I am a breast cancer survivor. Luckily, I found a lump in my breast because the mamm
ogram revealed nothing. So I proceeded to ultrasound and discovered an irregular shape in the very early stage. After a needle biopsy, I booked a surgeon as I had a malignancy - Invasive Ductal Carcinoma - IDC Breast Cancer. The oncogenes were ERA positive and HER2neu positive. I had a lumpectomy along with breast reconstruction. The sentinel lymph nodes had metastasized so I want back to have more lymph nodes removed under the arm on my left side. The nodes were all clear after my second surgery which was October 2008.
Once the drainage and healing was under control, I started chemo in December and lost my hair before Christmas 2008. Our kids were coming home and I did not want them to see my hair falling out in clumps so my husband volunteered to join me in a hair shaving mini party.....he shaved my heed and I shaved his head. He now enjoys the Mr. Clean look as o
f today because I think he looks handsome as a bald guy. Sharing the bald photo takes a leap of faith with my active rain buddies!
I went through chemo until my heart got damaged in 2009. I could not walk up a flight of stairs without getting out of breath. We stopped chemo because my heart was damaged and my white blood count was too low. So I proceeded with 8 weeks of radiation. After that, my cardiologist monitored and medicated my heart until I was allowed to continue chemo. I finished my chemo this year Jan 25th2010 and celebrated with champagne in the Trinity Health parking lot.
I spent most of my time in doctor's offices and continued to work in the Ann Arbor Real Estate market. I never shared my medical condition with my colleagues nor my clients. Many families in Michigan were losing and are losing their homes, jobs and have had and are battling major life problems. They don't need to hear about my issues. I wore a wig nicknamed Ginger. The best resource I had was Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book, which became my second bible. Dr Chottiner, Oncologist pictured with me here December this year.
One of the many lessons is that cancer is probably harder on those who love me than it was on me. I only realized this when my Mom was diagnosed with lung cancer this year. I shared with her that I was ready to meet God, but that I was selfishly not ready to lose her. When I saw she was sick, I felt out of control and then realized what struggles my husband must have been going through. We did lose my Mom May 28th 2010 after a battle with a broken hip, rehab and chemo. My father in law also passed away in February 2010 from a battle with pulmonary fibrosis.
God truly blessed me. I have a family who cares about me - the most wonderful husband (Larry) who loves and adores me, my son Kevin who is attending Utah State, my daughter Lindsey with a double masters in Nutrition and Nutrition Communication from Tufts which came in very handy and God who has held me in his healing hands. I want to let my team know how much they have been appreciated and my coach who pulled up the slack during all of this - Bob Corcoran, Jennifer Marshall, Linda Woodard, and Diane Ratkovich.
If you would like to hear my breast cancer story on the 102.9 fm radio, tune in here W4 Country: http://kathytoth.com/radio_shows
Every day is a gift. I wish you a very Merry Christmas and look forward to posting a follow up personal story of positive attitude called "The Red Dress Story".
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