It all started in June or July when I felt something abnormal in my left breast while in the shower. I only use my hands to wash my breasts in the shower so I can do a self exam. I really didn’t think anything of it because I have always had dense lumpy feeling breasts. I had my sister feel it a couple months later and she said you might want to make an appointment… So I did.
Sure enough after an ultrasound and mammogram the spot was concerning, so Dr. Grady did a biopsy. I will never forget Sept. 3, 2020 when I got the phone call asking me to come back for my results. My world stopped and on that day – I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Triple Negative Breast Cancer. My treatment plan was 16 rounds of Chemo, a lumpectomy and 20 rounds of radiation.
I was told it was a fast moving cancer, and one of the worst because it was not estrogen fed, and they don’t know the cause but they needed to act fast. My whole world was a blur and I wanted a second opinion. I wanted to cry, scream, curl up in a ball in bed and hide. I wanted it to be a dream and I didn’t want it to be me. I was never sick and felt I had a great immune system. On top of it all I felt fine.
I volunteered and fundraised for breast cancer for many years with NorCal Think Pink and the Redding Rodeo Chicks n Chaps. I never in a million years thought I would be the 1 in 8, but I was.
I immediately made an appointment with a healer that I see in Nevada City. He and his wife helped me mentally wrap my mind around the journey I was about to start. They also prescribed me supplements to help support my immunity, my liver and my kidneys. One of the things that stuck with me from them is to never let anyone refer to chemo as poison, refer to it as an army going in and attacking just the enemy and coming back out.
I was stuck between the holistic approach and western medicine. It was at that point my daughter looked at me and said mom there is a time and place for Western medicine.
And as much as I didn’t want to, on September 30th a port was inserted in my chest and on October 9th, 2020 I started my first round of chemo. I’m not going to lie, it was the worst thing I have ever gone through in my life. Within a month my hair was gone, my insides felt like they were on fire, it attacked my joints and muscles, and it sucked. I was sick in every way you could imagine but I researched blogs on Pinterest, and found a woman with the same diagnosis as mine. I found an amazing cook book called the Cancer Fighting Kitchen which was like a Bible for helping with the side effects from chemo and radiation through whole foods. I highly recommend it for every household. I found the positive in everything I could.
I read a few good books…The Blue Zones, and Breast Cancer Health the Wise Woman Way that friends had given me, and I colored in adult coloring books at every infusion. It was during Covid so I had to go by myself.
I had the best support system and so many friends praying for me. My daughter was my rock and she cleared our house of toxic laundry detergents, lotions, deodorants, household cleaners and unhealthy foods. She researched everything possible to keep me as healthy as could be.
I had to stop chemo at one point when my liver enzymes were too elevated so I did castor oil packs and when I was nauseous I drank fresh ginger water. I chewed on ice to prevent mouth sores, and iced my hands and feet during my infusions to prevent neuropathy, took epsom salt baths to detox and calm my sore body and at the end of my 16 rounds of chemo my tumor was gone. I thanked God everyday, but now for surgery.
April 14th 2021: I had a lumpectomy and 2 lymph nodes removed. I had never had surgery before, besides my wisdom teeth when I was in junior high school, and my port and it scared the hell out of me. After my surgery I started physical therapy to help get the range of motion back in my arm.
May 17th 2021: I took a week long trip to the coast with my family and we rented a house on the beach before my next step. I learned to take care of myself and enjoy the breaks before the next step of my journey which was….radiation.
May 26 2021: My margins were clear from my surgery and my port was removed. I was officially cancer free.
June 2021: I started 20 rounds of radiation. I would put fresh aloe vera on my breast after each round of radiation.
June 2021 was the month my hair started to grow back.
On July 3 2021, I completed radiation and my body felt like a train hit it. I had no energy or strength and my whole body hurt but I was cancer free. I made an appointment with my healer and did a detox to help cleanse my body.
October 2021, I returned back to work after a year off and I caught every cold that you could think of. My immunity was shot, my body hurt and I tried to do the things I used to do but unfortunately, my body would shut down and I would be sick in bed for a week. I wasn’t physically or mentally ready, but with no paycheck I couldn’t pay my mortgage, so off I went. Life was back to before I was diagnosed.
Was I healed? No…did I stop taking the best care of myself? Yes.
I stressed every three months when I had check ups, blood work, oncology and breast doctor appointments. It’s hard when your oncologist tells you that it could come back in your liver or your lungs.
I have now graduated to 6 month check ups. and I have to remind myself to celebrate the milestones. I was depressed and I wasn’t doing the self care that I should have done. But I was tired and my body hurt. I had basically lived on the couch or in bed for a year.
3 years later. I was ready to stop hurting.
Jan 2024 I finally joined the gym to lose weight and gain strength. I hired a trainer and 3 months in, my arm was in excruciating pain. Another set back but I had to stay positive and focus on the future.
I started chiropractic work to get some relief. My chiropractor Lydia Reiner also supplied supplements and I asked her if she had anything for immunity support because my immunity was shot, and that’s when I was introduced to Aloha Medicinals. It was a mushroom blend for acute immunity support. I stopped getting sick and could socialize again.
She also referred me to acupuncture for my arm pain and stress relief.
At my first acupuncture appointment I told her about my breast cancer and the doctor saying if it comes back it will most likely be in my liver or lungs, and Cameron at Elliot Acupuncture instantly said it doesn’t have to. She then told me about the benefits of Turkey Tail Mushroom for breast cancer. I now take mushroom supplements daily. And after researching these, I have faith that I will live a long happy healthy cancer free life. I still had pain and loss of motion to my arm so I was referred to get an MRI my results showed I had a frozen shoulder and possible tears. July 2024 I was referred to Mark Rincon at Fit Physical Therapy. He did intense therapy on my shoulder and my scar tissue from my lumpectomy and lymph node removal 3 years. ago. Lesson learned I should have continued physical therapy after surgery and radiation. After 3 months of therapy I can happily say I can move my arm and hang from a monkey bar at the park with my Grandson.
At therapy a couple weeks ago one of the doctors asked me if I have ever shared my story and I told her that I would if there was ever anyone who needed to hear it.
Last week while I was stuffing bags for the Think Pink Calendar I was asked if I would speak tonight, so as nervous as I was, I am blessed to be standing here. I feel every story and path is so different and I am honored that tonight was my time to share. I really want to express to everyone to listen to your gut, do self exams, yearly check ups, blood work etc. Early detection saves lives. Thank you for letting me tell my story.
Things I’ve learned
- Every diagnosis, treatment plan and person is different.
- Support from friends and family is extremely important even if you don’t agree on the person’s choices, beliefs or ways.
- Do your research
- Tell yourself you are Stronger everyday!! Even if your not
- Stay Positive
- Take time for yourself
- Meditate
- Exercise
- Acupuncture for stress relief/pain
- Get Massages
- Never Give up
- We only have this moment so live each day as if it were your last. 13. Quote from an Old Timer in Treatment one day: You can’t fix it if you don’t show up, and Time Heals All