Breast Cancer

An informative perspective from a 2 time survivor.

I have said before breast cancer is the diva of cancer. The pink ribbon campaign has been incredibly successful at drawing attention to the cancer that affects 1 in 8 women. Women should not be afraid of cancer but should be informed enough to make responsible decisions for their own health. Information regarding prevention and screening can be confusing. At what age should I get a mammogram? Should I perform breast self-examinations? If I have a family history does that mean I will most likely get breast cancer?

I am speaking from my own experience. I was first diagnosed in 2008 at age 38. I was diagnosed again in 2014 at age 44 when a metastatic nodule was found in my lung. The nodule was eventually removed and I currently have no evidence of cancer. This is my perspective.

1. Know your breasts. The recommendations are mixed regarding self-breast exams. I was one of many young women with fibrocystic breasts. In other words my breasts were lumpy. I ignored the lump that was cancer for over a year which made treatment much more extensive and most likely contributed to the return of cancer. I don’t know if you need a special procedure to do a breast exam but be familiar enough to notice changes. Fibrocystic breasts do not directly increase your risk of developing cancer but they can make it harder to detect cancerous lumps. My lump was very prominent and I still wrote it off as “normal”.

2. Genetics and risk factors really play a small role in determining who may or may not get breast cancer. 85% of women diagnosed have NO family history and 60-70% of women have no known risk factors. The only risk factor I had was lumpy, dense breasts. That doesn’t mean ignore statistics. You still need to be more vigilant, especially if you have a family history, but don’t assume it cannot happen to you and don’t ignore signs or symptoms.

3. There is no question mammograms are beneficial but ultrasound is a vital tool for young women. That is how my cancer was found. An ultrasound can determine whether a lump is a cyst or a solid tumor. Mammograms are recommended after 40, some say 45. If you have a family history the doctor may recommend starting even younger. Well woman exams are important and, a great time to ask questions if you have concerns. You have a right to ask for any test you deem important. If there is valid reason the doctor’s office can help get your insurance to cover it.

4. Breast cancer is more common as you get older, especially after 55, but trust me it does happen to younger women. Many of the women I know who have had breast cancer developed it before the age of 50 and some before 40. Nearly 80% of younger women find their own breast abnormality. It can happen in men but it is much less common.

5. Having your breasts removed after a diagnosis or as a preventative is a very personal decision but it does not completely eliminate your risk. I chose to have both breasts removed although cancer was only found in my right breast. I stand by my decision but obviously it did not prevent a re occurrence. My original cancer was found in a lymph node making it more likely to travel elsewhere. I chose to have both breasts removed because the first place breast cancer typically returns is the other breast and cosmetically I felt it would be more uniform.

6. The term breast cancer survivor probably doesn’t mean what you think and can be confusing. When I was diagnosed and told I had a 95% or greater chance of survival that is all I needed to hear. Let’s get this over with so I can move on with life. What I did not realize is that most statistics are for 5 year survival and that even though your risk of the cancer returning declines after 5 years, there is still risk.

7. Cancer cells are abnormal or mutated cells. Everyone has abnormal cells. Your body typically takes care of them but if those cells become organized cancer can form. Making healthy lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of certain cancers including breast cancer. There is a large movement regarding alternative treatments for cancer as well. Do they work? My opinion is that many of them can for some people but there are scams out there. Alternative treatments are typically not studied by mainstream medicine and are not covered by insurance, but there are thousands of stories of people who have survived cancer using alternative methods. As with any health related decision, it is up to each individual to educate themselves.

After all my treatments were finished, and all of the surgeries complete, I had a couple follow up scans the first year. Because I had a double mastectomy, I did not need to do mammograms or have further scans. The doctor told me I only needed to check in once a year or if I was experiencing symptoms.

As a patient you must be your own advocate. My cancer was found the second time on accident. I had no symptoms and no concern about cancer. After surgery to repair a broken collarbone, I pushed for a follow up scan due to some minor complications. The CT scan of my shoulder identified a suspicious nodule at the top of my right lung. Had the nodule been lower it would not have been seen. I was advised to have it checked out and it was indeed considered to be breast cancer metastasis. The nodule was only 1.4cm and would not have produced any symptoms until it was much larger and considered a tumor. I was very lucky.

Metastatic cancer is a whole different ball game. It is considered incurable. According to statistics only 1-2% of metastatic breast cancer patients achieve complete remission after treatment but they don’t know why. Treatment usually consists of hormonal treatment or chemotherapy. When one treatment stops working, another one is prescribed. Eventually you run out of options. Survival rate varies greatly depending on the treatment options available and your body’s response to them. So how am I currently cancer free?

I decided I didn’t like the prognosis I was given so I left and went to an alternative cancer treatment center in Florida. I changed my diet, started supplements and a host of other therapies. Whatever I was doing was helping and the nodule was shrinking. When I returned home I continued the diet and supplements and eventually there started to be small growth again. At that point the doctor was confused and not even sure if it was in fact cancer so we agreed to do a surgical biopsy. During the biopsy they were able to remove the nodule and did confirm it was metastasis from breast cancer. I eventually had my ovaries removed as well and still take a daily pill to suppress estrogen.

That was my chosen path. I believe my current diet that eliminates most sugar, gluten, and dairy is helping keep any stray cancer cells from getting organized. I also know I was lucky to have broken my shoulder. The metastasis was caught very early and would likely have gone unnoticed for a long time. More research needs to be done on the benefits verse risk of doing follow up scans in my opinion.

We all think it will never happen to us, at least we hope, and we cannot live life in fear, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be informed. Pay attention to your breasts and your body. Ask questions. Educate yourself. Ask for more than one opinion. If your concerns are being ignored or you are not getting the answers you need, make yourself heard, change doctors, or do your own research. Doctors only know what they have learned or experienced. Statistics are just numbers. YOU are the only one in charge of your health.