#TeamStacy

Stacy found out two years ago, due to genetic testing, that she was BRCA-2 positive. This put her at great risk for eventually having breast cancer and/or ovarian cancer. She chose to do the genetic testing done based on family history of breast cancer. Her grandmother died at the age of 40 of breast cancer, and her mother was diagnosed at age 49, had a double mastectomy, is still living and has had no recurrence in 22 years. 

Her mother had the genetic testing done based on the recommendation of her physician two years ago. He felt that it would be a good idea, and would determine whether or not Stacy and her sister should have the test done also, based on her results. She tested positive for the gene, so Stacy decided to have the testing done and also tested positive. 

She made the decision to have an elective double mastectomy and met with multiple physicians to make a game plan. She was 38 at this point and decided to wait a few months but had a breast MRI and her annual mammogram, both clear. 

At the point she decided she was ready to schedule her surgery, her father in law unexpectedly got sick and ended up passing away. So she decided to put the surgery off a little bit longer since the death of her father in law was so difficult on the family. During that time she had another mammogram that came back clear. 

A few months ago, she woke up one morning and told her husband that she was ready to start the ball rolling again. She is 39 and turns 40 on May 25, so she wanted to be on the other side of this by her 40th birthday. She started setting up MD appointments again and planning her time off to recover from her upcoming surgery. With two small children who are in school, involved in many activities, and a demanding career of her own, this was not exactly going to be convenient, but she knew it needed to be done. 

Her breast surgeon decided to send her for a breast MRI a few weeks before her surgery, and he found a spot that needed further examination. She had to go back for another MRI with needle biopsy. The results were not what she had hoped for. The "spot" turned out to be a small malignant tumor. The next step was a lymph node biopsy. Thankfully the cancer had not spread to her nodes. Everyone she and her husband spoke to during all of these unexpected appointments were amazed that they had already scheduled the surgery before they found any of this out. 

The mastectomy went well, but while she was home recovering, her surgeon called her with pathology report from her surgery. The type of cancer that her tumor consisted of was a very aggressive form that was HER2 positive. Basically, that means that even though the tumor was removed during the mastectomy, there is a chance that cells broke away from it and have traveled to other areas of her body. Therefore, it will have to be treated aggressively. Without treatment the chances of it showing up elsewhere in the next few years is very likely. 

So what initially started as an elective and proactive surgery ended up meaning that she will be having aggressive chemo treatments for 18 weeks, then a maintenance chemo drug for up to a year.  This will postpone her breast reconstruction and the total hysterectomy that will be necessary also. 

She has a positive attitude about the change in events, and knows that with her strong faith and incredible support group, she will be stronger than ever before when this chapter in her life is behind her.

Any additional support is so greatly appreciated!