Hitting Home: Breast Cancer, Part 1
After much deliberation, I have decided to speak out about my breast cancer. I was diagnosed earlier this year and have been reluctant to reveal it because I was afraid it might be a distraction. However, October is breast cancer awareness month and the time has come to share my story.
My cancer story is about intuition ignored. A couple years back I started having some right rib pain and the unsettling sensation that my bra wasn’t fitting quite right even though my weight was unchanged. I began making rounds to several doctors in both primary care and various specialties regarding my mysterious rib pain, some I had seen for several years. A veritable bevy of tests were done including a CAT scan, chest x ray and numerous blood studies. Nothing was found that could explain my persistent rib pain. I was told it was an enigma, but I was also told, point blank by numerous doctors, that cancer was not the cause of my symptoms.
Fast-forward to 2012 and my annual screening mammogram. Unlike previous years, it was abnormal. It showed a possible breast cancer in a small area of asymmetry in my right upper outer breast, prompting an ultrasound and ultrasound guided biopsy. The asymmetry was confirmed as an early invasive cancer, a finding that forever changed my life. But this proved to be is only one part of the suffering.
After the diagnosis, I learned that the radiologists at the mammogram center had been watching this area for several years. What I was told was that these “watched” mammograms were normal. No debriefing. No discussion. I was simply excluded from the earlier findings and what to do about it. Even though my inner voice kept pinging me that something in my body was terribly amiss, I was assured all was well. I wish I had done more.
I wish I had insisted that the radiologist have a conversation with me about correlating my right chest symptoms with my mammogram at each annual screening. I wish I had asked my gynecologist to make time to review the annual mammogram results with me in person before writing another prescription for estrogen replacement therapy. I wish I had found better doctors sooner. Not to be.
Understandably, the cancer journey has been difficult and frightening because its impact is ubiquitous. It invades all areas of your life and nothing will ever be the same. But I am not without hope or comfort from new doctors, family, colleagues friends, and the remarkable kindness of strangers. Not surprising, I am also comforted by my health coach training at Duke.
In particular, Duke’s Wheel of Health has been my template for holistic healing. With cancer this involves rest, movement, nutrition, spirituality, relationships, physical environment and mind body connection, all integral in formulating a plan for optimizing cancer treatment and healing. As important, integrative health coaching has given me the skills to use mindfulness to deal with the anxiety of tests, surgeries, and radiation treatments. Despite the diagnosis, the Duke model helped me create new healing goals while undergoing conventional treatment.
In Part II of this blog, I will share some of my best strategies for navigating the healthcare system in the face of a cancer diagnosis or any other life threatening illness. This will include how I selected quality doctors for the fight ahead and found complimentary therapies in my community for the healing and recovery from treatment.
As a cancer survivor, I can attest that integrative health coaching is a worthwhile investment for cancer clients seeking support, collaboration, and comfort. If you have a close friend or family member with cancer, a gift of health coaching sessions may be the one thing that empowers them to navigate their way through treatments and surveillance with less fear and more hope.
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Janet,
Thank you for sharing your story with us! Cheering you on!
Hello Janet
I am a 23 year breast cancer survivor. For years, I have done the 3 day 60 mile Susan G Komen breast cancer walk so that I can tell my story to others. When I was diagnosed when I was 39, the only things I wanted to know was that I would be around to raise my children, the youngest of whom was then 3. He is now 26. I chose to have bilateral mastectomies and have had various reconstruction adventures and misadventures. All in all, I am thankful to be healthy, to have a great husband and a fulfilling life. Please feel free to contct me at any time.
Regards
Margit
Great blog post-insightful and courageous. You are amazing. My best to you.
Janet,
I love that you not only are sharing your story, but that you are giving people useful information and options to make for a better awareness on this very personal and devestating illness. By reading your blog and researching how so many things attribute to all aspects of our health and body. Preventative care is huge, I look forward to reading the next part. Thank you for sharing.
Thank for sharing your personal story and turning it into an inspiring and educational source for others.
There isn’t a patient out there who couldn’t benefit from your wisdom.
Best wishes,
Chris
Janet,
Thank you for sharing your story that highlights the importance and power of our inner voice and intuition. Your story is a reminder that we are the holders of our health and our own best advocate. I look forward to reading the second part of your story.
Thank you again for your powerful message!
Profound thanks for sharing your story Janet. You are all women and this so deserves to be heard.
Janet,
I was so moved by your willingness to share your story when we were together at Duke this month. And I am so glad you are sharing your insights, emotions, guidance, and information with everyone through your blog. Your sense that something was wrong is powerful — how essential it is to listen to these thoughts. I am grateful for your vulnerability in reaching out to all of us.
Thanks Janet for sharing your wisdom. I am very much interested in hearing about your continued recovery. Also I would like to understand the estrogen challenge and how that might be incorporated as a preventative measure in my own life. All my best to you ! Julie
Hi Julie, Many women find estrogen useful for the most disturbing symptoms of menopause including hot flashes. Estrogen works for hot flashes and many other symptoms of menopause, but 80% of all breast cancers are estrogen receptor positive. If you have this kind of breast cancer developing all sources of estrogen internal and external add “fuel to the fire”. Clinical recommendations vary about how long to stay on estrogen safely assuming you have a negative screening mammograms. If you are in the situation where estrogen is not option, a good alternative is Remifemin which contains 20 mgs of black cohash. It takes about 12 weeks to decrease hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings but helps between 60 to 70% of women. The other two important supplements for menopause are Vitamin D and calcium. It is a good idea to monitor vitamin D blood levels during routine care checkups. Vitamin D is playing a bigger role in cancer prevention, cancer treatment and cardiovascular health.