My First Breast Cancer Symptoms: "I Knew I Had Cancer" | Christine's Story | The Patient Story
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 พ.ค. 2023
- Christine Elliott was only 31 when she found a lump under her left arm and breast area. She was then diagnosed with stage 3 triple positive breast cancer.
In this conversation, she voices how she underwent chemotherapy, radiation and a lumpectomy along with the tough choices she had to make about family planning. She also shares the powerful lessons she learned throughout her cancer journey.
Full story & transcript → www.thepatientstory.com/patie...
Join Our Community:
Website : www.thepatientstory.com/
Facebook: @ThePatientStory
Instagram: @ThePatientStory
Twitter: @patient_story
#thepatientstory #cancerstories #bcsm #triplepositivebreastcancer #cancervlog #breastcancer #breastcancerawareness #cancersurvivor #cancerawareness #beatcancer #cancertreatment #cancerjourney #chemotherapy #radiationtherapy
I was diagnosed at age 42, had double mastectomy, chemo, radiation and herceptin. Just turned 65, and still cancer free. Best advice for me was to follow all of the protocol exactly. I survived and all of us can too! Rely on all resources available to you.
What stage were you in? In Scandinavia they dont have this stages.
Praying for the same thing. God bless you .
Thank you for sharing makes me feel better I'm also bc estrogen positive stage 3 survivor almost 5 years.
Chemo does not work. The truth is how many lymph nodes are bad! Wakeup people!
My first mascetomy at 47 then believe it or not 2nd mascetomy at 80 years of age (thats 33 years later) still here after diagnosis
Health is so important
Mammogram DID NOT catch my cancer! 😢 Had a mammogram in June 2019 and I was told every things looks good! July 2019, red spots appeared on my breast and I KNEW it was cancer. Wanted my December MRI immediately! Doctor wanted me to wait, but I insisted! Had MRI August 2019 and cancer was found; not one mass, but TWO! Imagine had I waited until December! COVID hit January 2020 and getting appointments and the new protocols were horrible! All testing and surgery was completed by November! Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself! Never take no for an answer because you know your body!
How can you ask for an MRI? I’m 32 but I had these two really bad infections in my right breast.
I was 43 when I found my lump on my right breast... I dedcided to do a right side masectomy. Its almost 2 years now since my find and my surgery... Am glad u were able to find yours.😊
Thank you so so much. Congratulations!
Sending much love, cares n prayers to all those facing the Cancer beast..💕🙏✨💕
Thank you xo
I was diagnosed in December of 2023 with Stage 3 HER2+ breast cancer. I am 62. I found it rolling over in bed. Our local hospital system sucks. My Gynecologist got me right in but I could not get in for a diagnostic mammogram or ultrasound for 2 months. I called a friend who worked at the hospital and I got an appt. the following week. I knew it was cancer when I saw one of the mammogram images. They did an ultrasound next and then I saw the tumor and a lymph node was involved. The radiologist confirmed cancer. They scheduled the biopsy from hell the following week. Results took two weeks to confirm cancer but another week to get the type. They only tested the lymph node for the type.
In the meantime, I started the admission process with City of. Hope Atlanta (formerly Cancer Treatment Center of America) because of their integrated approach. It is located 4 miles from where I live. I am doing the TCHP regimen. My husband had prostate cancer the year before and his treatment there was fabulous.
Like you said it was a blur of appointments. With City of Hope they schedule entire days of appointments so you can knock out several at once. CT Scan, MRI, PET Scan, Echocardiogram, blood tests galore, genetic test, port placement and some I likely have forgotten I had.
I finished my second chemo today. My first session's side effects were horrible. I had a bad reaction to the Neulasta injection following chemo. (the nurse forgot to tell me to take Claritin). Once I got a handle on that, the only issue that caused me to lose weight was it killed all my taste buds except for bitter. I already had parosmia from covid in the summer, but it was only a few foods. Now it was every food. It did slowly improve, but now I have a long list of foods that are a big no. The nausea and diarrhea were manageable. An unexpected side effect was severe acne on my face. I also did cold cap therapy to try and save my hair. My hair started falling out on day 16 and by day 19 I had lost half of it. I had long platinum blond hair. I had it cut down to pixie, so it won't be as traumatic to lose the rest. I didn't do the cold cap today. I have some nice wigs to wear.
My tumor has shrunk after the first session noticeably. I met with the plastic surgeon this week to go over the reconstruction plan. My naturopath has me on supplements and my nutritionist is helping with the diet. I've lost 18 lbs since the diagnosis. The first 10 were from anxiety. The rest is from not being able to eat for about 10 days following the first chemo.
I only have 6 chemo treatments. At this point, they don't know if they will have to continue the immunotherapy infusions for the next year because I am only 10% estrogen positive. I'll have surgery in May followed by 30 radiation treatments (6 weeks, 5 days a week) beginning 6 weeks after surgery. Six months later, I'll get reconstruction.
Fortunately, I signed up in 2003 for AFLAC Cancer policy. The initial payout more than met my deductible with my insurance. It covers so much.
Praying all is well for you❤
I am scheduled for a mammogram on 4/17/24. The other day I was thinking about the upcoming procedure when I heard a very soft voice say you have cancer but you’re gonna be ok. I didn’t panic but I wondered if it was my own thinking so I asked for confirmation of what I heard and I got it twice.
About ten years ago I had a breast cancer scare it was benign fibroadenoma, I had to have a partial mastectomy, luckily my girls are big and you can’t tell that they did anything. Anyway I’m praying for all you strong warrior queens so stay prayerful, strong and positive because God is in control.❤🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
After an ultrasound last week, I have to go for a diagnostic mammogram on 4/15/24. Praying for us all.
I found a hard lump in my breast yesterday. I’m 60 and have taken HRT for a long while. I’ve been doing research on the internet but they say it’s most likely nothing. I’m not sure I want to know. I have other health issues going on and I just feel tired. Listening to all you wonderful women who are so brave and strong gives me courage. Thank you for sharing your lives with others who need to know about this.
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
@carolinekinney2364. Please get it checked
How are you ?
I hope everything is ok xo
What did you find out?
Thank you for sharing the reality of your experience. It was calming and a way for me to find some peace and preparation before I go into my exam. ❤
I'm a BC survivor & had a nipple sparing double mastectomy. Just wanted to share that not everyone loses their nipples. So happy to hear you're doing well!
Thank you for the clarification. I am so glad your doing well xo
This was the most candid cancer journey where actually I have learned from her experience ❤❤😊😊 I'm so happy you beat cancer!!😊
Thank you!!!
My husband just went thru stage 3 colon cancer. He's doing amazing now. We just walked thru that and he had his chemo port removed and all scans clear...1 month later my mom was just diagnosed with breast cancer. This past wk was when we got the news. She sees a surgeon this Thurs so we don't know much yet but I've just been reading and watching as much as I can to try and learn about what to expect but I feel so overwhelmed and lost. I feel like we just caught our breath from my husband's journey now we are headed back to battle with my Mom. She's 67. She doesn't have any symptoms except the mass showed on a mammogram so she had a sonogram then a biopsy. We are all trying to digest this news and prepare for what's ahead. There really is no way to prepare. I just feel absolutely lost. ❤ prayers to you and all those affected by this disease. It's like a boogyman creeping around who can wreak havoc at any moment.
I'm so sorry to hear this. Not sure why my comments aren't going through but if you can see this I am wishing you all the best
Hopefully things are looking up?! Sending hugs n prayers 🌺🙏
Thank you so much for sharing your story. The whole reason I’m watching right now is because I literally about an hour ago just found a very hard noticeable lump in my breast, and am now examining both of my breasts and noticing some differences I hadn’t noticed before I am writing this through tears and am freaking out, but the fact that you’re sharing your story is offering some solace
Hope you were able to get it checked and diagnosed. Be strong, you will get through this ❤
Don’t watch these videos until you get a diagnosis. Worst thing u can do. It just scares you
Thank you for sharing your courageous and successful journey. I'm on my healing journey from similar stage BC and have 1 more chemo cycle this month before surgery. Stay blessed 🙌
Thank you for sharing your story. I am at the chemo before surgery stage. I needed to hear your story to feel like I am not alone. ❤❤
Awe, I'm so glad it helped!
My first symptom was pain. I kept getting told that pain is not a symptom, but I knew something was wrong. Because it was during Covid, I had to fight for months to finally get a mammogram. I was very lucky that it was caught at stage 1.
Can you describe the pain you experienced? And location of the pain and what the pain felt like ?
Interesting! I've only heard of pain when it comes to Inflammatory breast cancer. What kind of pain was it and was it just one spot or a large area of your breast/the whole thing? So glad they caught it early for you, that's wonderful!❤
@@claireashley427 Thank you! It was a localized pain that was a constant ache. If you consider a clock, the pain I had was located at 1 o'clock and the cancer was found at 3 o'clock.
@@claireashley427 Oh and I was also told that they only consider first degree relatives as a family history even though I had a first cousin pass away from breast cancer in her early 50's and her mother, my aunt was diagnoses 5 years ago in her late 70's.
Also experiencing pain on my left breast on the side of the breast and it feels like a burning sensation too. I’ve felt it for 1 month. What was your treatment?
Thank you for sharing your experiences and testimony ! 💕🙏💕
It is my pleasure Julie
You are in my thoughts & prayers!💕🙏💕
Thank you xo
Thank you so much for sharing. My mom passed away when she was 35 years old from this and it is my biggest fear.
Thank you for sharing your journey Christine, you are such a strong and beautiful lady. I wish you cancer free scans for the rest of your life!!! Much love from another cancer survivor ❤. Oh and yes,cancer most definitely changes us as a person, from all the worry,pain and heartache we endured I believe we gained an over abundance of wisdom and our hearts grew bigger❤,take care of yourself. ( :
Christine, you're such a beautiful woman with a beautiful soul and even though this is your journey, you have a very calming way of telling your story that puts my mind at ease.... I'm going in 2 days to get tested for potential breast cancer and I'm becoming an emotional mess... so you're very inspiring, thank you.
Awe xo. Thank you Daryl Ann. I'm not sure if my comments are going through but i hope you are doing ok xo
Thanks for sharing and thank God for healing you. I was amazed to hear you say your diagnosis and treatment took a period of a month. Hope I'm not mistaken. I'm with a sister 40yrs, we just came into the United states and she was diagnosed of breast cancer since April 2023 .It's been from one test to another ,diagnostic ultrasound, diagnostic mammogram, MRI, CT scans, and others.Still no treatment .Also complaints of no good insurance.Please we need help, we need to be directed were to go and get treatment , it's already 5 months gone and we can feel the tumor getting bigger. Expecting to get a reply, thank you so much.
I'm 32. I went to My gp Friday because my left breast didn't look right. He found a lump and I'm awaiting a mammogram. I am so nervous. Thank you for sharing your story. You are so brave ❤
Hopefully you will find peaceful answers soon 🙏🏻
Thank you for sharing your story! So helpful!!! ❤
Awe! i'm so glad Karen
I just wanted to say how positive you are. Gotta face it head on and do only what you can do. I had stage 3, breast removed, implant placed, estrogen dependent. It was 4 yrs. ago and trying to be as positive as possible. I'm an older lady so my only complaint is taking an estrogen blocker..but living in a constant hot flash.
I look at my Blessings because I was able to have children and find my grandchildren my Joy.
My husband had Leukemia at the same time..but died 3.5 yrs. Ago.
I've had a full life. I wish you the same.
My love & Blessings to You & Your Husband. ❤
Thank you, Mary, I'm so sorry for your loss. Thank you for your kind words and I wish you many years of health and happiness xo
I’m an older woman diagnosed with the same breast cancer. I can’t imagine going through this in the prime of life as you are. ❤
I hope you're ok, I found a lump tonight. Very big and it's showing through my breast. I hope I'll be ok.
@@mairead788-6 Hi.. How are you? Had you gone to doctor? You will be fine. Everything will be ok❤️
@@esttipurwijayani2807 Hi, I went to the GP and she referred me on to the breast clinic. So I'm waiting for them to contact me for an appointment for a mammogram. She said the appointment will be within the next two weeks. So fingers crossed it'll be ok. Thanks for asking x
thank you xo (sorry for the late reply) Glad your ok!
@@mairead788-6 Hello there. I'm not sure if my comments are going through but I truly hope you are doing ok xo
I know the out of body experience you described hen the doctor said it wasn’t benign. I was diagnosed in 2019 and remember that feeling as if it was yesterday. You will get through this and you will be ok! Stay strong and stay positive. It really helps. I’m praying for you. You got this! 💗🙏
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I apologize for the late reply! This isn't my social media so I didn't see these comments until today!
Me to 2019 diagnosed breast cancer estrogen positive stage 3 soo scary but I'm doing well continue hormonal therapy to block estrogen anastrozole and zoladex not fun side effects put me early menopause.
Me, too. Diagnosis in 2019 but treated my breast cancer holistically. BEST decision EVER!
@monikaengel5515 how were you diagnosed I'm due for a biopsy tomorrow I'm a little nervouse
@motherofthreeb6337 how? Please share
Thank you for sharing your story, May you live a healthy happy long life 🙏 I think I have breast cancer symptoms. Since 20th march I have had sudden breast tenderness and soreness, I was hoping it will go away but now I am feeling the discomfort under my armpit too. I can't feel a lump however its all day burning feeling and swelling feel I have never experienced in my life before. I called my doctor this morning and they have given me doctors appointment for tomorrw. I am a single parent to 2 severely disabled children. They only have me, their father not wanting to be in their lives. I need to live for them 🙏
I will be praying everything goes well - you have already proved that you are a strong person for your children!
I found a lump a month ago. Very large very hard. I feel the same way the more I read the more I’m sure it’s cancer. I haven’t ever been scared to go to the doctor before
God Bless You
you are very brave. ❤
Awe xo. Thank you
You are so beautiful, intelligent, and strong❤
AWE! Such kind words 🥰
I treated my breast cancer holistically; before surgery and after. My holistic doctor asked me why would I take cancer out my body, just to put poison back in the body? 🤔🤔 Before she asked this question, I had already been researching all treatments (conventional and alternative). Watching journey's like this one solidify my decision to go holistic. It seemed that cancer returned year 4-5. So I figured, why go through the treatment if it's only going to come back. Also, I didn't have to deal with all the appointments, testing, medications, illness or short-term or long-term side effects of conventional treatments. My life has been full of traveling instead of appointments. I've entered year five cancer free!
Hi , I am interested in knowing more about your journey with cancer.
Me too
Please 🙏 can you share what you have done?
My cousin had double mastectomy stage 3 been cancer free over 20 years. Steve Jobs did like you he isn’t around now.
Cancer taught me that you can never trust anyone. At 37 I went through ovarian cancer as a single mom and my family emotionally abandoned me.
I am so sorry 😞 that you have been going through this 💔.
Are you okay now?
Yeah, I'll be fine :-)
You can always trust God 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾I pray for your healing ❤️🩹 ❤❤❤
I'm so happy for you ma'am me I'm just in the stage of biopsy...praying this is not breast cancer🙏from Philippines
Same mam praying po tayo
Hello may nkapa kba bukol sis?
Getting biopsy tomorrow ....was yous positive?
Hi po i have the same, ill go bsck to doctor today@zulariam4286
That's how I found my lump, lying on the side on the couch. And it seems like it appeared overnight !
It felt that way to me too! Hope your doing ok xo
Was yours cancer?
* To everyone, on first vist at the doctor's do they tell you what they think it is?(like this lady was told it's probably a cyst) i have quite a big palpable lump and when i went to my doctor he just said "its probably nothing but lets not mess about" and referred me for a mammogram, i was expecting him to tell me it's a cyst but i got no reassurance at all. Has anybody else experienced this? TIA
We have it genetic in the family and it hits at a VERY young age in the 20s 5/7 aunts got it and 3 died before the age of 40 despite diagnosis 😢 my Great aunts and cousins also have it but it's too many to count..now I have a lump under my arm non movable rigged and weirdly shaped I'm waiting for the appointment...I have no feelings about it, I'm 35 currently..my mum died at 36 RIP mum 😢
Mam pTNM staging -pT2N1aMx what stage it is?
Thank you for sharing your story
I have been diagnosed with her2 positive breast 5cm in June, had my first chemo 12 days ago still suffering with the side effects. Wanted to know if anyone had tips of how i can manage the side effects
What kind of side effects are you experiencing?
Does it hurt when you touch the lump?
I am here now, searching and finding out the cancer that killed my mother when I was 5 years old and my aunt 4 years ago. I am now 32, and I don't know, maybe or I hope not have a bump on my left breast. I hope this is nothing. God, I have two children. I'm afraid to left them.
Did you get answers?
You will be in my thoughts ❤
Awe xo. Thank you. I hope you are doing alright
My first sign of breast cancer was an itchy rash on my areola. My primary care prescribed cortisone cream. It did nothing to help the rash and then I started to get a discharge from my nipple. I immediately went to a local cancer hospital where both of my parents had been treated. They diagnosed me with Paget's disease of the nipple, a rare form of breast cancer. I never had a lump in my breast. That was 32 years ago.
Now are you cancer free?
@@pradnya3820 That was 32 years ago and I've never had a relapse. Thanks for asking.
I have a mass on my right breast near my armpit, i noticed a dimple too. and these past few days the pain is increasing. no fluid or discoloration. does it mean I have cancer ?
Immediately go for check up
See a Breast Surgeon or O & G fast. I can't say if it is but your narration means it's likely 99% certain you have it.
What do Hrt do?
❤❤❤
Are you Canadian? I recognize an accent
Haha! Sure am! Saskatchewan girl right here!
She has not explained what type of breast cancer she was diagnosed with.
Read the description.
Trump can save you
This is no time for bad jokes. Get a life
She’s Canadian dummy
🤦♂️
Oh nooo!!! Why! This is serious.
If you can only post negative stuffs, quit posting stuff
Stage 2 at 55 cat kept licking my arm, and kept getting closer to my armpit, id always had fibroid breasts, but i knew when it got sore, like i was in period mode all the time...full mastectomy both gone, cuz i did not want to take a chace in the other....so i had them take both 6 years later after 32 radiations, and 8 mts of chemo im good, but still get stressed evey 6 months before check up..
My cats did the same but they would go right to my head so im super scared HUGE TUMOR IN my left 7x7 mm possible METS to my right lung middle lobe 2 nodules on 14x 11 mm one other 5mm im scared depressed ik its cancer been throwing up in morning loss appitite etc
I'm so sorry, if I get sick again I hear Austin Texas has the best docs,
@@salinachavarria449
How are you doing, Salina?