Chronology so far

Here is the timeline of recent events:

• July 9, 2009 - Had my annual mammogram
  Got a call that there were some calcium deposits and tissue densities that they wanted to investigate further
• July 17, 2009 - Had a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. At the appointment, the doctor advised that I have a biopsy on a lump and lymph node on the following Monday.
• July 20, 2009 - Biopsy on lump and lymph node.
• July 22, 2009 10:30am - I was delivered the news.... I had what appeared to be Stage 2, Grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma with at least one lymph node involved. Later that day, I had an MRI of my chest and met with a breast surgeon (Dr. Lincoln Snyder). Based on MRI and ultrasound results, it appeared that the cancer was more than likely spread further than just the one lump. It looked like a mastectomy on my right breast was the proper way to go. He then scheduled me in to see an oncologist.
• July 23, 2009 - Met with oncologist (Dr VanderMolen) who informed me that based on a number of factors (lump size, lymph node involvement, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, proliferation and Her-2 neu gene), it predicted that i most likely had a moderate risk of microscopic spread of breast cancer. He recommended I start with chemo first, then do the surgery, since if I had an infection from the surgery, it would delay the chemo. He informed me that I would go on TCH (Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin) for 6 cycles starting in about a week. I would go for chemo once every 3 weeks for 6 cycles, then I would need to continue with Herceptin for the rest of the year then take Tamoxifen for 5 years. Surgery would be scheduled later... about 4-6 months down the road. One last thing... the Dr told me that my kind of breast cancer was 95% curable.

I have appointments scheduled for next Monday, Wednesday and Thursday for PET CT Scan, Bone Scan and EKG. Then I have an appointment with Dr VanderMolen again and may possibly start my chemo. I have been reading a ton on the Internet and am trying to prepere myself for what is to come.