This is a two part series, this post is part 2. If you missed it you may want to start with part 1 which provides an update on what’s been going on with me lately. 

I had my annual physical in December of 2024. At that appointment I pointed out that I would be turning 40 in a few months and requested to schedule a mammogram. My mom had breast cancer at age 61 so I didn’t qualify for early screening (they start screening 10 years before any family member was diagnosed, which for me was later than the standard start age) but I wanted to make sure I got in as soon as I qualified. I told the receptionist to make sure the appointment was after February so insurance would cover it, but they were booking into May regardless.

Had my mammogram in May. The tech told me it’s common to get called back for a follow up, especially after the first mammogram, so try not to worry if that happens. I did get called back. At that point I wasn’t worried. My body has always been weird. When I got an MRI to check for a cause of my headaches they found an abnormality in my Pituitary gland. After a few MRIs they’ve declared that abnormality not an issue and I don’t need to get it checked for 3 years. Turns out probably 25% of people have these spots but since most people don’t have a brain MRI they never know. 

Follow up mammogram is in June. They have a great system where you get the mammogram, they send you to a waiting room (not back to the main waiting area thankfully), the doctor reads the images immediately to decide if they need any additional images, and then the doctor tells you the results. Gotta love a streamlined system. The doctor says the calcifications are localized which is a red flag and calcifications don’t show up on an ultrasound so the only way to check what’s going on is to go get a biopsy. Biopsy gets scheduled for June 25.

All the other life stuff happens. Puppy and I spend a week in Connecticut with my parents while the condo goes on the market. Offers are due June 24, we arrive home that afternoon. I go in for the biopsy Wednesday June 25. Accept one of the offers on the condo while sitting in the waiting room. They tell me to expect results the following week.

Friday afternoon I’m resting in bed, trying to recover from all the decisions I’ve been making, and I get a call. The biopsy results are ready, it is cancer, they’re very sorry but because of the July 4 holiday they can’t get me in for an appointment until July 9. On July 9 I’ll see a radiologist, an oncologist, and a surgeon. I hang up the phone and laugh.

• I’m laughing because several people have said to me recently “that’s so much, you couldn’t have more going on simultaneously!”
• I’m laughing because they apologized for a 12 day wait from results to appointments, plural! I’m used to waiting at least 6 months to see any specialist, 3 all at once is completely unheard of.
• I’m laughing because I have a ton of big feelings and laughing releases them. I don’t have time to process anything because I need to leave right now to drive into Boston for Botox injections for migraine.

Since then I’ve cancelled all plans to move, seen all those doctors at the Danvers, MA Cancer Center, and also scheduled an appointment with a surgeon in CT near my parents. I have the most common and most treatable type of breast cancer (estrogen positive HER2 negative). It’s in a fairly large area (as many as 7 cm depending on who is reading the scans) but there’s no solid tumor. 

Breast cancer treatment is nothing like any of my other chronic illnesses. They’re not going to guess what treatment might work (the only approach for trialing headache medications), they’re going to run a series of tests and work their way through a decision tree. I can make some decisions (double mastectomy vs single, research trial vs older protocol if I need chemo) but I don’t have to research my own diagnoses and advocate for treatment. It’s a completely different healthcare system than the one I’ve been existing in and it’s very refreshing.

Next step is an MRI on July 18 that will determine if we do chemo first (unlikely) or surgery first (more likely). I’ve scheduled the movers to put all of my belongings into storage on July 31 assuming that surgery is the next step and I’ll be recovering from that at my parents’ house. The movers were among the first 5 people I told about my cancer diagnosis – life has been really weird lately! After surgery I’ll find out what stage cancer and if I’ll need chemo or radiation. It’s possible I won’t need either and I’ll just take estrogen blocking medication, recover from surgery, and resume planning my cross country move. We’re hoping for that plan, I might actually make it out before winter in that case!

If you’re wondering what you can do after reading all that:

1. Check in with your doctor and make sure you’re up to date on all the vaccines and screenings that you need. The oncologist said we’d be surprised to know how many people end up in his office right at age 40 because their first mammogram found something. There’s a reason that screenings are recommended when they are. Gift article about various recommended screenings: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/well/cancer-screening-guidelines.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Vk8.c-gS.eaZ1_o7qdknI&smid=url-share 
2. Take active steps to avoid catching and spreading disease. Learn about ventilation, stay home when you feel sick, and wear a mask in public spaces (you’re contagious before your symptoms start). People receiving cancer treatment are among the immunocompromised population. I wear an N95 respirator every time I go out, and masking is even more effective when everyone is doing it. There’s evidence that covid infections cause lasting damage, even in people who don’t experience long covid symptoms. This article discusses how covid may be inhibiting the body’s ability to eradicate cancer cells before they spread. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/06/06/covid-cancer-increase-link/ 
3. Support scientific research. Donate or call your Representatives or share your favorite research organization.
4. Send me simple distractions. It’s rather annoying to be sick and not able to watch TV, aren’t people who are stuck at home sick supposed to watch TV? My brain can’t handle that much input. Light audiobooks, funny podcasts, cute photos. I can do those.