Jennifer Blackwell

Survivor

Always Trust Your Instincts

In October 2011, I found a lump in my right breast. I had a mammogram and an ultrasound which said it was benign fibrocystic changes. I had a similar lump and diagnosis in the left breast, so I didn’t question it. For the next 2 1/2 years the lump grew, but the mammograms said the same thing. 

In July of 2013, I told my gynecologist I was concerns with that years growth. She reassured me that the mammogram was negative. In January 2014 my right breast swelled to twice the size. My gynecologist ordered another mammogram and ultrasound. This time something was different. The edges looked different. The biopsy revealed I had Invasive ductal carcinoma. The cancer was there all along. The fibrous tissue was hiding it. Its very interesting that when it grew enough to be detected my breast swelled to let us know we could see it now. The cancer was Grade 3 stage 2 without lymph node involvement. My instincts told me it was cancer. If I ever have instinct like that again, I will ask for a MRI. 

I had a double mastectomy and I am now cancer free and I am healing well.