The Cat Had Landed

In a matter of days, I would proceed with the first of my adjuvant therapies-chemotherapy. How time flies when you are not having fun too! I dreaded the day when I have to surrender some of my good cells to the workings of the drugs that will be "pumped" into me in order to eradicate any remaining cancer cells. Surely, this has to be detoxification at the highest level.

It has been a month since I had a lumpectomy to remove the unwanted lump. And it has been almost 3 months since that lump was discovered, by accident.
Ashley the cat was frolicking as usual around bedtime and decided to leap across the bed. She landed right smack on my chest resulting in a piercing scream cutting through the night air in normally peaceful Masjid Tanah. Ouch, I thought, that really hurts. I smacked Ashley good and proper and did not think too much about the incident.

Back in KL about a week later, I experienced strange twitchings (not pain)on the left breast where Ashley had landed. It was New Year's and I had my nephews over for tea to celebrate. Nothing unusual until a few days later when I noticed some stains on my bra. Still no pain but I remember feeling feverish and took a couple of paracetamols to relieve the fever. The next morning I began to feel weird as my left breast felt hard and warm, and the occasional twitchings turned to pain. Aah...an infection I thought, probably due to possible scuffings when Ashley landed on me.

I went to a 24 Hour Mediviron clinic nearby for some antibiotics. The Doctor prescribed some antibiotics but urged me to consult a Breast Specialist as the abscess needed to be drained a.s.a.p. I completed the 3-day course of antibiotic and made an appointment to see a Breast Specialist. A small surgical procedure was carried out to drain out the abscess and a small tissue sample was taken for investigation.

The analysis of the sample indicated some abnormal cells and growths in the ducts which may require further investigation given my profile: A golden girl, post-menopausal and non-child bearing. I agreed to a mammogram once the surgery incision heals.

The result of the mammogram about month later prompted an Ultrasound scan to be done. Some highly suspicious looking mass were noted, indicative of malignancy. The Surgeon reassured me that 95% of such cases were benign. I would however need to have the lumped checked and removed as a precaution before it could become cancerous. We fixed a date for surgery.

I lost my appetite on the days that followed. I don't like needles and I like surgical instruments even less, especially if these were to be used on me. I started reading about Breast cancer from various websites ( MayoClinic, Susan G.Komen, Breastcancer.org) and googled various topics on the disease. I knew a lot of scary things about Breast Cancer even before I was diagnosed with it.

Although I was disturbed by the way things were unfolding, I continued to pursue other interests so that my mind was distracted. At the same time I sought second and third opinions. They were all consistent, masses looking like that (irregular with microcalcifications) must be removed.

On March 8, the suspicious lump was removed together with 21 lymph nodes.
When I recovered from the anasthesia, I noticed two drainage tubes leading out of my left chest area. The Surgeon had explained that if the results of the "frozen section" analysis carried out during the surgery indicated that the abnormal cells had invaded surrounding tissues, my lymph nodes had to be tested for any invasion as well. Aah...not so good news then. The two tubes meant that some lymph nodes were taken out as well for investigation. I waited for the Surgeon to explain what is next.

She explained that the excavated tissues had been sent for analysis and the Pathologist's report would take a few days. On March 13, the report was released and I was informed that it is a "good"(????) prognosis:
A Stage 1, Grade 2, ER/PR +ve, HER2-ve, LI/VI=Absent. Tumour size 1.5cm.
It was a cancerous lump and the report described it as an Invasive Ductal Carcinoma(IDC with DCIS).

Now, had Ashley not landed the way she did, would I have discovered this mass? And if I did not have the first infection could I have started the chain of actions to clear the MESS? I could cuddle Ashley again and again for her unwitting role in this. Or do cats have an ESP about things and she had intentionally landed on the spot so that I would be prompted to do something?
If only cats could talk!

A heavy lesson learnt here is that when one is a "Golden Girl" an annual mammogram is a MUST. I do my regular monthly BSE but my last mammo was quite a while back. Urgh..the thought of being sandwiched between two plates was enough to make you think of excuses not to go. But let me tell you that is really nothing compared to what you have to go through if you have advanced Breast cancer. Of course Mammograms will not prevent cancer, but it can alert you to take early intervention. Even if I kick myself really hard now, I can't turn back the clock. A mammogram a year ago could have detected the messy mass when it was just a Ductal Carcinoma In Situ(DCIS). If DCIS, I may not have to go through 2 surgical procedures, will not have to go through chemotheraphy and would not have had such an extended downtime.

Well, here we are. Syukur Alhamdulillah I am still considered an early case, but nevertheless subject to all the medical weapons currently available to zap those mutant cells - those which may still be remaining and those planning to mutate in my body.

Insya Allah, with God's will, I will be given the strength to face the healing process and that the people around me will help by remaining strong themselves.

To Ashley, you have indeed landed...and what a landing it was, my chayang!
Thank you so much! Mwah, mwah, mwahxxxxxxx.