a survivor's story

by Jane Clark
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My name is Jane Clark and I‘m a breast cancer survivor. During my yearly mammogram appointment a lump was found on one of my breasts. EARLY DETECTION saved my life!

I had a lumpectomy on April 26, 2005. The surgery went well and I went back to work. I then had to make a decision whether to have chemotherapy. The results of an Oncotype test showed it was in my best interest to start chemotherapy due to the very aggressive type of cancer I had. It was at this point I decided to take a medical leave from work during my treatment and was off work for nine months.

I started my chemotherapy on June 15, 2005. I received eight treatments of very strong chemotherapy. The treatments were given to me every other week. After each treatment I would go home and sleep for four to six hours, or more. After the second treatment I started losing my hair and within that week, all my dark, thin, fine hair was gone. My appetite was very low, but thankfully I never got sick. By the time I was feeling better and my appetite would come back, it was time for the next treatment.

These treatments were completed, and after a month off, I began my second round of chemotherapy plus Herceptin (her2neu drug). This type of chemotherapy was not nearly as strong as the first round. In November, however, I developed heart valve damage on my left upper chamber, and my doctor stopped all chemotherapy and Herceptin treatments. I was put on two different blood pressure medicines to keep stress off my heart. During this entire treatment program, I had several CT scans, bone scans and echocardiograms to make sure the cancer was not spreading and/or causing heart problems.

Radiation treatments began in December, and I had 33 treatments. These were given every day at the same time for 33 days, Monday through Friday. Saturday and Sundays were rest days. I am so thankful that my skin did not get burnt from these treatments. I did get very, very fatigued. The two types of chemo put my body in a fake menopause mode. The hot flashes and not sleeping at night were the worst! My last radiation treatment was on January 31, 2006.

I lost my hair two different times during this journey, and when it grew back for good, it came back thicker, darker and with a little curl. I started back to work part-time in February and full-time in April. In February of 2006, I began taking tamoxifen. On November 15, 2006, I went to Dr. Singh in regards to some pain in my lower right calf. It was a blood clot. Within two weeks I had eight more blood clots. I immediately stopped the tamoxifen (one of the side effects) and began taking a blood thinner.

I‘m very grateful for my wonderful husband, wonderful daughter, family and a whole lot of friends and co-workers, for all their continued support and special care they gave me during this very stressful, scary time in my life. My husband took me to all my appointments, and took care of me at home while running his own business and training a new employee. My daughter was in her last year of college. She was a super help! She was there whenever I needed her. I continue having six month checkups with Dr. Singh, and six month checkups (mammogram once a year and MRI once a year) with Dr. Duven, my surgeon, that have all turned out A-Ok.

​On February 26, 2007 I had a hysterectomy due to blood clot complications. I have been released from taking the blood pressure medicine and blood thinner. I feel great and am looking forward to getting back in shape and LIVING A HEALTHY LONG LIFE!

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