about my cancer journey

The following is more about my cancer in technical terms...the treatments I've experienced and tests and surgeries I've endured. I'm sharing this information with the hopes of touching others following the same path...

I was diagnosed with estrogen receptor and HER2NEU positive invasive ductile carcinoma (5 tumors total) breast cancer in 2005. That year, I endured a needle biopsy; diagnostic surgery (which determined that the cancer was in the lymph nodes, Stage II); 18 weeks of chemotherapy; lumpectomy surgery; and 33 radiation treatments.

In 2006, I continued with six months of recurrence-prevention oral and infusion treatments (Tamoxifen for the estrogen factor and Herceptin for the HER2 factor).

In March of 2007, as I continued taking Tamixofen, I endured another needle biopsy immediately after an abnormal routine follow-up mammogram. It was then that I heard the words "you have breast cancer" again.

After my first diagnosis, I had done what the doctors told me to—including avoiding all antioxidant vitamins, supplements, and foods—and I was terribly sick during the many months of treatments.

But after my second diagnosis, I was more proactive: I researched natural and alternative treatments while reluctantly considering the initial surgical recommendation for a mastectomy.

By June of 2007, I had gathered 3 comprehensive treatment opinions in separate Midwestern cities and come to terms with the fact that surgery might be my best option for combating the cancer.

After taking 25+ supplements daily in an effort to dissolve the tumors, I underwent bilateral mastectomy surgery with expansion/implant reconstruction. (There was a watch spot in the right breast, and I wanted to ensure that I would never have to worry about breast cancer again—hence the surgery in both breasts).

Following that surgery, after learning that the tumors had doubled in size in just a few months, I knew that mastectomy surgery was indeed the right choice.

Over the next few months, I endured breast expansion sessions every 4 weeks while simultaneously taking two oral chemotherapy drugs (5 pills of Tykerb every night on an empty stomach, 1/2 hour after taking nausea medicine. The other, Xeloda, 7 days on and 7 days off, 3 pills twice a day after meals, 1/2 hour after taking nausea medicine).

I took these medications in addition to the naturopathic supplements recommended by my naturopathic oncologist (including Vitamin D, Melatonin, Green Tea Extract, and Maitake Mustroom extract, to name a few). I took these supplements to help my body rebuild after surgery and support my immune system to help prevent the cancer from spreading to other parts of my body.

In December of that year, again during routine body testing, a half-inch cyst was discovered on my left ovary, and because of my cancer history and the nature of the cyst, I had no option but to have last-minute complete hysterectomy surgery—7 days before Christmas.

It was at that point that I started to consider my mortality and the severity of my disease.

I am currently taking Tykerb and am trying to find a medication to deal with the estrogen factor of the cancer that will not trigger a rash (my body is much more sensitive to medications than it was before I went through all of these treatments over the past 4+ years).

Because of the recurrence, what I first believed was an 18-month bout with cancer has turned into a lifelong endeavor.

But I've learned to embrace the struggle and learn from the experience.

I am proud to be here today to share the knowledge I have gained over the past few years. I hope to use my battle with cancer to help you and/or your loved one through your/their journey with the disease.

Sincerely,

Amy A. Hayes

2-Time Breast Cancer Survivor

Single Mother of Two

Founder/Designer of Hāz for Hope Note Cards