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2 0 2 5 G O O D H E A L T H
PHOTO COURTESY CRYSTAL COUCH
Crystal Couch rang the bell for her radiation on August 29, 2022, and both her husband and daughters were with her.
After staging and further testing, Couch was diagnosed with Stage 2B breast cancer. The tumor had spread to two of her lymph nodes.
She opted for a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction.“ I just wanted it gone,” she said. From there Couch began an aggressive chemotherapy regimen known as AC-T( Adriamycin, Cytoxan, and Taxol) and TC( Taxotere and Cyclophosphamide). Adriamycin is infamously nicknamed the“ Red Devil” due to its harsh side effects.
“ I was terrified of chemo. I’ m emetophobic; I have an intense fear of throwing up,” she said.“ You always hear about how sick chemo makes you, but Dr. Abby Byrnes, my oncologist, looked me in the eye and said,‘ You will feel bad. You will be tired. You will lose your hair. But I promise you won’ t throw up.’ And she kept that promise.” Her treatment lasted five months.“ The first few days after each session were the worst,” Couch recounted.“ I could barely lift my head. I remember my oldest daughter would have to bring her homework to the foot of my bed so I could help her.”
In February, she shaved her head