Share. Connect. Love.

Erin Cronican - Journal

Read Entries & Updates

 

Posted 2015-07-02T06:31:00Z

Today's PET Scan (insert joke here)

I found out at last week's post-op meeting with my surgeon that they wanted me to get a PET scan. And why? Well, during my MRI and subsequent surgery the doctor's found that my tumor was no 9mm but was 2.1cm and the cancer had spread to one of my lymph nodes - making my cancer Stage IIB and not Stage 1 like they had thought. This means that there's a chance (albeit a small one) that my cancer has already spread, and the best way to find out if this is true was for me to get a PET scan, where they inject me me with radioactive dye and then scan my whole body to them identify any problems in my body. [...]

Posted 2015-06-10T02:16:43Z

Surgery a week away

I'm not gonna lie - I'm pretty nervous about this surgery. I'm quite phobic of needles, and I'll find out during my anesthesia consult whether or not I can take something for my anxiety on the day before the operation. I know intellectually that I will be fine, but it doesn't do much to calm my nerves. [...]

Posted 2015-06-04T03:24:59Z

Genetic Counseling

I have been referred for genetic counseling to see if genetic testing is something that I want to do. This will tell me if I have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, which would make me pre-disposed for breast or ovarian cancer. If I do have the gene, the treatment plan may change to include a double mastectomy and possibly ovary removal. [...]

Posted 2015-06-04T03:19:19Z

New Mammogram & Sonogram

My MRI showed that there was another lesion on my left side, so I got another ultrasound to learn more about it. And though the MRI was clear on my right side, the doctors want to get a mammogram and sonogram on my right side, just to be certain it's all clear.[...]

Posted 2015-05-31T15:46:00Z

Genetic Counseling

I have been referred for genetic counseling to see if genetic testing is something that I want to do. This will tell me if I have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, which would make me pre-disposed for breast or ovarian cancer. If I do have the gene, the treatment plan may change to include a double mastectomy and possibly ovary removal. [...]

Posted 2015-05-24T05:58:00Z

MRI Testing

I was referred for an MRI so that a full imaging could be done of my chest. Official results will be back Tuesday, after the holiday, but the physician's assistant said that it appears that the tumor is very near the chest wall and may be attached to the muscle. If so, there's a possibility that I may need chemo BEFORE the surgery to shrink the tumor and to make surgery less invasive.[...]