In July 2013, Kristin
Todd was a happily married, 32-year old nurse practitioner enjoying the
34th week of her pregnancy when she discovered a lump in her breast. Her
prenatal appointments were scheduled so that she would have a chance to meet
each doctor in the practice prior to her delivery, and her next appointment was
with an obstetrician she had not seen before.
Upon meeting the new doctor, Kristin reported that she had
found a lump in her breast, but after a physical exam, the doctor dismissed
it, saying she was too young for breast cancer. The doctor also said
that they would wait until after her baby
was born to do any kind of diagnostic testing anyway.
As a medical professional herself,
this answer didn’t sit well with Kristin. She knew this wasn't the case. She
contacted her primary OB-GYN in the same practice and
explained her concerns. This time, her doctor agreed that further testing was
warranted and scheduled her for an ultrasound and biopsy. The results
came back- Kristin had invasive ductal carcinoma (ER/PR+ and HER2-).
In the weeks leading up to her delivery, Kristin had a
lumpectomy and lymph node dissection. She was induced at 37-weeks and gave
birth to a healthy baby boy, Logan. At
only three days postpartum, Kristin had a port placed for chemotherapy
and underwent her first PET scan which
revealed liver and bone metastases. This was certainly not the way any new
mother would want to spend the first few days with her baby.
Kristin received six rounds of chemotherapy and had her ovaries removed. After
the chemotherapy, she entered NED (no evidence of disease) status for
about 4 months, but then experienced a recurrence in her bones during the
summer of 2014. She received radiation to the spots on her rib and spine
and then enjoyed NED status for another 10 months. This past fall, however,
Kristin was diagnosed with another recurrence on her liver.
Kristin credits her family for helping
her throughout this experience. Her father, a physician, was instrumental in
helping Kristin seek out excellent medical care and expert opinions. Her mother
and mother-in-law both came in from out of state to help care for baby Logan. Her
sister, cousins, and friends all pitched in to help any way they could.
Today, Kristin is hopeful that her upcoming scan will
show resolution of her liver metastasis, having completed four rounds of Doxil chemotherapy.
She looks to her son as her light and motivation in life. “I so believe in the
power of the mind,” she states. “I have so much love and support around, along
with my own positive outlook that I know I can get through most anything.”
Receiving a diagnosis of Metastatic Breast Cancer can be
overwhelming. So much emotion, so much information, so many decisions- it may
feel more than you can handle. But we want to help you find that inner strength
and reclaim your power. This comes through being your own best advocate.
Kristin’s story provides some great examples of ways you can advocate for
yourself as you navigate your way through your changing life. Let’s take a
closer look at them.
Take an active role in your health care
In the course of your treatment, you will often hear the
term “health care team” and that may bring to mind the many physicians, nurses,
and therapists that you encounter. Make sure you aren’t forgetting the most
important member of that team- YOU! You need to feel confident in and
comfortable with your plan of care. Don’t be afraid to ask for a second opinion or to request
an explanation if there is something you don’t understand.
It’s a good idea to keep a running list of questions that
you can bring with you to appointments. It’s not uncommon to forget
things during the hustle and bustle of a doctor’s visit, so writing things down
will help.
Kristin recommends taking a step back and re-evaluating
what makes you happy, what is truly important to you. In her case, she finds that
her patients bring her a lot of joy, so she has continued to work part-time.
Staying physically active and meditating daily keep her focused and calm. Kristin also
keeps a daily gratitude journal. "It helps to remind me that during my really down
days, there is ALWAYS something I can find to be grateful for", she
states. Keep doing the things you love and surrounding yourself
with those you love. You may find that it'll help get you through each day.
Educate yourself
The more educated you are about your disease, the better
able you will be to take an active role. It is
really important that you take the time to learn as much as you can. This will
allow you to better communicate with your team and make decisions that are
right for you.
There are some really great resources available to
help you in this regard.
Accept Help
Advocating for yourself doesn’t mean that you have to do
everything on your own. Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to
admit that you can’t do it all. Asking help when you need it is truly a sign of
great strength.
Can your mother come help watch the kids? Great! Is your
neighbor offering to make dinner for your family this week? Take her up on
it!
Understand your rights and
your benefits
If you are a working woman, you are going to have to make
some decisions regarding how you want to proceed. Some women may choose
to keep working as long as possible, scheduling their appointments around their
work hours, while others may opt to take short or
long-term disability. Discuss with both your employer and your health care team
what options are best for you. Make sure you understand what you are entitled
to regarding benefits and payment during this time.
When it comes to health insurance, it is important to be
aware of your policy and what is covered. If you have any questions
regarding your coverage, don’t hesitate to contact Human Resources or the
insurance company directly. With extensive medical treatment, you want to be
sure you understand it all- deductibles, co-pays, out-of-pocket maximums. Start a file
with all of your paperwork, so that you can refer to it if any questions or
problems arise.
Take care of your whole self
During your cancer treatment, you focus so much on your
physical well-being, but you don’t want to neglect your mental and emotional
needs. It is normal to experience a lot of anxiety and stress, and you may want
to find someone to talk to during this time, whether a therapist, a support
group or a friend.
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