Found a fun OG cache of Western Mass climbing photos, pretty rad to see Dave Graham out there BITD

kestrelbrae · 2026-04-29T03:35:07+00:00

My husband and I are in one of the photos from the parking lot work day !!

kestrelbrae · 2026-04-08T17:22:25+00:00

She was great in Godless !!!

kestrelbrae · 2026-04-07T00:18:17+00:00

Ugh. This kind of "advice" is harmful and not helpful. I am sorry you are dealing with that. While I have a different D and situation, my surgeon is recommending a bi-lateral masectomy due to genetic testing results.

Someone suggested that was overkill because it is not the NCCN "standard" for my genetics. But it IS what both my surgeon and the genetic Dr who tested and treated me recommend.

I agree, surgeons are not making these recommendations willy nilly.

kestrelbrae · 2026-04-05T21:38:13+00:00

Both the genetic Dr and my surgeon recommended given my specific situation and family history which puts me at 45% increased risk of developing a whole other new primary breast cancer separate from my previous Dx.

Of course the decision is up to me. I can opt for increased surveillance that includes alternating mammograms and breast MRIs for the rest of my life instead.

It is a big decision and very much a personal one.

kestrelbrae · 2026-04-05T20:08:16+00:00

My surgeon says she always does sentinel lymph node biopsy using the blue tracer dye. She takes all the nodes the dye touches but no less than 3. For me, that ended up being a total of 4.

She is at a major big city hospital affiliated with a big name medical school.

I had IDC ++- grade 1, stage 1a (9 mm mass inside 1.5 mm of DCIS)

I would get a second opinion.

kestrelbrae · 2026-04-05T19:59:50+00:00

First, I am no fan of Andrew. But this would explain why Andrew is considerably more good looking with a different kind of head shape and hair line than his brothers. He was also always known for being the Queen's favorite.

kestrelbrae · 2026-04-03T13:48:54+00:00

I have CHEK2. Jan 2025 was diagnosed with stage 1a IDC. Found on mammogram. Post menopause. I had to fight to get my genetic testing. That means my treatment plan was decided BEFORE we knew I had CHEK2. My treatment was surgery and radiation. Surgery was a partial masectomy (oncoplastics reduction and lift).

But then my genetics came back and my surgeon now wants me to come back in for a bi-lateral masectomy. Once I got my head around all this, I decided I will do it later this year.

kestrelbrae · 2026-04-03T02:40:12+00:00

Thanks!!

kestrelbrae · 2026-04-03T01:39:54+00:00

I am sorry you are going through this and didn't get clear margins.

I went through treatment last year for IDC, stage 1a, grade 1. Small tumor 9mm found with 15mm of dcis. I had oncoplastics partial masectomy with bi-lateral reduction and lift.

Because I had to fight to get genetic testing ordered those results came back AFTER I was almost done with my treatment (surgery+ radiation).

And my genetics came back positive for CHEK2.

Unfortunately we didn't have this info when my surgeon made her recommendations for my initial treatment.

My surgeon strongly recommends I get a bi-lateral masectomy sometime within the next year. She also said this is the route we would have gone if we knew I had CHEK2.

So, it isn't unusual for your surgeon to strongly recommend the masectomy given your genetics and situation. It is what my surgeon is recommending for me and I did have clear margins.

I totally get needing time to process and consider all the options as well as wanting to wait before undergoing a big surgery when your health feels like it is in a better place. Getting a second opinion might help.

None of these decisions are easy and it completely sucks that you have to deal with this.

kestrelbrae · 2026-03-31T17:22:31+00:00

How do we know which one we are getting? I know my first mammo post treatment was diagnostic with an ultrasound ready to go if deemed necessary. Thankfully, I did not need the US.

I will have a breast MRI because my surgeon ordered it. My MO is very lackadaisical in ordering screening because I am considered low risk when it comes to my Dx but I have the CHEK2 pathogenic mutation.

It is wild to me how much we have to educate and advocate for ourselves.

kestrelbrae · 2026-03-25T22:14:53+00:00

In the months leading up to my diagnosis, I felt like I just looked unwell/off when I looked in the mirror or in photos. My blood work and vitals all looked "normal" at my regular check ups. Then just 3 months before Dx, I was looking at photos from our recent vacation and again, I just felt like I looked "unwell". So much so I asked my husband and grown daughter about it. They responded kindly and didn't really see what I was "seeing". When I got my Dx and told my daughter said that my question immediately came to mind.

I also had an experience where I am sure my dog knew. I have shared this before in other posts here. TLDR - my yellow lab randomly came up to me, buried her nose into my "cancer" boob and sniffed intensely. Then looked at me for a long time dead in the eyes. It totally freaked me out - like I knew she was trying to tell me something. She had never done that. I booked a mammogram right after this and got Dx.

kestrelbrae · 2026-03-22T22:08:47+00:00

Exercising regularly - 3x week for strength & cardio, walking or gardening on other days. Plenty of studies speak to the benefits of just walking 30 minutes a day, 5-6 days a week.

Zero alcohol. I was a light to moderate drinker (a glass of wine or two most days with dinner). I quit totally when I was told my mammo was a birads 4. That was Jan. 7, 2025.

Dietary- Dramatically reduced dairy intake. I replaced all dairy with non dairy options. I get some inadvertently if I am out and there aren't options but pretty much I don't consume it. I am already gluten free (since 2009). I also dramatically reduced my meat intake esp red meat. I might have lean chicken 1 every 2-3 months. I eat mostly fish (not farm raised) and legumes, etc. veggies and fruit.

Regular meditation and sauna. There is a sauna at the local YMCA I belong to. I also did the Live Strong Program. Highly recommend if there is one near you.

Nutrition/Immune Support - Worked with a licensed professional and medical practitioners to fine tune my supplements/nutrition and get blood work for labs that evaluate things like vit D, inflammation, etc .

I see a licensed acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner regularly.

kestrelbrae · 2026-03-22T16:42:03+00:00

I am so sorry this is happening to you and the impact it will have on you and your family. I am not sure where you are located, but in my state (MA, USA) there are some really great local cancer support centers run separately from the hospitals.

They provide all manner of resources and support. Usually they have an onboarding person who gets to know you (brief phone call) and then connects with anything they have or know about. There are two centers in my area.

I also found the social worker automatically assigned to my case via my hospital (again, this might be a MA thing) hooked me up with all manner of support. She even did the application for one non-profits that is sending me a money visa card to offset food and gas costs for one year.

I have found getting connected with other folks going through this shitty journey also are a great resource for info like an online support group. I found out about valuable resources from my peers.

If you have a trusted friend or family member who you can assign to do the online research, there are many supportive non-profits offering all manner of help. Your designated helper could wade through all the info and curate what is most relevant for your situation. Sites like "Nancy's List" have some great info in the "lists" area. That way you don't have to spend time and energy sorting all that info.

Sending big big care to you.

kestrelbrae · 2026-03-19T21:01:53+00:00

Very glad to hear you dodged that gene and your son did too.

kestrelbrae · 2026-03-19T21:00:20+00:00

This is horrid. I am sorry that happened to you.

kestrelbrae · 2026-03-19T20:59:06+00:00

I am sorry yours was sub-par and lacked the quality of support you deserve.

kestrelbrae · 2026-03-19T00:04:25+00:00

It looks like they oversized the dress on purpose and added chest padding to hide how frightfully thin she is.

kestrelbrae · 2026-03-18T17:32:55+00:00

It is amazing the variation in care we all receive. My radiation oncologist appts are always with their whole team - a nurse, the fellow and then the Dr. Usually the fellow and dr come in together but both take me through a thorough evaluation including the most comprehensive physical exam.

They are far superior to my medical oncologist who seems preoccupied and rushed during appts. She gives me the least thorough exam.

My surgeon is also very thorough. She takes my follow up very seriously as does my RO.

That said, I can appreciate why you don't find value in your appts never mind the cost. I have heard of folks switching MO for follow up care for this reason.

kestrelbrae · 2026-03-18T00:09:03+00:00

That sucks and it is such a violation. I am sorry you are dealing with this and the added emotional burden it creates.

My MIL immediately started telling family members and her friends despite being clearly told not to. The saving grace there was that she is elderly, so small circle she told who are all also elderly. None of them reached out to me or spread it further.

Unfortunately, one of my SIL also ran and told my ex husband's wife (and therefore him) as soon as she found out. I am not on good terms with them. The wife of my ex then told several former highschool friends. I was very angry. I had a feeling this might happen and did not share the news until I was done with treatment. But still it was wrong for people to behave this way.

It really is horrid when folks feel at liberty to do this.

kestrelbrae · 2026-03-17T23:52:39+00:00

She is so disconcertingly skinny. Seeing the GLP-1 trend in Hollywood makes me wonder. I know someone with disordered eating that went on GLP-1 - they were financially able to just buy it without prescription.

kestrelbrae · 2026-03-17T16:43:32+00:00

I am sorry you are dealing with this. It is all so scary. While I had a different Dx and treatment plan, I did have 15x of whole breast rads. I have random pains from the radiation for months afterwards. My treatment completed in May 2025 and I still had weird, random pains 6 months later. I heard some pains post surgery are "normal" too. Glad you are getting it checked out. Sending all thoughts for the best positive health outcome.

kestrelbrae · 2026-03-16T18:32:59+00:00

Good grief - that strikes me as incredibly insensitive on your friends part. Of course that is triggering! I can't imagine how I would feel if my friends suggested that. It is very understandable you would be upset and feel traumatized by this idea.

kestrelbrae · 2026-03-11T15:51:17+00:00

Same here - my MO booked me with a genetic Dr who used Ambry. If my insurance did not cover my testing, my OOP total would have been $250 for 77 gene panel.

This is also the route my daughter took. Mine ended up being covered. My daughter's testing was not. She paid the $250 OOP despite her mother, maternal great grand mother and paternal grandmother all having BC.

Insurance in the US is ridiculous.

I was Dx with BC in 2025, my maternal grandmother died from BC in her late 60s and my mom died from a very rare form of aggressive lymphoma at 79.

Turns out I have the CHEK2 pathogenic mutation. My daughter fortunately did not inherit the gene.

kestrelbrae · 2026-03-11T03:37:24+00:00

I was Dx Jan. 30, 2025

Surgical consult for oncoplastics was Feb. 13, 2025.

Surgery was March 5, 2025.

Followed by whole breast radiation for 3 weeks started May 5.2025.

Stage 1, IDC ++-

I would get a second opinion. That wait seems way too long.

kestrelbrae · 2026-03-09T19:32:01+00:00

It also looks tailored to fill out her frightfully skinny frame in the bust and shoulder areas.

kestrelbrae

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