Having breast cancer is always an eye opening experience. My situation was pretty much the norm except the lump in my left breast was the same lump I had the year before and had pointed out to my doctor and the radiologist technician. I received the results from my mammogram stating there was no sign of breast cancer. Great, what a relief. The following year (Oct.2005) I once again went for my annual mammogram but this time I picked a different facility. When I was in the process of this procedure, which is always a pleasant experience (not!), I once again pointed out the lump in my left breast. What was interesting is that everything was digital so the pictures came up immediately. Well lo and behold the tech was not too happy with what she was seeing. Before I know it I’m in the next room getting an ultrasound. The following day guess what? A biopsy. The results: breast cancer. Now decisions had to be made: one, do I get a mastectomy with reconstruction or just a lumpectomy. My main concern was my newly opened business, The Feed Store, which was coming up on its first anniversary of being opened. I wanted a quick recovery time so I chose the lumpectomy. Second, determine which stage of cancer I was in. The surgeon would take a biopsy of my lymph node to determine my stage. Stage I, cancer is confined to the breast only. Stage II, It made it to the lymph node which means chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatment. Good news, the surgeon said the lymph node was clean.
The day after my surgery my son, Sean had a soccer game. Yep, you guessed it, I went and I felt fine the entire time. Did I mention I’m somewhat stubborn and headstrong!
The following day I had an appointment with the surgeon. Well guess what! The cancer did reach the lymph nodes after all. He removed more than one because more than one was dyed with this nuclear medicine they inject into you before surgery so the doctor can determine which lymph nodes could be infected. What was interesting is the main node was clean but the feeder nodes were not. I always tend to be difficult that way.
Well my family was not too happy, maybe I should say scared, yeah that’s more like it. I think it was hardest for my dad, then my two sons, Henry and Sean. My husband Michael was a trooper. Trying his hardest to keep things together with working his job and doing mine as well.
Chemotherapy- what a trip! I’ve always considered myself a fairly tough individual but honestly chemo kicked me in the a__! My oncologist was Dr. Wash at the Southern NM Cancer Center. You couldn’t ask for better care. My weakness is my stomach. Give me a broken leg anytime but leave my stomach alone. It didn’t work that way. A couple days after my first treatment Michael had to take me to the emergency room. I could not stop throwing up.
After that episode Dr Wash prescribed a different nausea medicine and moved my treatment days to the beginning of the week. That way if I got very sick I could just go back to the center and they would treat me versus the emergency room. As you could figure I spent extra time in my own little room for treatment for extreme nausea. Some women I met had no side effects what so ever, I was kind of jealous, but oh well!
Dr Wash told me my hair will fall out in about 10-14 days and she was right. It happened all of a sudden. I was in the shower and tried to wash my hair and clump after clump kept falling out. I had to keep unclogging the drain. Finally, I grabbed a towel, pulled out the hair clippers and went looking for Michael. Thank god I had a decent shaped head. The only time I was somewhat upset is when I looked into the mirror and saw my brother Ray. Oh my god! I look like my brother. Now there are two baldies in the family.
The first round of chemo lasted twelve weeks, with a treatment every three weeks or so. The first week was typical with me feeling puny. The second, so-so by the third week I felt pretty good. Then we would start all over again. When the twelve weeks were over then I had to start a weekly chemo dose, pretty mild stuff but I stayed nauseous for the entire four-week period.
I do have to mention work. As you could have guessed I was determined to keep working. My entire family including my doctor was against it. Their main concern was the chances of catching some bug, a cold or flu. I promised to be good and wash my hands regularly. Well I was bombarded with hand sanitizers, wipes and Lysol. So it was a battle easily won, the germs lost. I would like to mention two things: one, my customers were awesome. They were extremely caring and understanding of my present condition and two if it wasn’t for my employees my business probably would have been shut down. They were literally lifesavers, stepping up when it counted.
When chemo was over, radiation therapy started. That was a piece of cake. My hair started coming back, grayer and curlier than ever. In June 2006 when all my treatments we finished I received my certificate of appreciation from the cancer center with everyone’s signature. It was a good feeling knowing you had succeeded in all the treatments. I would tell my husband that I was sure they were trying to kill you before they cured you. But there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, and I was walking through it at that time. I was pretty happy.
Everyone at the cancer center, doctors, nurses, techs and office staff were extremely kind and caring and made the whole ordeal tolerable.
I don’t want to leave out all of the people – close friends and complete strangers who gave me hope and encouragement all along the way. They brought their stories of survival, and food for my family and prayers for each of us. Every little bit of it helped in tremendous ways.
On September 6, 2006 my father Ray Garcia passed away. Out of everyone in the family my cancer hit him the hardest. I’ve come to understand that his fear was to outlive any of his children, he didn’t want that. His passing was probably the hardest thing for me, cancer is easy compared to losing a loved one.
I come from a family of jokesters; we tend to never to let up. Which, in a sense makes you tougher. So on occasion when I didn’t feel well I could always hear one of my brothers or sisters telling me to quit being such a big baby. Just kidding I new I was loved and appreciated and everyone was concerned.
The only thing I can relate to other women faced with breast cancer is this: Hang tough, hold your head up and smash cancer in the face! Before long it will just be a distant memory.
