Support and encouragement make a difference...

Thank you Trish for sharing your story with us. Congratulations on being CANCER FREE! Celebrating life is what it is all about.

Bless you,
Amy

My name is Trish and this week, I am one year cancer free. I was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in April, 2009. On May 7, 2009, I underwent a bilateral mastectomy with a TRAM flap reconstructive surgery. Six weeks later I started my journey through eight chemotherapy treatments at Duke University in Durham, NC. With those treatments came the hair loss, weakness, and severe bone pain. My husband, four children, other family members and friends were right by my side through the entire journey, lifting me up and continuously encouraging me. I could not have made it without them. My hair grew back very slowly, but finally, on May 31, 2010, I took off my wig and am now celebrating a life free of cancer.

A Unique Perspective

Cathie,

It is so interesting to hear a cancer diagnosis from your perspective being in the medical field. It is so good to hear that you are doing so well. May you have many years as a survivor ahead of you.

Amy

I am a 9 year breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed at the age of 42, from a routine mammogram. For some reason, I had skipped a year and missed having my mammogram at age 41. I now wonder what that missed mammogram would have shown. I had a non-palpable mass, located way back near the chest wall. Subsequent biopsy showed that it was an early Stage II. I underwent a lumpectomy and had to have all my left axillary lymph nodes removed, as my sentinel node showed 4 positive nodes.

I work as a Radiologic technologist, seeing and helping treat patients with breast, and other cancers, every day. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would be one of those patients, having a port-a-cath inserted for chemo, having a bone scan and muga scan done in Nuclear Medicine to see if my cancer had spread anywhere else. I teach Radiologic technology students and imagine their surprise, when doing their clinical rotations through Radiation Oncology, I insisted that they observe and participate in my care and treatments. Class time became a time for them to learn more about what a cancer patient goes through, from the fatigue to the very itchy “cranial prosthesis” (wig) that I would end up taking off by the end of the day!

I continued to work throughout my treatments, knowing that keeping busy was one of the best medicines I could have. Having a husband and 2 children at home who needed me also was a determining factor to keep on keepin’ on. I would talk with my patients while I was going through my own treatments, sometimes comparing stories with them, encouraging them and sometimes giving them a shoulder to cry on. My current job duties as a breast patient navigator have allowed me to take what could have been an extremely devastating time in my life and turn the experience into a positive.

Would I wish what I went through on anyone else? No! But it was not as bad as it could have been. I worked with a radiologist who was a breast cancer survivor who ended up needing a bone marrow transplant. Another co-worker was not as fortunate with her cancer diagnosis, and after a re-occurrence, suffered from bone metastases and lost her battle. I look at these strong individuals and others and say thank you, I am here and I am doing fine.



Cathie

Certified BreastPatient Navigator/

Clinical Instructor/Quality/Education

Department of Radiology

Kristy, 37 y.o. Stage II, Thankful for modern medicine!

Kristy,

Thanks for sharing your story. I feel blessed, as well, that there are so many treatment options nowadays!

I have 3 daughters, and a mom and sister whom I worry about so much. It's what the pink ribbon campaign is all about ... promoting awareness, early detection, and ultimately finding a cure!

Thanks again,
Kim

I'm a survivor!
My name is Kristy, I'm 37 and was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer on 8/8/08. On 8/15/08, I had a mastectomy of my left breast. I went through 4 session of chemotherapy, am currently receiving 52 treatments of Herceptin and will soon begin my 5 year stint of Tamoxifen. I'm currently awaiting my reconstruction surgery. I have a wonderful support system and truly feel blessed that my cancer was found at a time when we have so many different therapies available. I've been and will continue to be active in American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. I was captain of a Relay for Life team and will be walking in the 3 day Susan G. Komen walk in San Francisco this year. I will do all that I can to help raise money for finding a cure for breast cancer. I DO NOT want my 10 year old daughter to go through what I have.