Jessica's Journey

  What is Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)? When I first heard the words Triple Negative Breast Cancer, I didn't realize to what extent I was facing.  The more the doctor explained, the more fearful I became.  I honestly had no idea there were different types of breast cancers.   Triple negative breast cancer stands apart from other types of breast cancer due to its lack of three specific receptors commonly found in other types of breast cancers.  Estrogen, Progesterone, and HER2.     Unfortunately, the absence of these three receptors makes TNBC a more aggressive type of invasive breast cancer.  It tends to grow and spread faster, and has fewer treatment options.  Basically, my cancer cells don't have estrogen or progesterone receptors and also don't make any of the protein called HER2.  The cancer cells test negative on all three tests.   Who does it normally affect? TNBC accounts for about 10-15% of a...

 I'm a huge fan of affirmation books and spiritual books.  I'd like to share a little of each of what I read today.  My affirmation was talking about the support of others in my life.  It says to "let them hold you and support you through whatever life brings".  I cannot express enough gratitude for the people in my life.  Everyone is so loving and supportive.  Family, friends, coworkers, and even strangers.  I'm forever grateful for the outpouring of love and prayer for me during this difficult time.   I also have a spiritual book that I randomly open to a section to read.  I really want to share today's section with you.  I have prayed so hard for God to help me through every step of the way.  I will lean on Him and put all my faith in Him to carry me through this.  Being diagnosed with breast cancer is by far the scariest thing I have ever experienced.  Trying to find the right way to express my emotions and f...

 Good morning, everyone!  I'm feeling much less sore today.  However I still can't sleep well on my back.  I think I'll make a big pot of coffee, get dressed in real clothes, put on some makeup, and try to do something with my hair today.  I've always been told (by my mom) that those things will help your mindset.  It will help a person feel less "sick".   So here goes my day...we will see how long I go until I want to crawl back into my bed and take a nap.  

  Nov 8, 2024 Today was my routine mammogram and lung CT.  I was more nervous about the lung results than the mammogram.  I never expected anything to be wrong with my mammogram.  Everything went as planned and I left the office more worried about the follow up results from my lung nodules we’ve been following for the past three years.  I went about my day with few concerns.   Nov 12, 2024 Today I received news per mychart as well as a phone call from my doctor that my lung CT looked good and my nodules were stable!  Hooray!  That was the biggest relief.  I then decided to check mychart for my mammogram results, thinking everything would be normal.  I read the words “spiculated mass” in my left breast and was immediately concerned, as I googled spiculated and found out it isn’t a good shape to have on a mass. Then came the phone call.  I knew they were going to tell me about the mass.  They said I would need to have a foll...