what she is currently watching on Netflix (and if it's inappropriate, let us know).
Message or call me whenever you like. It makes me feel not alone in this. I'll get back to you when I can but it might take awhile. More than ever before, I can't spend my days with my eyes on my phone when my family are in front of me. It's always on silent and is starting to spend big chunks of time not with me.
Consider subscribing to Callum's YouTube channel. It's interesting and you'll learn stuff. The link is below.
Callum's YouTube
My favourite clip.