In the process of having mammograms, ultrasounds, MRI, contrast studies, bone scans, CT scans, etc. I was told that I had some “questionable” areas in the “other” breast. I knew that meant if I left the “other” one attached to me it was going to get poked, prodded, squashed, and twisted over and over again in the years to come. Also, each year my chance for cancer in that breast was going to increase by 1%. Since I was 43 years old, if I lived 20 years or longer that percent increase was going to be significant. The other factor was my increased risk on top of that due to the diagnosis of breast cancer in the first breast. I just knew if I kept the “other” breast, it was going to have to come off at some point, so why not now?

Goodbye girls, hello double DDs.

I was about to meet the most wonderful person/surgeon and staff ever. Surgical Associates: Dr. Nathalie Johnson, Winnie, Margie, Andrea and all the other fabulous people in this group felt like an extended family almost immediately. There were hugs, smiles, squeezes, winks, laughs, and a few tears between us. They were seeing patients just like me every day but somehow I still felt special and unique. This referral by my Dr. Amy Bruner was a godsend!

The surgery was truly a breeze and recovery nearly painless (physically). Thank God for the PAIN PUMPS! Those little wirey jobs under my incisions that got a constant feed of local anesthetic. Yum.

I couldn’t believe the sudden overwhelming support I got from friends and family. Our friends the Caplans

The Caplans - Marc, Danielle, Charisse, Neil, Robert, and me

spent their 25th wedding anniversary at the hospital bringing pizzas in for everyone who was waiting while I had my surgery! Talk about good friends! My friend Ronna brought a portable DVD player and we watched a comedian while I waited to go to surgery. We were laughing so hard we had to control our noise! My friend Jackie “slept” in my room with me that night on a goofy cot. My husband was with me every second, holding my hand, lying on the hospital bed with me, ushering in friends, cracking me up with his dry wit and amazing sense of humor. He could make me laugh out loud at the lowest moments! I understand he was pretty happy to hear that my lymph nodes were negative. I know I was! Not any kind of guarantee but a glimmer of hope where hope is hard to come by. I’d take that kind of news.

Chemotherapy was still in my future but no radiation indicated. I was about to find out what “triple negative” meant……

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