my cancer journey

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. Because of this, 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 was 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).

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 3-1/2 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 have recently finished taking additional doses of Tykerb and am still taking Femara to block estrogen receptors, which I am scheduled to take for another 4+ years to prevent metastasis (spread of the cancer to another part of my body).

If you or someone you love is dealing with breast cancer, or any other kind of cancer, for that matter, don't give up! Even through all I've experienced, I still believe that we grow through adversity. My advice to you is to stand up, be your own advocate and determine to beat the disease! I did it, and you can too!

God Bless,

Amy Hayes

2-Time Breast Cancer Survivor

Founder/Designer of Hāz for Hope Note Cards