Hi! My name is Casey. I had Stage 2B Breast Cancer Hormone receptor (HR) Negative. I noticed my nipple was inverted last year (2018), and thought it was nothing. I didn’t have insurance, and put it off. Then I noticed it just kept sinking in, and also felt a small ball behind my nipple that I could almost grab. I went to the Planned Parenthood and the Dr. did a “feel test” and felt what I felt. She told me to go straight to get a mammogram. I couldn’t get in until a week later. A week after that I had to get a biopsy. And the week after that, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.
When we were told that I needed a biopsy, they kind prepared us for the worst- Cancer. I knew in my heart that I had Cancer. My family is in Oklahoma, and I live in Texas, so I called them and told them about the biopsy …and we all waited together until the day I found out it was in fact Cancer.
From the biopsy, to scans of my heart, full body, brain, and bones…they found out it was an aggressive form, and wanted to start Chemo right away. I did 4 rounds of the red devil(AC), and continued every 2 weeks- totaling 28 rounds. Followed by a double mastectomy, with expanders and then radiation. I still have reconstructive surgery left.
Something that surprised me about treatment is that, not everyone’s body reacts the same way to treatment. And what might have worked for someone else, might not work for you.
If I could give one advice to someone going through cancer/cancer treatments, it is to listen to your body and don’t be afraid to tell the doctor’s when something doesn’t feel “right.”
If you are going through chemo , sleep when you can. Rest. rest. rest. And stay away from germs, wash your hands and don’t put your hands to your face. And drink a beer or 2 when you feel good enough to do so!
If you have to have radiation, keep the area moisturized at ALL TIMES and cover with a pad. If you don’t have a pad that the doctor provides, than use a women’s menstrual pads. The bigger -the cheaper– the better.
To deal with the emotional side, Cry. Cry whenever you want to. Let it allllll out when you feel the need. There are no rules to getting through Cancer. I would cry, pray, drink a beer, and sing. I am singer and would just sing whatever I could find on YouTube……cry and sing.
Celebrate the small victories. Even when you don’t think treatment is making a difference, and you are exhausted from it all. God has you in every step. And the small steps—they still move you forward.
My Mantra was “Power On, Power Through.”
Tata to Cancer 