Breast Cancer Case Study

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Although rarely asked, don't mind at all since at least I'm here to talk about my bout with cancer. I'm trusting your cancer is in complete remission as is my (100%) case that started with discovery of Breast Cancer (x2).

2001 (age 49 - discovered at Walter Reed): Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) - Stage 2A (invasive type tumor ~2-5cm not yet spread to lymph nodes). Performed lumpectomy, recovered ~4 weeks, then started chemo (every three weeks x 5) and eventually radiation (once every 8 weeks). Started working after first round of chemo by going on scheduled AT as Commander with reserve unit to Fort Hood (restricted from DFAC, so Soldiers brought "take out" to my room -- so sweet!!). Had to get blood drawn every third day and white blood …show more content…

Oncology Surgeon told me no choice, but I corrected DOC stating both coming off (made own prophylactic decision many moons before Angelina Jolie's infamous pronouncement) with my statement that I had no intention to get it a third time. Had simultaneous double mastectomy and transverse rectus abdominis (TRAM) flap reconstruction, which was the onset for most of my complications and follow-on surgeries mixed with first/only gallbladder attack so severe that it had to be removed. Eventually learned necrosis from tummy tuck (silver lining of reconstruction) kept recurring despite two ~30-day follow-on surgeries to reclose "unzipping" site and being on Vacuum-Assisted Closure (VAC) machine for three months was all due to infection that had set into abdominal mesh (which also herniated) and finally came out almost 6 months after initial surgery. Once sufficiently healed, surgeon put another one in to close abdominal area that required skin graft to close wound (much larger than silver dollar). Consequently, during those 249 days relegated to being homebound, became TVaholic that I am still to this day (thank goodness for

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