September 2020 – I feel a lump in my right breast about the size of an almond that I attribute to a knot in my pec muscle

November 13th 2020 – I call and make an appointment with my doctor

November 19th 2020 – I see a physician at my doctors office who refers me to the Breast Imaging Centre at the Victoria General Hospital (VGH) for further investigation just in case

December 12th 2020 – Ultrasound at the VGH

December 21st 2020 – Biopsy appointment at the VGH which also includes a second ultrasound, mammogram, and biopsies of both the lump in my breast and an enlarged lymph node in my armpit

December 27th 2020 – I receive the results of my biopsy from my doctor and she confirms I have cancer, a Ductal Carcinoma

December 30th 2020 – My IUD is removed in case my cancer is affected by hormones

December 31st 2020 – MRI at VGH

January 4th 2021 – MRI and Lymph node biopsy results. I learn I have the Invasive version of a ductal carcinoma aprox 4.5 cm in diameter along with smaller satellite tumors and my lymph node has tested positive for cancer.

January 6th 2021 – Bloodwork for BC Cancer Agency (BCCA)

January 7th 2021 – Consultation with Dr Hayashi, my surgeon. He informs me I will need chemo therapy prior to surgery and recommends a port for my chemo treatments and informs me a “clip” will need to be inserted in my lymph node.

January 8th 2021 – Consultation with Dr Roberts, my fertility doctor. We will begin my fertility treatment following my consultation with my oncologist to harvest eggs and freeze embryos.

January 8th 2021 – Bloodwork for fertility team.

January 11th 2021 – CT scan at VHG.

January 12th 2021 – Clip placed in lymph node so it can be identified in surgery after my chemotherapy treatments have shrunk it.

January 12th 2021 – Consultation with Dr Fenton, my oncologist. He confirms I have triple negative breast cancer and recommends a 20 week course of chemotherapy followed by surgery and possible radiation. Treatments will begin as soon as we are able to complete the fertility cycle.

January 13th 2021 – More bloodwork for fertility team.

January 14th 2021 – First appointment at the fertility clinic and first day of fertility injections.

January 14th 2021 – Bone scan at Royal Jubilee Hospital (RJH)

January 22nd 2021 – Ultrasound at fertility clinic to see how fertility treatment is progressing

January 25th 2021 – Second ultrasound at fertility clinic to check on progress

January 26th 2021 – Third ultrasound at fertility clinic to monitor progress

January 27th 2021 – Final ultrasound, we made it! Trigger shot at 8:30 pm and head to Vancouver for 2 nights for chemo-moon!

January 29th 2021 – Egg recruitment procedure completed and head back to Victoria.

February 4th 2021 – 1st round of Chemo – Taxol and Carbo

February 8th 2021 – Consultation with Dr Zabojova, reconstructive plastic surgeon. I am probably going to elect for a double mastectomy and she is confident she will get me back to the same size I am now.

February 10th 2021 – Receive 1st Depot Lupron shot from fertility clinic to put my reproductive organs too sleep during chemo to protect them.

February 10th 2021 – Pre-chemo bloodwork

February 11th 2021 – 2nd round of chemo – Taxol only

February 17th 2021 – Pre-chemo bloodwork

February 18th 2021 – 3rd round of chemo – Taxol only

February 24th 2021 – Check in with doctor from Cancer clinic

February 24th 2021 – Pre-chemo bloodwork

February 25th 2021 – 4th round of chemo – Taxol and Carbo

March 3rd 2021 – Pre-chemo bloodwork

March 4th 2021 – 5th round of chemo – Taxol only

March 5th 2021 – Minor surgery to have port inserted into chest for chemotherapy

March 10th 2021 – Pre-chemo bloodwork

March 10th 2021 – Suspected my port was infected so I am seen by nurses and my oncologist Dr Fenton at the cancer clinic. Also receive my 2nd Depot Lupron shot

March 11th 2021 – Should have been my 6th round of chemo but it was cancelled due to my white blood cells being too low and to allow my port a bit more time to heal.

March 18th 2021 – 6th round of chemo – Taxol only

March 19th 2021 – Phone appointment with oncologist Dr Fenton

March 24th 2021 – Pre-chemo bloodwork

March 25th 2021 – 7th round of chemo – Taxol and Carbo