Next month (July) will be my four year anniversary since beating triple negative stage 3C breast cancer.
I have no family history of any cancer, and am BRAC negative with no gene mutations.
I was in Walt Disney world spending a week with my children then ages 1,3,5,11,14 years old. I was in great shape, near felt better, looked healthy, had a ton of energy, and NO CLUE I had stage 3C.
We returned home, I frankly had an itch at my upper rib cage, scratched my ribs, under my arm pit at 2 am stumbled upon and felt this large (size of my finger) Woke up my husband and said "What the Hell is this"? I had small size A cup breasts. How could I of missed this?
I was able to go see a OB/GYN doctor the next day who felt it and told me it felt like a fatty cyst, I had nothing to worry about and sent me in for a mammogram. She assured me it was a non cancerous cyst and all was fine.
I went in by myself that Friday to confirm my "cyst" and have a mammogram without my husband, as we where certain all was well.
After FOUR negative mamo's that afternoon (even tho you could feel this large tumor) the radiologist called me to a back room to preform a biopsy. When she inserted small titanium ribbons into my right breast over the tumor and said "this is to guide the surgeon" I did not need to wait for the lab to confirm on Monday. I knew something was terribly wrong.
Monday's call confirmed I had breast cancer. I met with a surgeon Thursday that told me I had triple negative breast cancer. She explained A diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer means that the three most common types of receptors known to fuel most breast cancer growth–estrogen, progesterone, and the HER-2/neu gene– are not present in the cancer tumor and that TNBC is very aggressive. She then told me I needed to have chemotherapy first prior to any surgery.
After sitting down with my oncologist the following week and having an array of tests in the weeks to follow, scans, heart mugga tests and labs galore I was then staged at 3C, and given a 17 chemo treatment regimen. I had a surgical port placed in SOBER, only numbed the area and was wide awake in the OR due to lack of cooperation of my veins due to all the prior tests. The port need to go in ASAP so I could start chemo.
At this point I had a choice. I could throw the worlds biggest pity party, or I could swing with my full force and give this fight everything I had! When I looked at my husband and five children I knew TNBC was not going to take my life!
My first chemo treatment my tumor shrank in half, after my 2nd treatment my tumor was undetectable! I sat for five total treatments (only 30 percent of my prescribe treatments) and had a bilateral mastectomy(donated my tissue to study in hopes to help others) November that year 2014 on my oldest sons 15th and dads birthday and woke up with a PCR, no micro cancer cells and given an excellent prognosis. I did not have any radiation treatments due to my PCR.
Six months later I was involved in a horrific car accident that totaled my car into a crumble of torn steel with my three youngest in the car. front nor side airbags ever deployed. All four of us walked away without a scratch.
God has complete control, and the only control I have is how I choose to treat others and live my life.
I have been given a miracle, and could not be any more blessed to spend and LIVE my life watching my kids grow with my best friend, my husband, enjoying the rest of our family.
Life is full of unscripted challenges, its not easy, our finances are strained after medical bills, I cant feel my breasts, I miss having nipples, and its never easy to have all the connections with so many pink sisters, and watching them them go through their treatments.
I am breathing today full of health and energy! There are hiccups and speed bumps I choose to get over at full speed because I know there are ALWAYS a silver linings ahead in the near distance. I LOVE MY LIFE and every moment is a gift I never take for granted.I have no regrets and would do nothing differently. I turned my journey into strength I use in my daily life and too help others. We where blessed to have Kyle and Samantha Busch donate a million dollars for women's medical bills whom cannot afford treatments..
There is a BRIGHT LIGHT after treatments Life absolutely returns to normal! You turn into steel and life's moments are sweeter and forever precious. You take nothing for granted!
Be fierce, STAY POSITIVE, have faith, Its Ok to sit in bed have a quick cry then get up (NO GLOOM or DOOM) A positive mindset is 80% of the battle already won.
It is important for my pink sisters of TNBC to remember it has many
Positives outcomes!
I have studied UK, Canada,US, and San Antonio TNBC annual meeting as well many long term studies.
It is imperative we remember TNBC is a very survivable disease
TNBC is very chemo-sensitive
and survival rates were 86%, 83%, and 83%, respectively.TNBC is more sensitive to chemotherapy. The rate of pathological complete remission (PCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is higher than in other breast cancer subtypes
The majority of women with triple negative breast cancers are -- thankfully -- cured and survive. Triple negative cancer is something that if it has not come back by the five-year mark
After 3 years the chance of recurrence of TNBC is reduced by 50%. With each year after the 3 year mark the chance of recurrence is reduced by an additional 10%-15%. Long term survivors (longer than 5 years) have almost a 0% rate that the disease will not recur. With other breast cancers the recurrence rate climbs after the first 5 years. (You have a 90.6% to not have metastasis)
Please keep your eyes on the bright light at the end of treatments they do end! I'm down to a simple blood test every six months.
Your not alone, all of us Pink sisters know how you feel. I am humbled and blessed to of met so many and follow your journeys as you prevail too!
May you heal in Gods speed!
Four years ago it was 1 in 9 diagnosed with breast cancer. Its closer to 1 in 7 now.
A self exam once a month (five minutes of your time) can lead to early detection.
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