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When I was 10, one of my relatives came all the way from another state to get treated for breast cancer at MD Anderson. Another one got breast cancer treatment from a doctor near her home who works closely with MD Anderson faculty.

So, I knew exactly where to turn for help when I found out I had breast cancer last year. MD Anderson is just where you go when you have cancer. It¡¯s the top cancer hospital in the country. And it¡¯s known worldwide for its cutting-edge treatments and clinical trials.

My delayed breast cancer diagnosis

I received my breast cancer diagnosis last summer. I¡¯d gotten my very first mammogram in October 2018, when I was almost 40. The technician told me I had both dense breast tissue and some small calcifications in my left breast.

Dense breast tissue can make it harder for radiologists to identify suspicious areas, so he suggested I get a 3D mammogram as soon as possible. Unfortunately, that plan had to take a backseat, because not long after I got the mammogram, I was also diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, or an irregular heartbeat.

That condition can be fatal, so I needed to address it immediately. I worked with a cardiologist for several months to get my heart problems under control, then turned my attention back to my breasts.

I had both the 3D mammogram and a breast ultrasound on June 21, 2019. On July 1, my doctor ordered a biopsy. On July 8, I learned I had stage I invasive ductal carcinoma, a type of breast cancer.

My breast cancer treatment

My first thought on hearing the news was actually, ¡°Oh, great.¡± Because first, I had dense breast tissue. Then, I had heart problems. And finally, I had breast cancer. Needless to say, that 12-month period was not my best year.

I called MD Anderson right away, and was kind of shocked by how quickly I got an appointment. At my first one, I met . She consulted with some colleagues, including , then laid out my treatment plan.

My cancer tested positive for all three major hormone receptors, but was small and not in the lymph nodes, so I had a double mastectomy first. Then, I had four cycles of chemotherapy (Taxol) and antibody therapy (Herceptin) together, followed by additional antibody therapy to complete a year of treatment. Next, I will begin hormone therapy.

Dr. FitzSullivan performed my double mastectomy on Aug. 29, 2019. I started receiving IV infusions in October 2019, and rang the bell to mark the end of chemotherapy on Jan. 24, 2020.

My life today

After everything I went through between October 2018 and August 2019, the running joke in my family was that I got all of the messed up DNA. But as it turns out, genetic testing showed I don¡¯t carry any inherited mutations that could increase my chances of developing cancer.

All things considered, mine has been a relatively short ¡ª but intense ¡ª treatment process. Surgery was a piece of cake. Chemotherapy is now over. I have medications to control the side effects. And, they are gradually going away. I¡¯ve even finally felt well enough to return to my job.

I am still in treatment, though, so I¡¯ll continue to receive antibody therapy every three weeks through October 2020. Still, I can get those infusions at MD Anderson The Woodlands, which is not far from my home. Overall, I feel very blessed.

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