About 10 days ago Lois went for her annual physical exam. Before the appointment she had a mammogram so the doctor could examine it as part of the exam. It was clear, yet when he examined her manually he discovered a lump in her left breast. Once she felt it she was amazed that she hadn't discovered it herself. Me too.
A couple days later a core-needle biopsy was conducted using an ultrasound device. Lois was most worried about the needles and any pain they may inflict. The doctor explained the procedure carefully telling her the first needle he would use would have a very small diameter that it wouldn't be the "shot" so much that might hurt as it would be the "three second" burn when the lidocaine was injected. She took it like a trooper, but when he went in with a larger needle to deaden a greater portion of her breast, she let out a squeal. (The lady who held the ultrasound device was the daughter of a couple of students of mine from the early years when I first started teaching. It's a small world.)
The biopsy came back positive: malignant. There are two types of breast cancer: ductal carcinoma, and lobular carcinoma. This one is the latter: lobular carcinoma.
The milk glands produce the milk which is then transported to the nipple through ducts. Ductal carcinoma is in the ducts, lobular carcinoma occurs in the milk glands. Ductal carcinoma is the most prevalent and the one reported most often in popular literature: Ladies Home Journal, Oprah, etc. Lobular is much less prevalent, but is the second most common type.
Why didn't it show in the mammogram? Lobular masses do not collect calcium like the ductal masses do. Calcium is what makes bones and teeth show up clearly in x-rays. Since lobular masses don't calcify well, they are more transparent, 15% of mammograms will not detect them. Because of this, there is no way to know whether there are more masses, possibly microscopic in size, that can't be found.
Ductal carcinomas generally occur in fairly clear view of the mammogram, and they are usually alone: only one. Because of this they are generally removed as a mass, leaving the breast in place: lumpectomy.
Lobular carcinomas are generally removed by removing the entire breast: mastectomy.
Tomorrow morning she reports to the hospital for the surgical procedure.
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- ~ Lois and Jim ~
- Our wish with this blog is to share our common and ordinary responses to an extraordinary situation in the hope that others will find at least some small smattering of hope, strength and faith.
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3 comments:
Lois, our prayers will be with you on Monday. We thank & praise God that this was found now and not later. Be strong. God is always with us through the good times and the difficult times. We love you.
Jim & Lois,
We pray for both of you.
Jim: for encouragement, strength, stamina, to be a comforter and continued support to your wife. Lois: comfort, strengh, recovery.
Surgeon: for his/her eyes, hands, wisdom, & his words to you both when he is finished.
Remember what God has told us:
1) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7
2) God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Ps 46:1-3
God is with you.
Love you both,
Steve & Debbie
Lois and Jim,
We have been thinking of you all day, and are anxious to hear from you post surgery. I have good thoughts and feelings about this surgery though, after talking with Lois Saturday, and feeling her optimism. What a nice idea to have the web site so we can check on you so often! The next few days of recovery will be hard; no more shots though. Wish we lived closer and could be of some help!
Sending love and prayers,
Judy and Bill
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