early detection & self advocacy
It was never a normal practice for me to do self breast exams, but I remembered to do one a couple months after I finished nursing my daughter. When I did, I felt a lump and I was shocked. I was 34. But I brushed it off because it seemed too cliche and I remembered being told after my first child that lumps and bumps after a year of nursing were normal. For a while I denied that it could be anything.
It was not until I started losing hair on the crown of my head that I figured I should get checked—for vanity reasons. So I made a bunch of appointments which included a nice to have but not need to have mammogram and biopsy. Less than a week later I was hit with an unexpected diagnosis of stage 1C Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC). I underwent a double mastectomy, chemo and began taking Tamoxifen. After finishing treatment, I started a new job, chasing new adventures and thought this was all a bad chapter in my life.
However, less than five years later, after a challenging workout (I was trying to get in shape before my 40th birthday), I noticed that all of my soreness had subsided except in my left breast. Reluctantly, I did a self-exam and felt a new lump in nearly the same place I did before. It was deja vu in the worst way.
Except this time it was harder to be heard. My oncologist at the time—a talented doctor—felt the lump as well but assured me it wasn’t breast cancer because of the soreness. She was “99% certain” so instead prescribed a course of antibiotics and told me to schedule another appointment if the lump and soreness did not go away. They didn’t, but when I showed up I was told that my appointment had been cancelled because the team did not think it was necessary for me to be seen.
I disagreed so I sat in the waiting room for a couple hours until my doctor had an opening. I was told to wait one more month before calling back for a mammogram and ultrasound referral. So after two months (I waited longer to make sure I wouldn’t be denied) I was finally seen and my instincts were confirmed. My cancer had come back.
I remember raging in the car before going home. I let myself experience every emotion deeply. This time felt darker and charged with anger. I didn’t force myself to look for the silver lining. I was just angry and I let anger do what it needed to do. However, I knew I would have to spring into action fast.
I had more surgery and completed radiation. I started ovarian suppression, an aromatase inhibitor, and just completed Verzenio earlier this year (April 2024).
Dealing with cancer for a second time was not a walk in the park, but I learned the importance of early detection and relentless self advocacy. While my oncologist apologized profusely for not taking my concerns seriously, I also learned that there’s still so much for all of us to learn about how cancers can sneak around in our bodies.
Breast cancer can be more than a lump. In fact, there are at least 12 potential signs and symptoms of breast cancer including changes to the skin, new dimpling, and unexpected soreness—like what I experienced with my recurrence.
However it is also important to remember that self-exams are only the first step in self advocacy. Mammograms along with ultrasounds and biopsies are essential for early detection, receiving a diagnosis and determining treatment options.
I had the most common type of breast cancer (ER+/HER2-) which has been relatively straightforward to treat because of all the research that has been done on it. However Black women tend to be diagnosed at later stages and with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) so have fewer treatment options.
I’m grateful for research like the Voices of Black Women study (https://voices.cancer.org) that will focus on understanding health conditions like cancer and how to drive awareness and improve overall health. I’m hopeful that the findings from the Voices study will contribute to improved prevention and survival outcomes for Black women. Please visit the site for more information and sign up if you are a qualifying participant.
I’m also grateful for resources the Know Your Lemons Foundation and the American Cancer Society provides around early detection and cancer screenings. This year I’ll be walking in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in both San Francisco and Los Angeles and hope the money that’s raised will get us one step closer to eradicating breast cancer. There are walks around the US that anyone can participate in. I highly recommend joining one near you.
I’m hopeful that sharing my story will spark awareness and action to all women—regardless of age, race, health, and family history. I believe in self-advocacy even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. It saved my life and could save yours too!
Photo credit to Renee Browne (@middlelifemayhem) from the Pink Saves Campaign hosted by the Citadel Outlets