RUTH ROBERTS

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I was born in Greensboro NC on October 19, 1962. I have a sister and a brother who are both older, I am the baby of the family. I met Marvin in 1981 and we got married in July of 1982. We have two children, Rachel and Seth.  I worked for BB&T for over 28 years and retired in 2018 and went to work for Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group as a Senior Mortgage Banker. 

 

I had my annual 3D mammogram on February 9th, got called back on February 11th and was told to go to the imaging center on February 15th for a more detailed mammogram.  The Radiologist recommended a biopsy.I was referred to Dr. Mindy Merritt and I saw her on February 23rd.  She agreed about the biopsy and that was done at the imaging center on March 9th.  I got a call from Dr. Merritt’s office on March 12th to let me know I had what appeared to be DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ).  I met back with Dr. Merritt on March 16th and she said I had DCIS with microinvasion.  At that time, the biopsy was negative for ER, PR and HER2 so she recommended a lumpectomy or mastectomy, a genetic test and possible radiation.  I chose a lumpectomy  and that was done on April 23rd.  They also took 3 lymph nodes at that time.  We met back with Dr. Merritt on May 4th and she informed me I had IDC ( Invasive Ductal Carcinoma).  The lymph nodes were clear.  She was not able to get clear margins so she recommended a mastectomy.  She called me on the 5th and told me I was triple positive, ER, PR and HER2.  I met with Dr. Cuervo, the oncologist at Carteret Health Care and he recommended I go with a mastectomy and chemo.  I decided I wanted a second opinion so I got a referral to Chapel Hill.  I met with the Oncologist in Chapel Hill on May 26th and she recommended I start a treatment of 12 weeks of chemo right away due to the HER 2 positive and then have the mastectomy after the chemo.  I also met with the surgeon and she agreed with the Oncologist.  I met with the plastic surgeon on May 27th and she was in agreement as well.  I started Chemo at the RAAB Clinic in Morehead on June 8th and my last Chemo Treatment was on August 31st.  I still have to go every three weeks and get an infusion of Herceptin for the HER2 Positive.  I have surgery scheduled at Chapel Hill for October 8th with reconstruction starting the same day.  I will be on the Herceptin until June 2022.  Once I am done with it, I will start on another drug to stop my Estrogen and Progesterone and I will be on it for 5 to 10 years.  I do not carry the gene.  I am going with a double mastectomy.