FAITH, HUMOR, POSITIVE ATTITUDE, AND JIGSAW PUZZLES

I was pregnant with our 4th child, and I felt a lump in my right breast. The needle biopsy came back negative. Yay! Fast forward seven months. I felt another lump. On December 20, 2006 I had a lumpectomy…not for one lump, but FIVE! At the age of 32 with a loving husband, and now four kids, ages 6, 4, 2, and 7 months, I was diagnosed with HER2+, hormone-receptive breast cancer. My lymph nodes were clear. Yippee! Based on the results, a double mastectomy was the best choice. I had always wanted a breast reduction (DDDs are heavy to carry around). Not exactly how I dreamed that would end up happening. But, when something tries to kill you, you eliminate the threat. (I should have been CIA.) Things moved fast. By January 15, 2007 both breasts were gone. In February, I met with Dr. Masri. We chose an abdominal CT just to make sure the cancer wasn’t in other areas. My lymph nodes were clear…I wasn’t worried. Then the call came that Dr. Masri wanted to meet with me that same day. I’m sure my heart stopped. But, off I went to see the man who would help save my life. I thought for sure they were going to tell me the cancer was in my ovaries. Nope. Surprise! My cancer had metastasized to my liver! With an encouraged second opinion, my treatment ended up being six months of chemotherapy and Herceptin. I had two masses in my liver. One vanished with chemo. The other shrank by half (and I didn’t lose my hair). In July 2007, I had radio frequency ablation that fried the remaining liver tumor. I also had breast reconstruction and a hysterectomy in 2007. During treatments, I continued to work as a labor and delivery nurse at Covenant Hospital (now MercyOne). I avoided working on the days that I knew I wouldn’t feel well. I had family, friends, and colleagues who helped with the kids and my sanity, not to mention my amazing and supportive husband who stayed by my side through it all. In July 2007, I was classified as cancer-free. In 2013, I was diagnosed with breast cancer again. I felt a lump because I continued to do self-breast exams even though they were fake. This time, the cancer was only in the breast. Treatment consisted of chemo (not so lucky with keeping the hair this time) and then radiation. Oh, and I had to lose the breast implants. Again, family and friends rallied with me. Through both fights, I used faith in God, humor and a positive attitude to get through. And, jigsaw puzzles – they kept my mind from wandering to thoughts that would not help me heal or kick cancer to the curb. I am a breast cancer with mets to the liver survivor. Nothing scares me now except spiders. For fighters and supporters, remain as positive as possible. Bad days will come. Just make sure they go.