“You have Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer, Stage 2A and the tumor is almost 3 centimeters in length” said Dr. Roger Graham at Tufts Medical Center in Boston MA.
Those words hit me like a ton of bricks.
Breast Cancer? Me? No, they made a mistake, that was some one else’s report they were reading. But, it was true and the roller coaster of emotions that struck me that day will never be forgotten as long as I live.
The journey began in September 2007 with a visit to my Primary Care Physician (PCP). You see, I did not have health insurance for about 3 years while I ran my own photography business. I just couldn’t afford it. I’m in a great relationship but Michael’s work did not have a plan for a Domestic Partner, so I really took a chance that my health would be good, and why should I worry? I’ve never been sick in my life.
Well, that’s how Breast Cancer can get you. I never felt sick, I felt fine. At 47 years old, I felt that I was in generally good health. My breast always had lumps and bumps that would come and go with my period cycles, so why would I think anything was wrong? But after a biopsy, ultrasound and a MRI performed in January/February 2008, it was confirmed that I had Breast Cancer and would need surgery, chemotherapy and radiation which would last for close to a year of treatments.
I chose to have a lumpectomy on my right breast on February 21st,. This type of procedure is just to remove the tumor and surrounding tissue, but it also involved a test of my lymph nodes in my arm. Two were positive for cancer, so they needed to remove about 10 more. The reason for this, is that the type of cancer I had, Invasive Ductal, meant it started in a milk duct, which then burst, and now the cancer had traveled to other parts of my body. Just that thought alone, took my breath away. I could have tumors in other parts of my body! Thankfully, the other nodes were negative, but it still was concluded that I would need about 9 months of treatments.
The next step in my treatments was to meet my Oncology Medical Team, Dr. Theall and Dr. Kozyreva. These two women would become my stronghold over the next several months while I endured 3 different types of chemotherapy. In addition, I signed up for a protocol, or Clinical Trial, for a drug called Avastin (Bevacizumab – generic name). This was a blinded study, so we would not know until late August if I was being given the drug or a placebo. Cancer cells actually convince your brain that they are normal cells and need blood and oxygen to survive. Avastin blocks those messages from getting through so the cancer cells eventually die. I found out that I was receiving the Avastin, so my treatments will continue for an additional 10 sessions, 3 weeks apart, ending about April 2009.
Chemotherapy treatments started on April 1st. The first round, called AC (Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide) was given every three weeks, for 4 treatments, through an IV, with each session lasting about 3 to 4 hours. The side effects from these two drugs were very hard for two to three days following the treatment, so those days I really needed to rest completely. This type of therapy kills all cells in your body, good and bad. They work on active cells like hair, nails, body hair, so naturally, I lost all of the hair on my head just after the 2nd treatment. My eyelashes, eyebrows, and body hair went about a month later.
The 2nd round of chemotherapy, called T (Paclitaxel or Taxol) started on June 24th on a weekly schedule for 12 weeks. This treatment was also through an IV and would last for 2 to 3 hours. Side effects were minimal and I battled fatigue more than anything due to my white blood count dropping. I finished all chemotherapy treatments in mid September 2008, and now will move onto radiation which is Monday through Friday, for a 30 minute session and will last for 6 to 7 weeks. Once this stage is over, then regular doctor visits for about the next 10 years. I will be starting a medication called Tamoxifen soon and will need to take that for the next 5 years. Tamoxifen is the oldest of all the SERMs (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators) and is prescribed for women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer before and after menopause.
What have I learned from this journey?
- I’ve learned to never take my health for granted.
- To love and live each moment at it’s best.
- That my life’s journey is not something that I can completely control, but I need to accept everything that happens and make the best of it.
- I found out who my friends really were, I lost some along the way, but I made many new friends to replace them.
- My son and daughter were always there, and I will never really be able to thank Michael for being right there with me every day
- It was important for me to close my business down and to concentrate on my healing.
For the rest of my life, I will forever be changed. Life altering situations are a way the universe directs us. I will always be here to help others who will travel down a similar path with Breast Cancer. No one can hide from this or prevent it. Just accept and heal.
Nancy Carmichael is a Boston-based photographer on a sabbatical for the next year. President of Boston Women’s Network. You can learn more about Nancy an her journey at her blog.
Nancy, as a fellow survivor, your lessons are ones that really struck home. It’s amazing sometimes how it takes a health crisis to open our eyes and make us truly see what matters. I hope you continue on the path to healing and have many, many healthy years to come!