Before leaving for a work conference at the end of January 2020, I was scratching a spot on my right breast, when I found a lump. Of course I immediately thought it was breast cancer, and I thought, "This would be my luck. A different cancer coming for me!" I have family history of breast cancer, so it wasn't so far fetched as when I got my melanoma diagnosis. Melanoma didn't every cross my mind as a possibility because there was no indication on the surface.
I had my OBGYN check it out and send over a referral for a mammogram and ultrasound. LESSON 1 AGAIN! I didn't wait this time, I called and scheduled the next day! My initial appointment was two weeks away, but I annoyingly called every morning to see if there were cancelations and I got in the following week.
The Radiologist said that he thought it was probably just a benign fibroadenoma, which was what my OBGYN thought too. Normally that would be the common diagnosis for a woman my age and for the way that the images presented the lump. Again, a testament to my amazing team of doctors, they take no chances because of my history. The Radiologist recommended a biopsy of the lump, to which my surgeon said, "No, we are taking the whole thing. That is your only option, or you're fired, Casey!" Haha I appreciate their candor and humor. It is what gets my through.
My swift team was back at it again, and my surgeon got me under the knife the following day to remove the lump and send it off for pathology. After a long weekend, and a short nausea inducing anxiety attack the night before my results came in, we had our answer.
Boy does this disease like to mimic and mock! It was a metastasized melanoma. In my breast of all places!!!
So now we are in Round 2. This has already been a different experience, and I have a feeling it won’t be any easier or shorter. But I am ready for it and I have an amazing support group to help me along the way.
I would love to connect with you all who have their own experiences with melanoma, and the process they have gone through. I hope that we can connect and support one another, and lift one another up to give it the swift kick in the ass it needs to leave us alone once and for all! Where are my other cancer warriors at?
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