Have you ever thought that something would never happen to you? Or that you lived your entire young adulthood and adulthood trying your damn hardest to prevent something from happening to you? I have... It seems as if almost every family member of mine has had cancer or some form of heart disease. I knew that all I needed to do to not fall victim to one of these progressive, fatal illnesses was to 1. exercise, 2. eat healthy, and 3. keep up with my medical treatment. I did all these things. I have always done all these things for as long as I can remember. Sure, I have had my share of being lazy and eating junk food, but I spend most of my days living a pseudo-vegetarian and athlete lifestyle. I was not going to catch any disease. I was going to be untouchable, perfect.
Unfortunately, no one is perfect, untouchable, or free from falling ill. This is what has been the hardest for me to take in...
In July 2010, my boyfriend and I found a lump in my breast. I was 25 at the time.I figured I would just sit, see if it goes away and disappear. I truly believed it was nothing and not see my OBGyn until a month later & even contemplated not bringing up the lump at my appointment. I was in no rush. Nor did I think it was anyway possible that I could be sick. Obviously I was not worried.
I had a biopsy done in September and it came back one week later...To be honest I kind of forgot about the whole biopsy at that point. See, I wasn't worried. I got the call..."Caitlin I am afraid to tell you but the biopsy came back and you have cancer." My world became a fog and I couldn't hear anything else my doctor said...I told him I would call him back. I sat at my office and cried. I felt helpless. I felt like I failed at trying to avoid this inevitable illness.
I am very lucky I have supportive coworkers, family, and friends. At that point, whomever I told just stood by me and helped me feel supported. I didn't feel so alone. I didn't feel so helpless. I kicked my butt into gear and started figuring out what I needed to do to beat this illness. I made doctors appointments with oncologists, surgeons, and went for more testing. I had to keep my head up and I did.
Unfortunately, no one is perfect, untouchable, or free from falling ill. This is what has been the hardest for me to take in...
In July 2010, my boyfriend and I found a lump in my breast. I was 25 at the time.I figured I would just sit, see if it goes away and disappear. I truly believed it was nothing and not see my OBGyn until a month later & even contemplated not bringing up the lump at my appointment. I was in no rush. Nor did I think it was anyway possible that I could be sick. Obviously I was not worried.
I had a biopsy done in September and it came back one week later...To be honest I kind of forgot about the whole biopsy at that point. See, I wasn't worried. I got the call..."Caitlin I am afraid to tell you but the biopsy came back and you have cancer." My world became a fog and I couldn't hear anything else my doctor said...I told him I would call him back. I sat at my office and cried. I felt helpless. I felt like I failed at trying to avoid this inevitable illness.
I am very lucky I have supportive coworkers, family, and friends. At that point, whomever I told just stood by me and helped me feel supported. I didn't feel so alone. I didn't feel so helpless. I kicked my butt into gear and started figuring out what I needed to do to beat this illness. I made doctors appointments with oncologists, surgeons, and went for more testing. I had to keep my head up and I did.
I started to get involved with other survivors in the YSC community. They make me feel so not alone. Reaching out to others with BC has helped me win this fight. I will continue to fight this disease and strive throughout my journey.
On 7/29/13, I learned that my disease came back. Doctors tell us that we do not need scans & to look out for symptoms. I had NO symptoms. My mets diagnosis was a fluke. I got an EKG done at my new Primary Doctor & I had an extra heart beat, which has happened before. She sent me for an echocardiogram just to follow up on all the cancer treatments I had and the extra heart beat. The echo found fluid on my lungs. I was sent for a Chest CT to clarify what the fluid was & my oncologist sent me to get the Fluid biopsied. The fluid came back positive for Breast Cancer. At that time, I still had NO symptoms and no visible tumor or sign of cancer on my Chest CT. I was considered Ogliometastatic, which can be "easily managed." My cancer continues to progress and has not been cured or easily managed. The reality is once cancer invades the lymph-nodes and travels to other organs, you have METASTATIC BREAST CANCER. METASTATIC BREAST CANCER IS STAGE 4 BREAST CANCER THAT MEANS UNTIL THERE IS A CURE OR MORE TREATMENT TO KEEP ME ALIVE ONE DAY I WILL BE ONE OF THE 113 WOMEN WHO DIE FROM BREAST CANCER EVERYDAY. I will be on treatment and seeing oncologists & specialists for the rest of my life unless more research funding finds a cure for me and thousands of other women living with METASTATIC BREAST CANCER today. Now... the journey continues for another year and hopefully many more.
