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Jean
Labor Day 1990, my husband had to be out of town for a funeral, so I rented
some movies and planned to spend the weekend doing nothing. Woke up Sunday
morning with my left breast almost double the size of my right and as hard as
a rock. Really put the fear of God into me.
I didn't say anything to anyone
until my husband got home Tuesday night. We decided to call my primary care
doctor, which I did first thing the next morning. He saw me on Thursday and
said my breast really didn't show the signs that cancer puts out, so I was
treated for an infection. Me, a 60 year old grandmother, but I went along
with it. This lasted 3 weeks. He then suggested a needle aspiration which
was done on a Thursday. Friday noontime, his office called me at work and
advised that a biopsy at AAMC was set for Monday morning. You want to talk
about someone being dumb struck, well I was.
My boss was furious because the
doctor called and was so brisk. Well, my husband and I reported to AAMC
Monday morning (10/1), and even before the biospy, I knew that it was cancer.
The doctor only confirmed it. Went home and really did some thinking. Went
to work and had a long discussion with several people, ended up calling John
Hopkins only to be told that I couldn't be seen until the end of October, so I
made the appointment.
The day my stitches were removed the surgeon told me I
had IBC, Stage IV and had very few months, so would suggest getting an
Oncologist immediately. Had to go to my primary doctor for his thoughts. He
didn't like any of the Oncologists that were on my HMO list and suggested
one in Annapolis and said he would make my appointment. We told him that we
were retired military, and he said by all means, go to Bethesda and check to
see if they could handle me. Well, we did and on 10/17/90 I was accepted
into a program sponsored by NCI at the National Naval Medical Center.
I was
checked from head to toe to make sure that I could handle the program where
they were going to place me. My treatments started the following Monday, and
I was in the hospital. I received 4 different chemos, 3 days every 3 weeks,
followed by a shot of a drug that had not been approved by FDA. This drug
was to help keep your blood on an even keel so you wouldn't have to hold up
treatments.
The drugs given me were, Doxorubicen (Adriamycon), Cytoxan
(Cyclophosphanide) 5 Fluorouracil (5-FU), and Leucovorin. The GM-CSF was
given on the 4th day and then I followed it up the next 14 days at home. The
treatments were on an outpatient basis after the first. I went to NNMC 2
days the next 2 weeks to have my blood checked. Usually my blood counts were
good, and I got to stop the shots after 7 to 10 days.
I was very fortunate. I
was never sick during chemo, and I more or less slept through each treatment.
I was starting a cycle on Christmas Eve and one of my doctors came in
while I was getting the chemo and told me that he couldn't really believe it,
but that I was in complete remission. What a great Christmas present, but I
felt that I may have dreamed it, so it wasn't until Christmas morning when I
checked with my husband and family. What a celebration.
The doctors were surprised that I started reducing in size after the first
cycle, so they ordered photos of the progress, and was followed through the
entire 10 cycles.
I was a very lucky and happy person, but I know that I had put my life in
God's hands the Saturday before I entered the hospital, and the prayers of my
many, many family and friends pulled me through along with the excellent
treatment I received. My nurses were telling me to think positive and keep
faith.
The day my chemo ended, I cried for I was so afraid that the cancer would
return. Well here it is 2001, and I'm still kicking. I had check ups every 3
months for the first 2 years, then 4 months, then 6 and now I am on a yearly
check up. I will probably stay on tamoxifen for life as they don't know how
it affects IBC. I know that not everyone is placed in a program with NCI, but
you can always check with your doctor about clinical studies being done.
I hope that this information will help others; and if I can help in another way, please
e-mail me.
Jean
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