MEET SALENA
My story starts in July of 2016 when I noticed an abnormality in my left breast. I wasn’t too worried about it, but after a couple weeks the lump seemed to be getting larger. It was then that I made an appointment with my doctor for the end of July. While my doctor wasn’t too concerned, she ordered a mammogram and an ultrasound to be safe. Unfortunately, the mammogram and ultrasound didn’t assist in any confirmation of what the mass was, so the next step was to have a biopsy of the mass.
I’m getting ahead of myself though. One important discovery that was found prior to the mammogram was that I was expecting my 4th child!
On August 1st, 2016, I had a biopsy of the mass in my left breast. While I was anxiously awaiting my results, I was primarily still elated from the news of another little one on the way. On August 3rd, I received the dreaded call that no one wants to get – I had stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma. From there, doctors worked fast to get me scheduled with a breast surgeon, an oncologist, and an obstetrician that had experience with high-risk pregnancies. The decision was made to take each phase cautiously, with the pregnancy top of mind. Surgery was scheduled for mid-August during my 1st trimester, with chemotherapy scheduled for mid-September around the start of my 2nd trimester.
Before surgery, I met with the Executive Director of the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer. We discussed what was racing through my mind, and I was offered to be put in contact with the research team at the IU Cancer Center for a second opinion. Although I trusted my doctors in Fort Wayne and felt confident with the course of treatment, during one of my oncology appointments I mentioned getting a second opinion. My doctor, without hesitation, offered to call the IU Cancer Center directly! He spoke with a doctor who specializes in breast cancer during pregnancy and whose research is directly supported by the Foundation. My treatment and dosage levels were changed based on advice from that doctor!
In February 2017, my family welcomed another little girl. We named her Samantha Claire, and she weighed 4 lbs. and 15 oz. Low birth weight and early delivery were the two risk factors of receiving chemotherapy during pregnancy. Samantha was small, but she was a normal newborn and is now a thriving, head-strong Kindergartener! After Samantha was born, I went through another 12-week round of chemotherapy followed by 28 days of radiation. For my situation, I wanted to make sure all the cancer was eliminated, with reoccurrence minimal. As I walked out of my last radiation treatment on August 3, 2017, it hit me that I had started this whole adventure one year prior when I received that heart-wrenching call.
I have learned a lot from my experience with breast cancer:
First, I learned that every cancer diagnosis is different and can be treated differently. When someone is told they have cancer, there are often no explanations of what caused the cancer. Assumptions can be made, but there is not one medical book or manual that doctors refer to. For some individuals, cancer is hereditary. In 2016, I was given a test to see if the cause of my cancer was from a hereditary gene mutation (BRCA1 or BRCA2). If someone has the gene mutation, they are at a higher risk for ovarian cancer and/or breast cancer. In my instance, the test indicated that I was BRCA2 positive. Luckily, I had 4 children of my own and didn’t plan for anymore so scheduling an additional surgery in September 2017 wasn’t a difficult decision for me. With the known BRCA2 gene mutation, my children will be monitored more aggressively as they become adults.
Second, I learned that you can’t walk through breast cancer alone. It’s so important to have patience and be willing to accept help from others! While I had amazing community support, my mom went above and beyond to help me through this valley in my life. She went to every doctor appointment, drove me to my first round of chemo appointments, and even moved in with my family for a few weeks after my second mastectomy when I couldn’t lift my newborn. She was beside me for the entirety of my cancer journey and helped me figure out how to a be strong woman and stand up for my beliefs.
Third, I felt and relied on God’s presence in my everyday life. When I initially received my cancer diagnosis, I felt ashamed, embarrassed, and wanted to keep everything a secret. However, I quickly learned that more people knowing about my journey, meant more prayers being said for healing. I felt those prayers as I progressed through my journey, and I believe strongly in the power of the Almighty God. His presence is there for every valley and every mountain. There are unexplainable events that happened during my cancer journey, but with my faith in His Hands, I knew He was in control.
While my breast cancer journey may look different than most, I’m so grateful for everything I learned along the way. My kids were my hope and reason for living during this challenging time, which makes every day that I get to spend with them now so much sweeter!
