Patient Success Stories - Tia's Story
I am a 54-year-old woman who has been down the breast cancer and reconstruction road and I am pleased to say that my life is going very well. If my story can help even one other woman…can reassure her and her family who are going through breast cancer surgery and breast reconstruction, I will be glad. I want to share my experience because I myself was helped so much by the words of another woman who went through it all, and it meant a lot to me to be able to learn about her personal experience. I want to return the favor now and perhaps make it a little bit easier for someone else.
I’m a Working Woman, Living Proof That Life Can Be Good After Cancer
I live in Houston with my husband of 12 years, and have two adult stepchildren. I’m an account executive employed by a well-known fragrance company, overseeing and managing the schedules of a team of women who introduce consumers to our products. I spend about half time in my home office and the remainder of my workweek going from store to store, making sure our products are positioned and shown correctly and analyzing how we can continually make our business work even better.
I work full-time and it’s a great job. It requires self-control and good time management skills because I’m in charge of my own schedule, which I’m able to do. My prior work involved 17 years with Liz Claiborne, so I’ve been a working woman all of my adult life. For a while there, I thought I’d never feel right again, but it turns out that life can be good after cancer. I’m living proof of that.
Four Years Ago, I Was Diagnosed With Breast Cancer
I was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago. I had been feeling something in my breast; it was small, but distinct, and sometimes it would hurt, so I went in for a mammogram. The spot I pointed to was marked, but no one else could feel it. The radiology technician wasn’t supposed to tell me anything at the time, but she revealed that she didn’t feel anything. I’m sure she wanted to comfort me; she could tell that I was anxious. Anyway, the exam went well but I still had this feeling that something was going on, even though my general practitioner also didn’t feel anything suspicious. Still, she understood my concern and ended up referring for an ultrasound so I went and had it done.
“It’s a small cancer. Don’t worry.”
After two days, I called and my doctor said she was scheduling a biopsy. I went in and had a lumpectomy done, and then I got the call: “It’s a small cancer. Don’t worry.” I could choose radiation treatments and then would be monitored over time. I said, “Let me think about it.” I wanted to talk to my husband, Ed and I said, “I want a double mastectomy. I don’t want to go through this again.” The stress was just so intense. He was great and his response was, “You do whatever it takes to take care of this. Do it.”
I Made the Decision to Have a Double Mastectomy For Peace of Mind
My friend, Beth had gone with me when I had the lumpectomy because she said, “Always take someone with you because you won’t remember a lot of what you’re told.” Now, she came with me again when I met with my doctor to request the double mastectomy. Her response was, “Oh!” I know she was surprised that I wanted to do that, but she reluctantly agreed to it. So I went for a CAT scan – two hours worth of tests, actually – and the images didn’t reveal any additional cancer. But, I had made up my mind and the surgery was scheduled.
The Surgery… and My Worst Minute
During the surgery, the surgeon did a dye biopsy into the lymph nodes on the breast where the cancer had been. Results showed that the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes, even though the lump had been so tiny. My surgeon removed 6 of the nodes on the left breast and didn’t need to repeat that on the right breast because she didn’t find anything suspicious. After the surgery, I was told that I would need chemotherapy and radiation. I just broke down and cried, realizing I would have to go through chemotherapy even after the surgery was done. I was so disappointed. It was my worst minute.
Recovering from the double mastectomies wasn’t that bad. The hardest part was having sore muscles in my chest, so I mostly needed help getting up. Otherwise, it wasn’t much of a problem. I basically took 10 days off and then went back to work.
Meeting Dr. Basu
I met Dr. Basu before the double mastectomy surgery was done. He came highly recommended because he is considered a national expert in breast reconstruction for cancer patients. During my surgery, he put expanders in on both sides so that my skin would be able to accommodate the breast reconstruction surgeries when the time came.
Chemotherapy, Radiation, and an Alaskan Cruise
After the surgery, I went through 6 rounds of chemotherapy – 3 weeks apart. When it was over, I had the radiation treatments. I also had a problem with the expander on the right size; the area was swollen because my body was collecting fluid. I ended up going back into the hospital to have the fluid drained and the expander was taken out. It happens sometimes, and it was just one of those things. My husband and I were going to go on an Alaskan cruise and I didn’t want any problems while I was away, so Dr. Basu took the expander out.
Dr. Basu on Breast Reconstruction and Options
During my initial consultation with him, Dr. Basu had talked with me about reconstruction options, and gave me information on the DIEP flap procedure. At that point, I still hadn’t decided whether or not I wanted breast reconstruction – and I thought I’d probably never do it. I’d always had a fear about even the idea of anesthesia and I knew the DIEP flap surgery was a long procedure. I didn’t want to think about being put under with general anesthesia. For the breast cancer surgery, I had no choice. But my experience was overall a positive one and I have to admit it gave me a new outlook on hospitals. I realized that I’d be ok, and my hidden fears about surgery just went away.
I Waited Until I Was Ready
After the breast cancer surgery, I honestly didn’t care about how my breasts looked for some time. I was done with it, and couldn’t imagine choosing to have any more surgery. I just wanted to get back to a normal life. Plus, I had been a C-cup beforehand and it actually felt kind of nice to be small chested at first. I talked about it with Dr. Basu, who was continuing to follow-up with me in his office, and I was given silicone prostheses that I could insert into my bras to give me a normal-looking appearance. Then summer came around and we had friends and family over a lot and I had to keep putting the implants in and taking them out of my bathing suit and my clothes.
Dr. Basu: No Pressure, Total Support
After the surgeries, having all the time I needed to just live my life was good for me. Then about a year ago, I started thinking about breast reconstruction again. I didn’t feel like I looked good and it got more and more discouraging so I started reconsidering the idea of breast reconstruction surgery again. Finally, this past October I made an appointment with Dr. Basu to talk about it. I said, “We’re back!” It was good to see him. We discussed my options and he told me that once you’ve had radiation, the risk of implant related problems is much higher. He recommended using my own tissue to restore my breast.
The DIEP flap is a procedure that utilizes excess fat and skin from your tummy sparing your tummy muscles to make a new breast mound. Because its your own tissue, the new breast can be created that feels and looks quite natural. Some women choose to do that and others don’t: it’s really a personal choice. Dr. Basu explained the DIEP flap procedure thoroughly and gave me all the statistics. Then he asked me to take some time to think about it before I made my final decision, so I spent 2 weeks doing just that. I decided to do it and scheduled the bilateral DIEP flap procedure.
The DIEP Flap and Tummy Tuck Experience
Dr. Basu set it up for me, including a post-surgical 3 days in ICU – not because DIEP flap surgery is life threatening, but so that I would be carefully and constantly monitored for regular blood flow and so forth.
I had the surgery this year, in February and I have to say that being in the ICU for the first days afterwards was the best thing. The nurses told me I was their favorite patient, because – unlike the other patients in ICU at the time – I was feeling fine and I could communicate and banter with them, so they hung out with me! On Day 1, I was out of it because I was still shaking off the anesthesia. On day 2, I could hear my blood flow through the monitoring machine and it was really reassuring. Dr. Basu had made an incision across my lower abdomen – like for a tummy tuck – to take the excess skin and tissue that was then used for the breast reconstructions
Recovering at Home – I Felt Good!
Before the surgery, Dr. Basu had explained that the tummy tuck part of the reconstruction surgery would be the hardest part – in terms of recovery and limited motion – but by time I went home I actually felt good! The only problem I had was initially trying to sit up in bed, but my sister (a nurse) was there to help me and she just pulled me up whenever I needed to sit until I figured out how to roll over on my side and use my arms to press up to a sitting position.
The whole thing was much easier than recovery from the mastectomies. I didn’t take any pain medication at home whatsoever, even though it had been given to me, because I just didn’t need it. What took longer was getting past the fatigue. I got worried that I was doing too much and not resting enough and my back got tired. That was challenging because the fatigue lasted a few weeks and I’m used to being active, but I was just plain tired. That’s normal, of course, after a major surgery. It’s just that I wanted to get my life back to normal again and I had to be patient.
With Dr. Basu, I’ve always felt like I was in the best hands
I was fortunate to have Dr. Basu and the hospital staff people who work so hard alongside of him and made sure I got the best care. I always felt like I was in the best hands. My husband’s an engineer so of course he’s very detail-oriented. When he met Dr. Basu, he was going through all the details, he was marking me carefully to diagram exactly how the surgery would be done, and my husband liked that. He said, “That man is really into the details!” And it’s true: Dr. Basu is meticulous. He’s forthcoming with information, so I’ve never felt like I had to pry it out of him! He’s up front. He tells you the facts – both good and bad and he never tries to convince you about anything. I’ve always felt comfortable with him and he worked so well with my cancer surgeon, too. He always takes time to walk you through the whole thing and, from the time I first met him and consulted with him, I never even considered getting a second opinion. I just felt good about him.
Dr. Basu specializes in breast reconstruction, so he understood my situation and that doesn’t change. I’ve known him for 4 years now, and he’s called me often – during each phase of the journey – to check on me and see how I’ve been feeling. And his office staff is great. Most of them have been with Dr. Basu for a long time and they know what they’re doing. They’re always nice, and they always make you feel comfortable. They’re also knowledgeable, and have been able to answer any questions I’ve had. That’s so helpful.
We’re Building a House by the Beach in Pensacola
Physically these days, I don’t feel like someone who’s had a bunch of surgeries. I’ve had no problems at all. I will say that a big part of it is attitude: I knew I’d do what I had to do to be healthy and whole again. Psychologically, I’m doing well, too; partly because I’ve been tested regularly by my radiation oncologist, which is good and has kept me from worrying. I feel healthy. I have a good life. When I have time off, I love to read mysteries and works of non-fiction, and my husband and I are avid travelers. I also like to walk and was quite active before my surgery; I even had a personal trainer. Now that I’m pretty much back to living a normal life, I’m ready to get back into a regular exercise routine, because I feel so much better and I want to look good again now that the surgeries are behind me.
I do get tired at times but, truthfully, that’s mostly from working and from my husband and I planning the building of a house in Pensacola, Florida by the beach. It will be a nice place to live and, eventually, retire. We live good lives, doing the things we want to do and I have a lot to look forward to.
My Advice to Other Women Diagnosed With Breast Cancer
The most important thing is to be aggressive about getting the best, most effective treatment and doing your best to maintain a good attitude. Tell people you trust what’s happening and let them give to you. For instance, my pastor said, “Can we put you on our prayer list?” For me personally, that was a really positive thing. Others who knew gave me emotional support and encouragement all along the way.
The tendency is for us to keep difficult times to ourselves, but I think it’s good to put the word out there. You talk to people, you hear other peoples’ recovery stories, and you meet people who are alive and have been through what you’re going through. It’s really changed me: I’m open now, and open to speaking with others. For instance, I got depressed during my chemotherapy, which was unexpected. I’m a practical person, and I figured losing my hair (if it happened) wouldn’t bother me. Well, when it was actually falling out, it did bother me. So I just had it all cut off and wore wigs. The funny thing is, my husband didn’t even notice!
My dear friend Beth was with me every step of the way: coming to appointments with me, coming over, calling, and taking me places. I learned how wonderful it is to have the right people there for you, to get you out, and to give you opportunities to just enjoy life.
We Live Now
You have to do everything you can to stay positive. You know, I’ve always been a “Let’s not wait” person. We live now. And we’re stronger than we ever imagine. I just hope my story will help someone else… will be reassuring. It’s important to share and I’m glad if my story will help someone else in some small way.