Live as a “Triple Threat” Breast Cancer Survivor

I like to call myself a triple threat, but that’s not the way you think. First, I’m a registered nurse, practicing oncology nursing for 10 years, and now working at a cancer center. Second, I’m a Survivorship Program Coordinator / Nurse Navigator. In short, we provide ongoing support and resources to cancer survivors through our Survivorship Program. What I have been leading for the past three and a half years. Third, I’m a breast cancer survivor.

It was diagnosed in 2019 and currently has a treatment-free period of 1 year and 3 months. It’s an understatement to say that you thought you knew about cancer.I always thought I knew that What experience the patient had from diagnosis to surveillance, but I number Ideas until I experience my cancer journey.

I had never experienced cancer at the individual level, but I always knew that working in oncology was important to me because my love and compassion for people led me to this area. .. On the health side, my family has problems with high blood pressure, heart disease and kidney disease, but not with cancer. But it all turned into Valentine’s Day 2019, when I had a mammogram every year. It was beautiful. A health checkup checked my mental checklist for the year. Two months later, in April 2019, I made an annual gynecological appointment and mentally checked my second health checkup. When my gynecologist started seeing me, he asked if I had my breast self-examination.

“Oh no,” I replied secretly. “I’m waiting for you to do that.” That is, based on annual mammograms and gynecological breast examinations, determine if the cancer is in the future. As he moved from one breast to the other, he stayed longer, then turned to the nurse and verbally ordered, “I need to be referred to a left breast ultrasound.”

He turned to me and said there was a lump in the outer quadrant of his left chest, but “probably nothing” and taking vitamin E probably helps reduce inflammation. The mammogram was “pretty”. This was Friday, so of course I was worried all weekend. I just “know” that it was cancer … my fingers kept staying in the “lump” on my chest.Think in your head why you missed this, why you didn’t do a chest self-examination, and how Did the mammogram miss this? 2 months ago??

I have been taking one biopsy, two surgeries, radiation therapy, and tamoxifen tablets daily for five years, and I am a survivor of breast cancer. Sure, I’m still working on the side effects of treatments such as breast swelling, axillary web syndrome or “code”, intermittent burning, depression, anxiety, but I believe in the power of positive thinking , Have a prayer of gratitude.

In addition to being a breast cancer survivor, I am a 31-year-old husband’s wife, a mother of two daughters, a grandmother of two granddaughters and one grandson, the same twins as my sister Cindy, and two. He is also the sister of a brother. But of course, I’m a daughter, granddaughter, college student in the nurse practitioner program, and a friend of many. I equate with all these things, and they all equate who I am, especially cancer. But I don’t define my life by having cancer, but it definitely changed who I am.

As a result, I advocate for women to become familiar with their breasts. It is important to have a self-examination of the breast. Not all breast cancers appear on the mammogram, so it is also important to know if the breasts are dense. Therefore, if you need 3D mammography (tomosynthesis) or additional images, contact your healthcare provider. Life is a gift and should not be taken for granted.

Did you do this before the diagnosis? Certainly did. I took my health and my family for granted, but I didn’t fully understand the depth of what cancer patients are facing. But now, every day, I am grateful for my health, for being with my family, and for being able to connect with my patients in a more meaningful way.