"You have invasive ductal carcinoma," Dr. Iyengar said.
We were sitting face-to-face in a tiny room. Jose, the office assistant, was present for some reason--to protect the doctor if I went crazy? To restrain me if needed? To pick me up if I fainted?
"We can say it's stage 1," she added.
I was so grateful that it wasn't more advanced.
She explained that I needed to call my OB-GYN, Allison Leong, and get referrals to a surgeon and oncologist.
I also needed to schedule an MRI.
"Do you want it next week? Or earlier?"
Within a few minutes I was walking into the next room to have the MRI.
Into the belly of the great white whale--it was a Jonah experience.
By 11:35 am I was out on the street again.
I sat in the car and called John, then my daughters, none of whom was available. I left messages: "Call me." I called my brother Bill and got a 40-minute lecture "Introduction to Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment."
