Last winter and spring I went through a bunch of breast imaging, 3 minor biopsies and finally a surgical biopsy to remove the things the other biopsies had found. At the end of that I was referred to a high risk clinic although I was unclear why I was referred there. I think I was probably told at my follow-up appointment but that was a week post-op and I was still fighting my way through anesthesia recovery.

Today was the first appointment at the high risk center. I had to fill out a bunch of paperwork and then met with a PA who I love. She had taken time to read through all of what happened in the winter and spring and knew what was going on. She explained that one of the lesions that was removed rather drastically increases my chances of getting breast cancer. The average woman has a 12% chance of getting breast cancer in the next 25 years while I have a 30% risk. So 1:3 chances. But because of my surgery they know this and I'm going to be closely followed for the rest of my life.

I'm going to have a baseline MRI Nov. 1 and then Nov. 3 I see the surgeon's NP and have a mammogram on the breast that had surgery (which is good because I have a new lump. The PA isn't that worried but it is a big enough lump that I can fell it which has not happened before so it definitely needs checked). Then in May I'll have my diagnostic mammogram for the year and will alternate mammograms and MRIs every 6 months. I'll also be getting genetic testing if Medicare covers it since my grandmother had ovarian cancer which increases my risks of breast and ovarian cancers. That way if I'm at risk I can have the proper body parts removed. I'll also see the PA every 6 months for an exam.

I feel good about all this and I was so impressed by the PA. She was so nice and spent as much time as I could possibly need. It feels like between her and the collaboration with breast surgery that I'm well covered by a team of professionals.

I do have to wrap my head around that 1:3 number though.


For now I'm just tired. I'm so glad I have the resources at the city but the drive is a lot. Hopefully tonight I'll sleep better; last night I was too anxious to settle down and then I did my usual sleep 30 minutes, wide awake for a long time, thing. At least my PRN gabapentin worked and I didn't have to take klonopin PRN.

Tomorrow I recover from today and then have Bible study in the evening. I hope I'm able to participate when tired.