Diagnosed with Breast Cancer...the silent disease

In December I noticed my breasts were much larger than they had previously been.  I had added more food into my competition diet to add some muscle to my frame.  I thought that may have had something to do with it.  Women who compete in the body building sport typically have very small breasts because our diets are low in fat and we spend 6-7 days a week in the gym lifting and doing cardio.  

I had not had a menstrual cycle in close to 2 years.  In December I started menstruating.  I thought that must be why my breasts are so big and sore.  That “period” came and went…the breast didn’t.  They remained big and sore.  When I’m competing I typically am a small B.  When I’m off season, I’m up to a C.  In December, not a single bra was fitting like it used to…they were all too small.  I’ve now reached a D cup.  While many women would be thrilled about that kind of natural growth, I was not!   They were sore all of the time.  When I stepped into the shower I had to turn my back on the water because it felt like needles stabbing at my breasts.  For any of you who have ever been pregnant you know what I’m talking about. 

 

In January I had my annual exam with my OB/GYN.   He and I got to chit chatting and he asked if anything had changed or felt different since I last saw him.  I told him my breasts were killing me!  I said it could be because I’m adding some weight to my frame.  He started the breast exam and when he reached a spot, I squirmed from the discomfort it caused.  His facial expression changed and he asked when I had my last mammogram.   I was getting mammo’s every 6-12 months however I had taken a break from getting them, so I couldn’t remember when my last mammo was.  I asked him if there was anything we should be concerned about and he said that he thought we should take a look at what’s going on.  He felt something and now I did too.

I had my mammo on January 10, 2013.   I was called back 2 weeks later to come in for further testing which included a few more mammo shots, an ultrasound and a biopsy.  Clearly there was something there to have gone through all that.  On January 31, 2013 I received a call from the radiologist who performed my biopsy, to inform me that I have Invasive Ductal Carcinoma breast cancer.  The above illustration shows the exact spot where my tumor is located.   While I am still undergoing further tests to determine the extent of the cancer, I will be having a mastectomy in the next week or two. 

My story is probably no different than anyone else’s.   Most of us who learn we have cancer didn’t know we had it.   Some of us may have a suspension if we find a lump, but for those who don’t feel a lump, the news can come to you as a shock.   My breasts are very dense; therefore it’s not easy to find lumps in them.  While I could certainly feel something, I never suspected that I had breast cancer.  The primary reason was because everything I read about cancerous tumors on the internet said they weren’t painful.  Well ladies, mine was and still is painful!  That may be due to the density of my breasts, any inflammation caused by the tumor, etc.  If you see a change in your breast(s), don’t wait until you feel something to get it looked at.   Cancer is still considered a silent disease.  It does not discriminate and we are all susceptible to it.  It had been 3 years since I had my last mammo.  Had I stayed the course and gotten a mammo every year, I may not be where I am today…On a journey to fight breast cancer.  

Until next time…don’t forget your yearly mammo!