I have always been a healthy person and don’t particularly like visiting doctors. So, after I hit Medicare age, our daughters were bugging me to go for a physical – which I finally did. It had been many years since my last mammogram, so I was prompted to do that as well.
The scans revealed some small patterning in my left breast which could be a possible indication of breast cancer. I was referred to a breast cancer doctor, Dr. Andrea Malon, who would also be my surgeon if that was required.
FYI: Dr. Malon is a fabulous surgeon with whom I had previous experience. Ten years ago, I had an emergency appendectomy and Dr. Malon, who specialized in gastro at that time, just happened to be the on-call surgeon that night! Dr. Malon retired last month, so unfortunately for anyone who might want to look her up, she’s no longer practicing. I hope she has an amazing and relaxing retirement – she deserves it!!
All my procedures and treatments were done through the Middlesex Health Cancer Center (at both the Middletown and Westbrook locations) and I have to say, everyone I dealt with at both locations was helpful, supportive, kind and absolutely wonderful.
I next went for a needle biopsy which confirmed that there were pre-cancerous cells present. Translation: stage 0 cancer. The official diagnosis was DCIS or ductal carcinoma in situ which means that the cells were non-invasive and contained. Even though there was no history of breast cancer in my family, there’s roughly a 10% chance of anyone getting breast cancer and now I, unfortunately, was part of that statistic. I lead an extremely healthy lifestyle, but oddly enough, one of the factors that could have contributed to my DCIS was that I had breastfed both of my daughters. Knowing that now, I still wouldn’t change what I did.
Dr. Malon was very direct and thorough at explaining my diagnosis and options. Surgery was recommended to remove the 2 mm section. I scheduled it for the week before Christmas which would allow me the necessary time to complete all pre-op steps.
Next was an MRI to make certain that the cancer cells were just in my left breast and nowhere else. The MRI luckily confirmed that there was no other detectable cancer present.
I next needed to have a “scout wire” surgically inserted into the exact location in my left breast where the cancer would be removed. This helps the surgeon to be as precise as possible. Both the biopsy and insertion of the “scout wire” were done on separate dates using local anesthesia. These were a little scary, but relatively painless and the Middlesex staff was amazing. Images were taken and a scan was done to confirm that the “scout wire” was exactly where it needed to be.
I had pre-op blood work and needed to see one other doctor for clearance before surgery. All results were good and everything was a go.
About two weeks before my surgery date, I became very congested. Luckily, it wasn’t Covid or the flu, but I went on antibiotics to rule out the presence of any bacterial infection. I was worried that I might have to postpone my surgery, but I finished my antibiotics a few days before my surgery date and was approved by everyone to proceed as scheduled.
At the crack of dawn on the morning of my surgery, Ron brought me to Middlesex Hospital where I was processed very rapidly. Several people went over all information with me before my surgery as well as confirming (several times!) the exact part of my body that was being operated on. They marked that with a marker, got me prepped with an IV and I went into surgery. I was told the surgery would take no more than 45 minutes, but it felt like only moments between the time I fell asleep and the time I woke up. I don’t remember anything and fortunately didn’t have any negative after-effects from the anesthesia. They sent me home with post-op instructions, some ice packs, my follow-up appointment schedule and a prescription for pain pills. I didn’t fill the prescription because I don’t like taking any medication. I figured if I could recover from an appendectomy without pain pills, this would be a piece of cake! Fortunately, for me, it was.
Aside from some swelling and bruising at the site of the surgery, it was nothing that some rest and ice packs couldn’t relieve. In the following hours and days, I received some post-op phone calls from various members of Dr. Malon’s staff, checking in on me and my progress.
My post-surgery appointment with Dr. Malon was about a week after my surgery. There were no stitches that needed to be removed. I had no complications and my breast was healing beautifully. The pathology report showed that the cells were indeed pre-cancerous and had been successfully removed. Scientific data gathered over the last few decades shows that women with DCIS like mine have a higher risk of recurrence in the same breast or the other breast. Because this was non-invasive and contained, if it were to recur, it would be very slow-growing and highly unlikely to kill me during my lifetime. That being said, my risk factor was now higher than the 10% average, so to bring my risk factor back down to that 10% level, chemotherapy was not needed, but radiation was recommended.
Middlesex also offered me three free support-service sessions and I could select from acupuncture, massage, music therapy, reflexology or reiki. I was also provided with information on various local support groups.
After consultation with radiation oncologist Dr. Matthew Listo, I agreed to have 21 treatments of minimal dose, precisely targeted radiation. I needed to go daily, Monday through Friday, for four weeks and one day. One of the normal side effects might be fatigue which could last for several weeks after treatment. Since our daughter was getting married at the end of March, I decided to start my treatment in early February with my last day of treatment on March 10.
I went to the Middlesex location in Westbrook for those treatments. Everyone there was terrific. My first pre-treatment appointment included a scan and an Xray to confirm treatment locations, followed by injections of three tiny tattoo dots which the radiologists then use for exact radiation application.
I discovered that everything related to breast cancer treatment is done with great precision to avoid unnecessary pain and exposure and to minimize any ill side-effects. Each treatment only lasted minutes and there was never any pain. My typical visit was 15-20 minutes, from the time I walked in the door until the time I left. Some visits were a little longer on the days that I met with my doctor or a nurse for a brief check-in and exam. There were a few Xrays taken throughout the course of the treatments. Everything went extremely smoothly for me. The only side effects I experienced were a little tenderness and redness of my left breast and very minimal fatigue. I did not have to curtail my activities or daily lifestyle at all.
At the six month and one year marks, I had follow up appointments with my surgeon and radiation oncologist. Everything was normal and good.
One year later, my latest diagnostic mammogram shows no cancer cells in my breasts.
I am very thankful that I listened to my daughters and finally had a physical and a mammogram. I was lucky. All the support and care I received throughout the entire process of my breast cancer experience were phenomenal. I can’t say enough about Dr. Malon as well as Dr. Listo and the entire staff involved with the Cancer Treatment Center at Middlesex.
Bottom line: Get your yearly mammogram. It could save your life.
And to all breast cancer survivors, please love yourselves by taking care of yourselves. Don’t be afraid to reach out to others when you need some support. It’s there and available, so please take advantage of it.
And from the bottom of my heart, to anyone just diagnosed with breast cancer or those of us who are breast cancer survivors, I wish you all the love and happiness you deserve!
Here’s a link to learn more about Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
