32 Year Old Female with Breast Cancer - Vancouver, WA

My story begins when I was 19 years old.I found a lump in my right breast not having medical insurance Planned Parenthood was my primary care,the Dr. said it's probably a cyst, keep an eye on it. Over the years it grew slowly. I went to the low income clinic they also said it was a cyst(with out anything other than a physical exam) I got married at 29 my husband insisted we get medical insurance,we did I finally had a primary care Dr. She wanted me to do genetic testing knowing my backround ( mother+grandmother both had breast cancer) My insurance deductible was 10,000 that was also more than we had in the bank. I made the tough decision not to have the test done, there wouldn't be anything to do treatment if there was a positive. It was only a few months until the affordable care act would be in place, I'd wait to see if I could find better coverage and I did. With a deductible we could afford I could be treated I had my first mammogram at 29 I knew something was up when my tech took 9 images of my right breast followed by ultrasound and biopsy. Results came in it was a benign tumor, due to its size it needed to be removed I did that promptly.5 months went by it was time for a checkup another set of mammograms the tech saw something so I did ultrasound and another biopsy, it was another benign tumor in my right breast around 1/2 the size of the other one it was a different type as well. I had it removed promptly. About 5 months later it was time for another checkup, yet again it was another tumor in my right breast this one looked very different on the ultrasound but it was benign removed. In the clean margins of tissue there was cancer I needed to have more tests and a Mri done. On the Mri there were clusters of tumor still to small to need removal. I met with an oncologist and radiologist it sounded like radiation and tomoxafin were going to be my future but I didn't have kids yet and the 5 years of tomoxafin would prevent that I was also concerned that if I would have insurance for the 5 years I asked the Dr can I afford this without coverage? There was not even a pause she replied No. I still would have to have the cluster removed when they were big enough, that's when I considered bilateral mastectomy. I had to see my surgeon again (she'd done all of my tumors) she was 100% on board it was the best was for me to stop worrying about when the other side would start producing tumors as well. Then I met Dr.Champaneria who was willing to help me trough the process. I can't begin to explain how wonderful my husband has been going to every appointment to help me recall all that was said, and just being a shoulder to cry on I truly couldn't have done it without him! Having one breast cut so many times my primary surgeon wanted to go in from the old scar so I've got a little different scaring than the normal mastectomy, life was toughest after the first surgery I had no idea how weak I'd be. My skin was crawling the touch of the bra or a shirt was irritating my armpits were hollow from tissue and lymph nodes being removed.It was time for the expanders to be removed and place the implants I also was having fat graphing. I told the Dr. I wanted bigger boobs if he could I did understand since I was keeping my nipples they'd have to stay on the smaller side.He was great he offered to inject fat into my armpits I was happy to have this all behind me. I woke up feeling pretty well compared to the previous surgery, I didn't even feel need to stay overnight in the hospital. I was very swollen and aside from wearing compression wear and still wearing sports bras I was feeling good, I didn't know that I'd have to wear dresses or yoga pants for 6 weeks due to the fat grafting. I get to go back to work in 3 weeks. I'll start laser scar removal in the next month or so.

I'm a 32 year old that decided a bilateral nipple sparing mastectomy was the correct fit for me. I have the pleasure of working with Dr.Manish Champaneria, he's told me what to expect on every step of my procedure. This is the scariest thing I've ever been trough.I'm so happy with my outcome Dr.Champanreia was amazing about listening to what I wanted, He went above and beyond my expectations!