Valerie's Cancer Story
It all started in the winter of 2014. It was getting closer to Thanksgiving day. I had an appointment made with my OBGYN. I didn't know my life was about to be changed forever. I was 39 years old, a wife to Derek, and Mother to our beautiful 9 year old daughter Faith. A woman with a lot of big dreams to fulfill. It all started when I found something out of place. I had something that didn't feel normal on my chest. My husband encouraged me to make a doctors appointment. I had been to the obgyn 6 months prior and had a breast exam and nothing was found. The doctor said we'll see you when your 40 for your first mammogram. If I would have waited, I most likely wouldn't be here today. Well things moved fast. My OBGYN recommended me to the best healthcare team, the Rockwood Breast Health Care Center. On December 2nd, 2014 I was diagnosed with stage 3 Invasive Ductile Carcinoma and HER2+ which is a very aggressive form of breast cancer. It was a 5cm tumor also found in my lymph nodes. My heart shattered into pieces. My wonderful support, my husband Derek and mom were there when final diagnosis was given . The hardest part was telling our 9 year old daughter the news. In those moments you realize just how fragile life is and we must never take it for granted. The tumor was attached to the wall of my chest. I had to do chemo first. The journey begins my port was put in. I started chemo December 19th. I completed 15 rounds of hard chemo Doxyrubcyin, Cytoxan and Taxol by May 2nd 2015. I then was put on a chemo called Herceptin. A targeted therapy drug to battle the aggressive form called HER2+. In total I did one year and two months of chemo.
The next step was a double mastectomy and 13 lymph nodes removed and the start of reconstruction. I had the surgery June 3, 2015. I had to stay in the hospital for five days. I couldn't tolerate the pain medications. The recovery was horrific but the outcome was amazing. On my 40th birthday , June 13th,2015 I found out the surgery was a success and I'm cancer free. Praise God!!! The cancer was removed from my body. Now for the clean up of any residual stuff in my body. Radiation was next.
In September 2015, I started what would be 33 treatments of radiation. I did radiation treatments everyday except for Saturday and Sunday. My oncologist also started me on Leoprolide injections and I also take for the next ten years, Leotrozole, which takes away all my estrogen.
On February 29, 2016 I had reconstructive surgery. I previously had very painful tissue expanders in for 9 months. This was a long process. Reconstruction is done in many steps.. My very last reconstructive surgery was done in September 13, 2016.
It has been and still is a long journey. I attribute my survival to God, answered prayers and an amazing team of doctors at the Rockwood Breast Health Care Center. Oncologist Dr Kirk Lund, Breast Surgeon Dr. Heidi Richardson, Radiation oncologist Dr. Lisa Maestas. I also had a wonderful plastic Surgeon named Dr. Emily Williams from Plastic Surgery Northwest.
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