Okay, here is the story that I wrote for the Meadville Tribune that was featured in the their Breast Cancer Awareness Pages on October 22, 2014. I wanted to share it for those of you that do not get the Tribune. My journey with breast cancer began in late February when I found a lump in my right breast. After talking with my mom, I decided I needed to contact my family doctor. At my appointment in mid-March, it was determined necessary to have a mammogram and sonogram as soon as possible. One week later, I was at St. Vincent Women’s Health Center for these tests. At this appointment I was told that I needed to have a biopsy done, and I was back there a week later. Emotions overwhelmed me. I was especially terrified, but I tried not to show it as I did not want to worry anyone, especially my kids. I felt they had already been through enough as we dealt with papillary thyroid cancer two years prior. I had my biopsy results less than 36 hours after my biopsy, just five days after my 40th birthday. I was told I had breast cancer. I didn’t think the tears were ever going to stop, but I got through the initial shock and had my first appointment with my breast cancer oncologist, Dr. Danielle Duchini of Erie. I was officially told that I had stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma. My breast cancer was in the highest phase, but at least it was the less aggressive kind; regardless, still extremely scary. It was all overwhelming at first. I still had to go through biopsies to make sure the cancer hadn’t traveled to my lymph nodes with MRI testing and ultrasounds. Genetic testing was required to check for the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes; so much to do. I had a lot to process, many decisions to make. What did I want to do? Yes, I was given options: Did I want to take drastic measures with a full mastectomy or go a less drastic way with a lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node dissection (partial mastectomy)? As I went through the various testing, I did a lot of thinking and reached out to friends who had gone through this experience. In talking to them, and them comforting me, I was able to get a grasp on my possible next steps. While waiting for test results and talking with family and friends I was able to decide just what I wanted. If the cancer had traveled to my lymph nodes, I decided I would have a full mastectomy with immediate reconstructive surgery. If the cancer as “not” in the lymph nodes, I would only have the partial mastectomy to remove the tumor and a few lymph nodes. Luckily, my cancer had not traveled to my lymph nodes! So I met with Dr. Duchini, and my surgery was scheduled for May 22. An outpatient procedure was done to remove my tumor and four lymph nodes. My surgery was successful, the tumor was removed and it was confirmed again that only my tumor carried the cancer; the lymph nodes were clear. I remember crying in the recovery room with the nurses over this news. Happy tears! My recovery went great. I returned to work the following Tuesday and just had to wait on the Oncotype test results, which tells the likelihood of my cancer returning in the next five years and also helps determine whether chemotherapy is necessary. As I was waiting on the test results, I met with Dr. Jason Brown at the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute to discuss chemotherapy options, as well as Dr. AnnaLisa McGlinn to discuss radiation treatment. Luck was on my side again; my Oncotype score was a 17, which meant I did not have to receive chemotherapy. Instead I would go through 28 regular and five booster treatments of radiation over a 61⁄2 week period. My treatments would be done Monday through Friday with Saturdays and Sundays as breaks. As the CAT scans were done and treatment plans were made for a targeted start date of June 30, things came to a halt. A suspicious lymph node was found and had to be checked before treatment could start. So I was off to Erie on July 3 for an ultrasound, which turned out to be an ultrasound and biopsy. Thankfully, that lymph node was clear of cancer! I then began radiation treatments on July 14. As I am writing this (in September), today I received my last regular treatment and I am now down to my last five booster treatments. It was previously discussed that I would receive some additional supplemental treatments, but I got lucky again; the supplemental treatments are not needed. Sept. 9 marked the last day of treatment. This truly has been a whirlwind journey that I will never forget. I would never have gotten through this journey without the love and support of my family and friends and the many, many people praying for me, many of whom I didn’t even personally know. I would like to thank those who have cheered me on with cards and gifts, including the “Cambridge Cares” kids at Cambridge Springs Elementary School headed by Diana Ferris, Becky Leandro, Amy Wensel and Vini Smith. I would also like to thank my many friends and family members who followed my daily countdown on Facebook; I thank you all for cheering me on and encouraging me with your kind words and many prayers each day. Lastly, my many thanks to Dr. Danielle Duchini of The Center for Breast Health and Dr. AnnaLisa McGlinn of the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute and its staff for the tremendous care I received through this journey from all of them. It truly takes a special person to work in the medical field and I honestly feel that these people are truly some of the very best. I can’t thank them all enough for everything they have done for me over the last several months. In closing, I encourage any of you taking on a journey similar to mine to do just one thing: “Take control of your cancer. Don’t let it take control of you!” The Meadville Tribune BREAST CANCER AWARENESS Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Posted on: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 15:10:08 +0000
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