Coyote

[coyotecourageous]

Everytime I try to tell the tail, I lose it in cyberspace. I'll start with small sections. on another day. minimal facts are
1. Paget's disease in the right breast
2. bilateral mastectomy
3. chemotherapy
4. reexcision of right breast in order to avoid radiation
5. hysterectomy to avoid taking meds for a long period

[coyotecourageous]

I guess it's not a TAIL, lol, but a tale.

[coyotecourageous]

In 2002, I saw a new gyn. she was replacing my old doctor who had retired. I was having heavy periods. before my exam, she said "oh, well. have a hysterectomy. You are 43." Perhaps, that was a reasonable thing to say. However, I had never had a doctor to acknowledge that my periods were too heavy, so this option seemed a little too extreme too me. No attempts at treatment had been made. I was defensive right away. She also said "lose some weight or you're gonna have a heart attack before you're 50." again, perhaps she was right, but no doctor had ever indicated I had a weight problem. She was basing her opinion on my cholesterol level. She did diagnose uterine fibroid tumors. I began seeing a homeopathic doctor.

[coyotecourageous]

With the help of Dr Coward, the homeopathic doctor, I lost weight, I began doing yoga, and saw a little relief from the heavy bleeding of the fibroid tumors. In early 2003, maybe February, a bump appeared on my right nipple. Dr. Coward didn't do physical exams, he was a man, so I didn't volunteer this information to him. I saw another doctor. Dr. Wright, a female, is an alternative doctor. She uses both traditional, western medicine and alternative methods. She looked at the bump and said "oh, yes, it does look a little odd. See you next time." During the summer, I had bleeding in my bra. I called Dr Wright's office and was told "if it happens again, call us." Well, it didn't happen again.

[coyotecourageous]

I dieted and exercised quiet successfully. I lost pounds and sizes, but my cholesterol did not drop. I participated in a study because my triglycerides were low and my good cholesterol ratio was high, but the total number would not drop. so diet and exercise did not improve my cholesterol level. I was the "healthiest" I had been in years, maybe ever. I was exercising, avoiding pharmaceuticals, eating organic foods. I saw a new gyn because the other just seemed a little extreme to me. this new woman, Dr. Lyles, looked at the "wart" on my breast and agreed that "yes, it looks a little funny. No, you don't need a hysterectomy. See you next year." I revisited Dr. Wright. this time she seemed more concerned about my concern about the "wart." She scheduled an appt for me to see a dermatologist, Dr. Westly, in November 2003. By this time, I was accepting the attitude, that oh yeah, it looks a little funny. no big deal. I didn't want to show my boob to yet another doctor. i postponed the appt until Feb 2004.

[coyotecourageous]

In February, 2004, When I saw Dr Westly, the dermatologist, she was of the same opinion as the rest of us. It looked a little funny, probably nothing to worry about. She tried to treat this bump with various creams and antibiotics. until may. By May, Dr. Westly decided it was time for a biopsy. A dermatolgist was the one to find my breast cancer! She did the biopsy by cutting off some of the bump. I was back in the office of Dr Lyle, the gyn, when the call came in. Dr Westly called Dr Lyle. Dr Lyle gave me the news. "By the way, you have a malignancy." Dr Lyle asked to see the breast again, told me to schedule an appt with a breast specialist and left me. I was hurt by the cold, callous way in which I was left to absorb my "malignancy." No "wait here as long as you want." No "can I get you anything." No "can I call someone."

[coyotecourageous]

PS. I had mammograms and ultrasounds during this period and they showed nothing remarkable to these gyns.

I called Dr Wright's office to schedule an appt and was told "oh, she's on vacation. You'll have to see someone else." I was left feeling empty and alone.

I guess the message did get to Dr. Wright or at least to her partner, Dr Wilson, whom I have yet to meet. Dr Wilson contacted our area's best surgical oncologist, Dr williams. Dr Williams called me himself and said his office would be calling to schedule an appt. I was so relieved to hear from Dr Williams. he seemed to be the only person in the world who had a clue what would happen next. I "celebrate" the date of the biopsy, May 4, as my survivor anniversary.
when I saw, Dr Williams, he used the term Paget's disease. My research told me that Paget's is a breast cancer of the nipple area. Dr william's plan was to take off the nipple area, conserving as much of the breast as possible. He did his own ultrasound and fine needle biopsy. He said at the time that the fluid did not look good. I was scheduled for a thermogram at dr wright's office. even though the biopsied areas were going to show up as inflamed, dr williams encouraged me to go ahead with the thermogram. he would be able to use the information gathered to help him. he knew how to read the results. he also scheduled a breast MRI. he said this would guide him in knowing where to cut. My insurance called the breast MRI unnecessary since the cancer was already diagnosed. I don't know if they ever covered the cost because Dr William's office has been so good in fighting insurance battles for me. By my second appt with Dr williams, he said mastectomy was my best option. The cancer was inside the breast. Perhaps it had come from the inside rather than from the outside. I immediately asked to have the second breast removed. I could not see myself having reconstruction, (I was so anti-surgery, anti-medication), and I did not want to worry about dressing to balance one big breast.