Lisa P., Team Powered by Optimism
I first noticed a mass in my left breast around September or October of 2003 [at the age of 35, but] I was nursing my newborn daughter without difficulty, so I didn’t think much about it. I had my first OB/GYN appointment after giving birth in January, 2004 where I mentioned the mass to my doctor, and he immediately sent in a referral to a surgeon. I followed through with that appointment and the surgeon ordered an ultrasound. Results were reported as nothing unusual, perhaps a blocked milk duct and it was recommended I return after cessation of breast feeding if the mass was still present. My daughter stopped nursing in April of 2004 and the mass remained, so I called for an appointment with my primary doctor. He was on vacation, so I made the appointment with another doctor in May of 2004 when a follow up ultrasound was ordered. The same doctor that interpreted my first ultrasound also viewed the second and the report came back stating the mass seemed to be slightly smaller and to check back in six months.
[In November] I was able to get an appointment with my primary doctor who asked if anyone had recommended a mammogram, to which I said no. Right then he put in the order for a mammogram, but I put off the appointment until right after Christmas the following month. Shortly after the mammogram, I got a call to schedule a biopsy. The possibility of cancer still had not crossed my mind. Avoidance, maybe?
On January 19, 2005, I received a call at work from the surgeon instructing me to go to the office immediately. My boss’ wife went with me and I was given the diagnosis of breast cancer. I don’t remember the staging classification, but the tumor was 7cm and estrogen positive. A flurry of appointments with the oncologist and surgeons followed; my head was spinning! All I could think about was that I had an 18-month-old daughter at home.
The first oncologist recommended chemotherapy, surgery then more chemo. The neo-adjuvant therapy was to shrink the tumor for better margins for surgery, but I was not fond of that route, so I sought out a second opinion. [The second doctor’s] recommendation was a full mastectomy of the left breast, auxiliary lymph node dissection followed by chemo and radiation. Breast conserving surgery was not an option in his opinion, so surgery was scheduled for February 2005. My final diagnosis after a tissue test came back as estrogen+, HER2+ with no lymph node involvement. Treatment, starting April 2005, would include 8 rounds with the combination of Taxotere, Cytoxan and Adriamycin, over a month of radiation, 5 years Letrozole and 1 year of Herceptin. I was one of the “lucky” ones and didn’t feel terrible while going through chemo; I actually worked the entire time. However, I was thrown for a loop in May of 2005 when I was re-classified as stage 4 and my cancer had spread to a rib. Due to the re-staging, I decided to have my right breast and ovaries removed in the spring of 2006.
My first reconstruction was a train wreck! I ended up having a latissimus flap reconstruction at UCSD which was rough, but the results were impressive. I am now approaching the 20th anniversary of my diagnosis. I am still on Letrozole and will continue with the Herceptin infusion every three weeks until it no longer works. I have an echocardiogram every three months to check my heart function as the Herceptin can be cardio toxic. My oncologist also orders a PET scan every year. Thankfully, I have been NED (no evidence of disease) for 15+ years. When I received my diagnosis, I thought I wouldn’t see my daughter start kindergarten and now she is 2 years away from a college degree in Agriculture Education! She has been my beacon of hope all these years!
[I first heard about the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® from] a coworker of mine who lost her mother to breast cancer and walked in 2006, who made me promise to walk with her in 2007. Did I think in 2007 that I would still be walking in 2024? Heck no! I come back year after year because, even though there have been amazing breakthroughs in treatment, there is still so much that needs to be accomplished, and it takes funds for research and patient support.
I know I am one of the lucky ones, but there are so many who are no longer with us. I have moments of survivor guilt when I ask, “Why me? What makes me different from the others? Why has treatment worked for me and not them?” In my head I can rationalize the scientific reasons, but my heart is another matter. My heart aches for the ones we have lost and the loved ones they have left behind.
Sometimes it is hard to put the feelings into words, but the Komen 3-Day is a feeling like nothing I have ever experienced before. The sense of camaraderie is overwhelming. Everyone is working toward the same goal and purpose…to end breast cancer. Walking every year with my team Powered by Optimism is an absolute joy. This team is my “framily”—friends who have become family. I couldn’t do it without them! For those interested in the 3-Day®, I tell everyone to come out to Opening or Closing Ceremonies, see us on the route or join a training walk and talk to us to find out what it is all about. Sign up to walk one day if you are unsure about all three.