April 8, 2010: It’s time that I make an important announcement. I’ve had to absorb this for a few weeks and I hope you can understand why. Well here goes…

Following my “Celebration” gig at the Toad Tavern on March 5th, on March 17th I had my breast reconstruction surgery (part of the process any woman goes through when they do this). They sent in a tissue sample to pathology. To everyone’s surprise, one of the samples came back as a recurrance of the same breast cancer I had before: Triple negative infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Except this time it has metastisized into my chest wall (aka: the skin) as I no longer have breast tissue. So not only has the cancer come back, the metastisis alone has categorized me in “Stage IV”. Shocking, right? In case anyone is curious, I was originally Stage IIA. Yet the good news is that there are no visible or measurable tumors in my body – anywhere. This was caught in cellular form. So technically, I’m called a “Stave IV NED” – No Evidence of Disease.

Here’s something to chew on: The sample that returned as positive was the EXACT site where the initial biopsy needle was inserted back in June 2009. The site left a little scar. I’ve learned that this is termed “needle tract seeding”. And yes, I did have a vacuum-assisted biopsy. It’s very hard to find articles on this because it is so rare.

A few months after my final chemo treatment (Dec 09′) I noticed that the scar changed color and size. This alarmed me. I called my Dr and he immediately scheduled an ultra sound. This occured Feb 24th. It came back “negative”, appearing as a sebaceous cyst – two doctors said this. They also ran a CBC (complete blood count), which also came back negative. Regardless, I was still uncomfortable with the scar and asked the surgeon to remove it during my reconstruction surgery. Instincts!

Had he not done that, I would be sitting here right now writing to you thinking I was free of this and that I could get on with my life. And believe you me – I was READY! My hair is starting to grow out and I was ready to get my travel pants on and bust outa here! I had a great summer planned with backpacking trips and concerts. I was ready to look forward and beyond.

But the fact that this was caught like it was is also equally a blessing! Another blessing is that the other tissue samples sent in (normal protocol) came back negative. Thus, the cancer recurrance is localized and in the same exact area it was before.

Good news: I feel FINE, actually. I’m back on my feet and have my energy back. Also, because this was caught as the early stage (still in cellular form), as already mentioned – there are NO visible tumors in my body. This is confirmed via the bone scan, MRI and Pet CT I have now done. It’s early enough to DO something! I am also thankful for how supportive and understanding my peers and superiors have been at my job at Level 3.

This has also taught me that “triple negative” breast cancer means business. Click HERE for more info. It’s known to be agressive and more prone to recurrance than the other breast cancers. 20% or less of all breast cancer cases are “triple negative”. There’s also not a targeted therapy for it today in 2010. However, there are tons of clinical trials occuring on this as we speak. That said, if I had a wish for the $$ going towards breast cancer research, it’s the hope that they’re focusing on this rare form of breast cancer. Please click HERE for the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation.

What does this mean for me? I have to act FAST. I have also decided to be more proactive with my health and get not just one, but THREE opinions. I’m taking this to the TOP. I have a great amount of respect for my physicians Dr. Paul and Dr. Bateman at Rocky Mountain Cancer Center” (RMCC). However – of there’s anything I learned from reading Lance Armstrong’s “Its Not About the Bike” – it’s to get multiple opinions. Your health is in YOUR hands and YOUR responsibility. To be proactive could save your life. Don’t make decisions on YOUR health based on one person’s opinion. You don’t have to take yourself seriously (I don’t), but you have to take your health seriously.

Thus, on April 16th I will be headed to Exempla for my 2nd opinion, and the week of April 19th I will be headed to Houston, TX to talk to the experts at MD Anderson – known to be the top cancer center in the nation. I was approved as of TODAY. Yay!

This diagnosis also means that yes – I will have to undergo treatment again, except this time it will be different. Different in what way? Different drugs and more frequent (ie: it could be once a week as opposed to once every 21 days like last time). My plan is to take the data I have gathered from all of my sources of opinions and will make an informed decision about my treatment.

As dissapointed and unhappy as I am about this, it’s something I’ve got to do. I just hope that I can still enjoy my summer and make the most of it. If there’s anything that saddens me about this, it’s the interruption, the set-back, and having to “re-think” this to the point of acceptance and trying to get back to that “fighter” mind-set I had before.

All I can say is…. Watch out Europe 2011!! Are ya with me on this? HIgh FIVE brotha.

Thank you to my friends who came to support me during my “Celebration” gig on March 5, 2010. Here’s a few of those hellions:

John, Christine, Scott and Pam.

And thank you to Colorado Music Buzz for your support!

And lastly, if I fail to immediately respond to your attempts to reach me, please know that it’s nothing personal. I will do my best. It’s also helpful to be treated “normal” sometimes and not place a lot of energy on the topic. Your thoughts and support are a constant reminder of human compassion and lets me know that I am not alone in this fight. However, forgetting about it gives me the nice vacation that’s long overdue! LOL.

My current “fight” is to not allow this to own me. And most importantly, to not allow this to define me. Life moves on and so will this!

Stay tuned for the story about Houston!

Hugs to YOU!,
Me