October 27, 2023

Breast Cancer Awareness Month – Amy’s Journey

A Thank You Message from Amy

What I’ve Learned From My Breast Cancer Journey

I’m a retired nurse and currently work as an adjunct nursing instructor at North Central State College. I’d like you to know how important support systems can be for you. Sometimes you take for granted, or don’t even realize how important support from your family and friends can be when you need them most. I’d like you to know how your outlook can change to positive if you surround yourself with positive people who, in my case, helped me through a cancer diagnosis and treatments to survivorship.

I spent most of my professional career as a nurse. I’d walk by patient rooms and see family members sitting close to their loved one, sometimes holding their hand or pacing back and forth in the room, starving for updates on their loved one’s condition. I’ve observed countless families in the emergency room praying for their loved one. 

Often times, I thought to myself how fortunate I’ve been, and how thankful I am that members of my family have been relatively healthy. As a nurse seeing such pain and suffering, I’ve often asked myself why I am not in that bed instead of them. I’ve been so aware of my surroundings and so respectful of other families’ boundaries over the years. Sometimes it was very difficult to watch. 

About 10 years ago, I decided to retire. I also decided I wanted to help the next generation of nurses as an instructor. Just prior to my decision to retire, I watched an ambulance, with lights flashing, pull into the emergency room bay as I approached the door. That particular day, those flashing lights really resonated with me as a signal that I should indeed count my blessings, be thankful for what I have and be appreciative of who is in my life.

At that same moment, I noticed that both my son and daughter had reached out to me by text to share some good news. In the light of someone else’s tragedy, I felt this calmness and warmth from my children, like they had my back on this particular morning.

My life has been filled with little instances like that. I find that you should look around and appreciate what you have and know that you have the support that you need just when you need it. After I received my breast cancer diagnosis, everywhere I turned I saw signs of love and support, big and small, and I felt so fortunate.

In an Instant a Self-Exam Changed My Life

In April 2021, I felt a lump in my breast. Due to COVID-19, I hadn’t gone for my annual mammogram in over a year. I was a bit in denial at first. Could I process this? Should I share what I found and tell my children or family? After all the pain and suffering I’ve witnessed others experience over the years, I wondered if this could really be happening to me now! Will I really have the comfort and support of family and friends to help me on the journey that I fear will be so hard?

Two weeks had now passed, and because of my experience and training, I could no longer deny what I knew to be true. I found the courage and reluctantly contacted my primary care provider, Avita’s Dr. Anil Paul, who I trust so much. As always, Dr. Paul was so thorough, kind, and understanding. He ordered the screenings and then set up the appointment with Dr. Stephen Fisher to get the biopsy. He did a sonogram and biopsy that day. It all happened fast. 

I knew what the outcome would be – I just wanted to learn the stage and understand what the process and treatments would be like

After years of avoiding health issues, the word cancer was just devastating. As a nurse with a little bit of knowledge and watching other cancer patients go through their journeys, my mind began to wander – and that can be a dangerous thing. I thought I was going to die of cancer, and I kept thinking about everyone I knew that had passed away from cancer. There was so much more I wanted to do in life, and now I was worried I wouldn’t get to do any of it.

“Is it true? Will this happen to me?” When you’re diagnosed with cancer, your whole life changes. You have to stop certain activities, perhaps even stop working. Treatments can tax you physically, and uncertainty can drain you mentally. Family and friends might treat you differently, even if they don’t mean to.

In May of 2021, three weeks after finding the lump on my own, Dr. Fisher gave me the news I expected but was fearful to hear. He sent me to visit with Melody Joice, Avita’s Breast Health Navigator, to go over my options. She walked me through the entire process and gave me some valuable materials to read. Dr. Fisher also contacted Dr. Paul to discuss my case. Shortly after, we looped my daughter Kathryn and her husband Brandon into the conversation. He is an interventional radiologist, and they live in Myrtle Beach. For some reason I just wasn’t able to tell my son Jared yet or even go deeper into the diagnosis with my brothers and sisters.   

After having the cancerous lump removed and knowing what was ahead of me, I felt like the fewer who knew, the better for me. I knew that I wasn’t thinking clearly and that my friends and children, including my son, could help me on the journey I was about to embark. I leaned on my daughter Kathryn and Brandon initially. They listened carefully to my options for care and together strongly agreed with both Dr. Fisher’s and Dr. Paul’s recommendation to schedule an appointment with Dr. Deepa Halaharvi. Dr. Fisher made the call to Dr. Halaharvi, a breast cancer surgeon from Bing Cancer Center in Columbus, and I was seen the next day. 

I’m so Thankful to Avita – Dr. Fisher, Dr. Paul, and Melody Joice for Treating Me as if I Was Their Only Patient.

As a nurse and now instructor, I am accustomed to giving support, with a mission to always keep patients front and center. When I started this journey, I wished for a moment that I didn’t need as much support as my voyage would require. Melody Joice convinced me that I should accept all support from whoever, whenever I could get it. What a difference openly talking about my cancer diagnosis proved to be. I decided to reach out to the rest of my family, my son, and two close friends Diana Devolder and Bev Urshel. Immediately, I knew – I felt it – I was surrounded by the people who loved and cared for me most.

The Diagnosis & Treatment

My diagnosis was a ductal carcinoma with an invasive component. Dr. Halaharvi advised me that I needed a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, infusions, and radiation. I continued to talk things through with my daughter Kathryn from a distance, and my son Jared took me to my surgery. My friend Bev took me to every Chemo treatment, and Diana went to all of my doctors’ visits, follow-up appointments, and informational sessions.

After my second chemo treatment, I began to lose my hair. I’m not sure why, but I didn’t expect this to happen so soon. No one had ever seen me without hair. Chemo was already hard enough on me. I felt weak, and sometimes nauseous and sick for days afterwards. Losing my hair made it much, much more difficult. My daughter was such a blessing to talk to everyday. She talked me down a few times and convinced me to ask Diane and Bev for additional help. Yes, such dear friends. They immediately made an appointment for me at the boutique at the Bing Cancer Center. At first, I thought it was the wig that had given me a burst of strength, but it was then that I realized it was the love and friendship, in my most vulnerable moment, that gave me the strength to keep pushing forward on my journey.

I also found it helpful to lean on Dr. Halaharvi and my oncologist. Melody Joice had reminded me that if I was to listen to anybody – listen to your oncologist and surgeon. More so than anyone else in the journey, they know your best in that moment and how you should respond to treatments. They know your prognosis. They know your treatment. They know your goal – it’s survival. I was a nurse, so I thought I could process and handle all of the information. When you are going through this experience, however, it is easy to miss or forget some of the details. Diane and Bev along with everyone on my care team did most of the thinking for me. I would often ask, “What’s next?” and “What should I be doing?”, all while thinking, “Is this what I need to do?” It’s your family, friends, and your own will to live that tells you we’re on this journey together and I can survive it.

I Took a Breath, I’m Almost There

The time came when I got through the chemo and was preparing for the radiation. I felt like I had turned the corner and my outlook changed. My family and friends had been so wonderful. My oncologist told me my hair would start to grow back before radiation was even over. I was happy for the first time in a long time. I was going to survive cancer.

You become so used to being sick. Your whole routine is going to the hospital every week for chemo. The entire treatment team is around to answer your questions and to help and encourage you. All of a sudden, when your radiation therapy ends, you lose all that medical support.

Even though I was happy to have finished my chemo and radiation, I found that I was not sure how to get back into my life without worrying about my health. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop – to find out the cancer was still there. That’s when I realized I had to focus on how lucky I was. I had the mindset to go back to work at the nursing school because I believe there is a direct correlation between the mind and its ability to help to heal the body. Sure enough, I was able to toss the wig and hear those most significant words, “There is no sign of any cancer – you’re a survivor Amy!”

It’s Now Two Years Later So What’s Next for Me

Looking back, I was surrounded by my son, daughter, and friends who loved me and helped get me through this. I realized I could now help others with cancer have a more positive treatment experience, and that is when I began to form an outlook and strength on life that I didn’t even know I had. I keep telling myself – I’m a survivor and have something valuable to share. I’ll tell anybody that journey of chemotherapy is difficult. I don’t sugarcoat it. But with the research and all that’s happening these days, cancer isn’t a death sentence. I want people to know this.

My oncologist told me that breast cancer deaths have decreased by one-third or more over the past three decades. Finding breast cancer at an earlier stage in its development improves the chances for therapy to work. Looking back, even though my outcome was so positive, you might need those two weeks I stayed silent. 

Once I was cancer-free, things changed. I became a better person. I realized the importance of life, the importance of loving people, being kind, and cherishing your loved ones and your friends. It has changed me for the better because I don’t look at life the same way I did before becoming a survivor.

A breast screening is still something I have stress about. It’s something I have to do now, but not just for me. I owe it to everybody that is in my circle and every person that I come in contact with to be strong and think positive. I can’t begin to tell you how important mammograms and constant self-checks can be in for early detection. It can really save your life because a self-check saved mine.

For me, being a cancer survivor means not only that am I still alive, but that I have also learned to cope emotionally and physically with the long-term effects of my diagnosis and treatment. I’ve learned so much about myself. With each passing day, I feel more confident in my future.

Thank you so much, to my dear, dear circle of friends and family!

– Amy

In honor of Amy and all breast cancer patients…

Or send your check payable to the Avita Health Foundation  to:

Avita Health Foundation
Attention:  Breast Cancer Awareness Month
269 Portland Way South
Galion, Ohio 44833

To schedule a mammogram in either Galion or Bucyrus call:

Galion Hospital: 419-468-8227
Bucyrus Hospital: 419-462-3310

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Soni call: 419-462-3470 or request an appointment online.