Heidi’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Breast Cancer)

I am 34. I have been married to by best friend and the most wonderful man since 2002. We have three children. One day my best friend Tara asked us if we wanted to take the kids swimming. On the way to the pool we stopped for gas and I noticed the pad in my swim suit top was bunched up. I was sitting there fiddling with my boobs in the gas station and felt a lump on my right breast. I made an appointment with my doctor the next day. She ordered a mammogram and an ultrasound. The next week we took the kids on vacation for a week. When we got back I went to the hospital for these tests on July 22, 2013.

After the ultrasound this little doctor came in and told me he wanted to do a biopsy. I went into the room kind of scared because the tech told me that the mass was not smooth…Whatever that means.  The doctor came in and started poking me with a needle. I noticed the screen said mass A and then it switched to mass B. I asked why and he said that there were two masses. That was a Monday, and I went back to work on Tuesday night. I work in a level five prison as a Correctional Officer. I got off work on Thursday morning and went to bed about 10:30 am. At 11:30 am my doctor called me and said to come in NOW. I hyperventilated all the way to the clinic. My dad and 15 year old son met me there.

It was cancer. She wanted me to meet with a surgeon the next day. The next day I went to see her. She informed us that there are three tumors and that doing a lumpectomy would leave me deformed. We decided to do a double mastectomy the next Wednesday. Tuesday the next week we met with the cancer doctor. I had to do a CT/PET scan and talked about the cancer. After the scan she informed us that I have two types of breast cancer and a suspicious spot on my right ovary. I was pretty done with that day at this point. I was having a double mastectomy the next day and couldn’t handle much more bad news.

I was however very surprised at the overwhelming support I was receiving from friends, family, and more surprisingly, fellow officers. I was receiving uplifting texts and Facebook messages. On July 31, 2013, I went to the hospital for my surgery. My husband, mom, dad, three fellow officers, and my best friends from eighth grade were there. My surgery was at 7:30 am. I woke up at 2:30 pm. Everyone plus some were waiting for me to wake up. I stayed in the hospital for two nights. After we were home for a couple days we met with the cancer doctor. She told us that I had four tumors and precancerous stuff in the whole right breast. I was going to have to be on a six cycle chemotherapy regimen for 18 weeks, plus one medication for a year. The spot on my ovary is still there. I had another scan last week of my ovary and heart. I have an appointment September third to hear the results of these tests. As of now if my heart is healthy I am scheduled to start chemotherapy September 12, 2013. I’m hoping that it won’t be anything that I can’t handle. I am very healthy. I eat right and was an avid runner. I know absolutely nothing about this cancer and what is ahead of me. Anyone I can talk to and talk with about this with I would be very grateful.

Heidi
Missouri
Submitted 08/18/2013

The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.

This story is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.