Overcoming Breast Cancer Obstacles

16 hours ago8 min read

By Cheri Silver

Before it was common, I was interested in natural medicine and remedies. When I was pregnant, I decided that I would breastfeed because I felt it may be my only chance to try it. My sister had told me that it usually takes a month to get used to.

I decided to join La Leche League since my sister passed before I gave birth the first time. It turns out they used a lot of common sense child rearing practices and also were into healthy eating practices. This led me to joining a healthy food co-op.

Later, I learned that the more I nursed, the better chance I had of reducing my cancer risk. I nursed both my girls. I had friends who had been diagnosed with cancer, and nursing seemed like an easy way to keep cancer at bay. That and eating healthy.

In 2019, my doctor asked my husband and I to take a Color DNA test, which would show us if either one of us carried any gene mutations associated with cancer risk. We did and all came out negative. A year later, in the middle of the pandemic, my aunt mentioned that my cousin had just finished radiation for breast cancer. That night, around 1:00 a.m., I felt a big lump in my breast. It felt like a hard-boiled egg.

I was a few months late with my mammogram due to Covid. I had needed some biopsies in the past, but they were always benign. Since I wanted a diagnostic exam, I needed to see a doctor first. I managed to get in with an ob-gyn a few days later. She could tell my lump was big and wanted me to have a mammogram and an ultrasound. Since I couldn’t get one scheduled for five weeks, I called her back and there was a cancellation for the next day.

The radiologist was pretty sure it was metaplastic carcinoma and put that on the report. The gynecologist was upset that she wrote that. While I may not be a brain surgeon, I knew that carcinoma meant cancer. The gynecologist kept arguing that she might be wrong and it may be benign. I asked what were the chances it was benign. She said 5-10%. Now I don’t claim to be a mathematician, but I do know that means there is a 90-95% chance my lump is cancer.

I went through a week or two with the breast surgeon and plastic surgeon arguing with me that maybe I only need a lumpectomy or only a single mastectomy because there is a chance that my lump is benign. My gut was telling me otherwise. I heard of some people who had a lumpectomy or single mastectomy and then had to have a double a week or two later. I was already 71 when my lump was found. I’d already nursed two children and had been married almost 50 years. I was happy to have been cancer-free for 71 years. I didn’t shed a tear nor feel sorry for myself. I had friends who had mastectomies because of the BRCA gene mutation and they seemed fine. I also considered myself small-breasted and had this image of getting new perky breasts to replace mine.

I also had this idea that since I had this one big lump which was 3.5 cm, it would be removed during surgery and I would get the new breasts and be done. Ha! I was very naïve. My friends with the BRCA gene mutation did not have cancer. I did.

I had a double mastectomy on September 23, 2020. A week later, I was told that I have stage 2B metaplastic triple negative carcinoma. Two lymph nodes were removed and fortunately they were clear. But the oncologist informed me that I would still need chemo, the kind with hair loss. Since my lymph nodes were clear, I would not have to have radiation.

When hearing about my diagnosis, I was told I was negative for three things. My husband was with me and said, “That sounds good, being negative on everything.” My surgeon said quietly, “No, triple negative is the worst.” We were stunned. I learned I have a very rare form of breast cancer, metaplastic, that is fast-growing and aggressive, and that triple negative is very aggressive, too. I had been naïve. I thought there was only one kind of cancer for breast, one kind for colon, one for stomach…

Over the last four years, I have learned that only 5-10% of breast cancers are metaplastic and 10-20% are triple negative (TNBC). Great. I’ve accepted that my body is never normal.

The hair loss didn’t bother me too much because I only had chemo for five months and due to the pandemic, we weren’t going anywhere and no one was allowed to visit.

I have several groups of friends. I told my closest friends and my family and didn’t care if they shared the news with others. My daughter started a CaringBridge page for me which was very helpful. This way, I could let my friends know the results of tests and what was next. I didn’t want to chance leaving a friend out, plus I like to write what’s happening. If I’m down or sorting my emotions out, I wait with writing.

Meanwhile, friends and relatives came out of the woodwork and began bringing food, gift certificates, presents… I felt very loved and cared for. People thought I was brave and strong. I just kept going to all the tests and doctors I was sent to. I was more like a robot.

It was a weird time. No one was allowed in hospitals with a patient due to Covid. I had to go for surgeries and treatments alone. My husband dropped me off at the hospitals by the front door. The surgeon gave me a pain block when I had the mastectomy so I felt fine the first three days. I had surgical drains for about 10 days post-mastectomy.

Others had suggested joining lots of support groups online, which usually was helpful. This is where I learned the most. I also got into a support group which met online due to the pandemic. The women in the group had different kinds of cancer but were very helpful.

My first chemo was delayed due to allergies I developed from ChloraPrep, a cleanser used on my chest prior to my double mastectomy. My first chemo was Adriamycin-Cytoxan (AC), known as the Red Devil, for two months. I got very bad mouth sores, so I primarily did a liquid diet of high protein drinks and soups. I didn’t like the magic mouthwash. Baking soda wasn’t as harsh.

Then I developed an infection from my breast expanders, so I had to have the exchange surgery before finishing chemo. A few weeks later, I went on Taxol chemotherapy. I tried the ice mittens and boots which were to prevent neuropathy. Maybe my case was milder, but I got the neuropathy so bad that I never finished all the Taxol. My fingers and toes hurt so bad at bed time.

After stopping treatment, I wasn’t bouncing back to my precancer disposition, nor was my hair coming in very quickly. More facts I learned. Sometimes our bodies take a year or two or maybe three or four to return. Hair comes in very slowly for the first six months.

Scans were being done on me over the next couple years. The first ones showed lymph nodes seemed to have grown and later nodules. Many tests were run, including biopsies. My nodules were very small and were being checked for precaution. I finally had my lung sectioned in April 2024 to discover that my breast cancer was now in my lung.

I was on speakerphone when we spoke to my oncologist, who informed me that I was no longer curable. Needless to say, I became very depressed for about two or three weeks. Then someone told me that other diseases were not curable either like diabetes, arthritis, MS… And the doctors try to make patients comfortable with quality of life. I’ve had arthritis for half my life. Even though I was informed that I was now considered Stage 4, it was no longer a death sentence. I joined groups online with this diagnosis to learn of people who have had this for 15-20 years and longer. I felt some relief.

My oncologist wanted me to try getting into a clinical trial, which I did for a year. In it, I took a targeted therapy, Trodelvy, with an immunotherapy, Keytruda. I also joined another support group. The other one was all women who were diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). I learned that after scans I wanted to be considered stable, with no spread or growth of cancer cells. When my nodules did grow, I went back to my local oncologist, took a couple months off treatment, and now I’m back on chemo. This time I’m on Gemzar and carboplatinum.

There are now a lot of different treatments for cancer. I’m grateful for that. I’ve also been fortunate to talk with oncology dietitians and use suggestions on what is best to eat, plus I have been doing nutrition for most of my life. My side effects seem mild next to others. Sure, I have a little nausea at times, but no barfing. And yes, I have some constipation and I’ve had a couple small episodes of diarrhea, but in all my years I’ve learned to listen to my body and can usually counteract problems.

I still fear more growth, which is very common among cancer patients. I also fear any possible pain I may get that might not be treatable. I’ve slowed down a lot, which is frustrating, and I’m no longer good at multitasking. So far, my memory is still very good, but I get a bit of anxiety about not being able to recall everything. I have put together photo journals which I have labeled with the people included to help jog my memory if this happens. I try to be proactive. I have also written some memory books for my family about some of my memories.

In the meantime, I continue having meals with friends and family, socializing over games or just chatting, discussing good books… I also like to cook so when I’m feeling up to it, I make double or triple portions and freeze them. Much of my cooking is now done from a seated position with help from my husband.

Update: 1/13/2025

The Gemzar and carboplatinum did not work. I decided to go to City of Hope for another opinion since it is a cancer hospital and only 45 minutes from us. The oncologist I was assigned has worked with metaplastic carcinoma. We discussed different options and decided to try Enhertu.

The first time was uneventful, but the second dose was the worst treatment ever. I was shaky, unsteady and at first it hurt to breathe. Three weeks later, when I went back, I had a chest scan which showed my lung had become inflamed and the cancer had grown again. I went on a heavy dose of steroids for two weeks to give my lung a chance to recover.

Now I’m on Xeloda, which is oral chemotherapy taken at home. Again, my side effects did not show up until the second week. My heels hurt to walk on, and my mouth sores are back.

At City of Hope, I also see support staff. The naturalist recommended some supplements.

I’m hoping this treatment works because it’s hard to keep changing and get acclimated to new treatments. It’s also depressing. So far, the cancer is only in my lungs.

Cancer is a hard journey that most people don’t fully understand. I continue to stay positive.