About Bookwormyogi

In 2019, a mammogram and ultrasound found that I had a cyst in my right breast. A tech drained it, but she told me it was highly probable it would come back. Because of this experience, I was not concerned about a lump in that same breast in late 2020. On November 12, 2020, I had my annual mammogram. Because of my history, it was a diagnostic mammogram versus a screening one, which turned out to be a godsend. Immediately after the mammogram, an ultrasound was performed. I told the tech that about my cyst history, but she immediately said, “This isn’t a cyst.” 

I was scheduled for a biopsy the following morning at 7:00 a.m. I tried not to panic, but the fear of the unknown was real. It didn’t help that the biopsy was scheduled for Friday, and I would have to wait and worry over the weekend.

The following Monday, I received a notification of a test result in MyChart. Invasive ductal carcinoma. My world crashed. I called my husband at work, and he immediately left to be home with me. I called the Women’s Center at the hospital next, not waiting on them to call me. I was told that yes, I did have breast cancer, and could I meet with the breast surgeon the following day. 

My husband and I went to my appointment with Dr. Heiser, the breast surgeon at Riverview Hospital. It’s hard to look back and remember much of this appointment. I was given a book to read and a file folder for all the information I would collect. Dr. Heiser was the one who would start my treatment plan, and if needed, pass the ball to my oncologist. Dr. Heiser explained that I had a large mass, and depending on what type of breast cancer I had, the treatment would probably be chemotherapy, surgery, then radiation. Dr. Heiser explained the different types of breast cancer and drew it all out on a whiteboard in the exam room. All I knew was that my head was spinning. Dr. Heiser ordered scans, bloodwork, and genetic testing. He also recommended a port to be surgically inserted for ease for chemo.  He also asked if I had a preference for an oncologist. He described the way each of the choices worked, and I chose the newest oncologist to the practice. The last thing I remember was the warning about covid. At the time, we were in the middle of the pandemic. There were no vaccines, and testing was limited. Dr. Heiser told me to treat covid like a death sentence. Catching covid could kill me. I was to limit all excursions that were not medically necessary.

Two days later, my husband and I met with Dr. Zhang, my new oncologist. He was abrupt and told me if my cancer was stage one, two, or three, he would cure me. If it was stage four, he couldn’t. Then he ordered more scans and tests and asked to see me again in two weeks.

The next two weeks were a blur. I was either at home or at the hospital, getting tests and scans done. The mental toll this was taking was just as bad at the physical. I’m sure that I broke down and cried more times in those two weeks than I had ever. I planned my end-of-life care several times and planned my future, determined to fight this. The scan that was most important to me was the one determining is my cancer spread from my breasts. When I received the results that it was limited to my breast and surrounding lymph nodes, I cried. Cried because this was a battle I could fight.

At the end of the two weeks, I learned I had Stage 3, Her2+ breast cancer. HER2+ is an aggressive cancer, but it also has specific treatments that are highly effective. I did not have any genetic markers. It was just a fluke that I got cancer.

My treatment plan was simple yet harrowing. First, I had the chem port inserted. The idea was chemo, surgery, radiation and immunotherapy treatments last. I went through the chemo introduction with Michelle, the MA assigned to Dr. Zhang. Michelle went through all of the possible side effects, the medicines I would need, and what to expect. My first chemo was scheduled for December 15, 2020. 

I was blessed to have a strong support system around me. My husband took me to all my appointments, and he was able to work from home during this time to reduce his chances of contracting covid and be my caregiver. To give my husband a break, my family rotated chemo days, so I had someone with me each time. My sister was up first, and she took me to my first treatment. 

I had my “charcuterie board” of pills in the kitchen, all set up for me. I had to take steroids prior to chemo, so I was a little wired going in. I spent about six hours once every three weeks in the infusion center for chemo. Getting the actual infusion was the easy part, I was just a little tired when I left.

The side effects from chemo were terrible. I was told that I would start losing my hair about two weeks after the first chemo, which I did. I didn’t get the “chemo cut,” going from long to short to nothing. I called my stylist, explained the situation, and asked her to shave my head. The ladies at the salon were great. They cleared out a room specifically for me and my stylist and I went in there, masked up, while she shaved my head.

I was very nauseous from chemo and had severe diarrhea to the point I was dehydrated. This resulted in twice-a-week hydration. My magnesium and potassium levels were constantly low, and I needed infusions for these. My energy was zapped. I don’t mean the feeling that you need a nap. I mean, I could barely walk some days. My mouth and throat were on fire. I has to use children’s toothpaste because mint flavor would burn.  My body ached. Mo bones ached. Pain medicine was my new friend. Brain fog was a serious problem. I couldn’t concentrate, so I was restricted from driving. And since everyone react different to chemo, it built up in my body, causing the side effects to be worse with each treatment. I suffered through eighteen weeks of this.

At the end of chemo, it was time to do more tests and scans. The good news was my tumor shrank significantly. However, there was now a spot on my lung. Dr. Zhang said that it was a fungus, as that was very common in Indiana for chemo patients. I was referred back to Dr. Heiser for surgery. After determining a surgery plan, I had to have my surgery done at another hospital. Because I wanted reconstruction at the same time. Riverview was in between plastic surgeons at the time. So I opted to have my surgery at Community South, where my sister worked. My sister worked in the breast center there and was familiar with the surgeons on that team. I went to meet with Dr. Lottich, the breast surgeon, and Dr. Jackson, the plastic surgeon in May of 2021. Dr. Lottich required her own tests along with a biopsy of the spot on my lung. Spoiler alert: It was a fungus. 

My surgery was scheduled for May 28, 2021. It was a four-hour surgery, and I was in the hospital overnight. The nurses were wonderful and kept me comfortable all night. I luckily had a pain block inserted that kept most of the pain away for the first couple of days, when pain is saif to be at its highest. But, I did have several restrictions. I could list anything more than twelve ounces for six weeks. No lifting my arm above my shoulders for six weeks. No showers for ten days. Drain tubes. Sleeping somewhat upright for ten days. But worst of all, I had an allergic reaction to the adhesive and broke out in a rash all over. 

After the ten-day mark, I was back at Dr. Zhang’s office for the next part of my plan. Dr. Zhang had read a report on a five-year study that decreased recurrence rates by 10 – 15 percent over the previous standards. The only concern was that it was more chemo. This time a targeted chemo with Herceptin. I opted for this route, as I wanted the best possible outcome. This plan was for fourteen chemo sessions, a year worth of treatment. I will say that this chemo regimen was better than the first, but I was still exhausted and still had serious stomach issues, landing back in the twice-a-week hydration schedule. It took a little for my body to adjust to this, resulting in a platelet transfusion and magnesium and potassium infusions. 

The good news was that I had my first covid vaccination prior to surgery, so I was not cleared to go into the world! With restrictions, but I could leave the house! And I was cleared to drive!

While going through chemo, I was scheduled for radiation in August, 2021. Radiation was the easiest of all my treatments. I had thirty-three radiation treatments. Every weekday. It added to my exhaustion and my skin burned and blistered, but it was not as bad as I feared.

In the fall of 2021, I had some pains in my right side around my implant. I transferred all my information to the new plastic surgeon at Riverview. During our first appointment, Dr. Tieman explained that sometimes when a surgeon cuts across the breast, the nerves don’t map properly back together. One way to see if this is the case is to have a nerve block. If it works, the nerves will then need to be frozen. The nerve block only lasted a few days, but it did work. 

Another thing that was addressed at this appointment was the disparity in my breast sizes. He would fix it, and the insurance is required to pay for it, it I wanted. However, it would be a much more complex surgery because of my irradiated skin. I passed on this.

My mom took me to have my nerves frozen, and I don’t remember much about it. I was awake because I has to be able to communicate, and I remember it hurt, even with the drugs they gave me. In the end, I did feel better.

A month later, I had some routine tests done for follow-up. A scan revealed I had four fractured ribs. This was the cause of my pain all along, even though I had no idea how I fractured them.  

This led to bone scans and bone density tests. The fear was that cancer may have spread to my bones, but luckily it didn’t. I did have osteopenia, so I now needed a Zomeda infusion for two years, hopefully to increase my bone mass.

My last chemo treatment was on March 15, 2022. My body had been poisoned for almost a year and a half. This is the day I consider myself completely cancer free. Because they couldn’t determine if all the cancer was out of my lymph nodes before this chemo, and all the tests at the end showed my cancer free, I use this date. The last part of my treatment was six pills every day for a year. Same side effect of the chemo except my hair finally started growing back. 

I am now done with my cancer treatments. I am cancer free, and I am still recovering from my ordeal. I do have some long-term effects from chemo, but they are small, considering. My mental health is not the same. I have bouts of anxiety. 

I tell my story because ultimately, my mammogram saved my life. I encourage everyone who is eligible to get a mammogram. It you feel a lump, bring it up to a health care professional immediately. Advocate for yourself. There are treatments out there if cancer is detected early. Fight. Support those who fight. 

If you know of someone who has cancer, be a support if you can. Meals, grocery shopping, mow the lawn, driving to appointments—all are helpful. I would also highly recommend the local Cancer Support Community (CSC). This wonderful non-profit offers counseling, financial support, physical activities designed for cancer patients, and seminars on how to make it easier to function. This is a great resource for those who need it.