Check Yo’ Self: Erica’s Story
Oh, Facebook. I love Facebook. You did it too, right? Made a profile, started reconnecting with your past and all of those people you use to know. This silly social network is awesome, because seriously, where else can you go to turn ’someone I used to know’ into ‘my friend’. I love the people I’ve reconnected with, the relationships that used to be past tense that are now real time friendships.
I’ve reconnected with my college roommate. Old co-workers. Family that I haven’t seen or spoken to in years. Childhood friends. So many people from elementary school, middle school, and high school. So many people.
This week, I reconnected with Erica. We graduated from high school together and went our separate ways, and haven’t seen or spoken to one another in almost 12 years.
Also this week, I found out that Erica has breast cancer. She’s 29. And you need to know her story.
In September, Erica’s friend Heather was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. She thought the same thing I thought, that probably all of you are thinking: how could someone our age have breast cancer? Erica started doing self breast exams every day, and found what nobody wants to feel, a lump. She saw her doctor the very next day, and her doctor checked it out and reassured her that it was nothing. She was young and healthy, with no family history of cancer. Don’t worry, she said, it’s probably just a cyst or a clogged milk duct.
Erica didn’t feel good about the doctor’s prognosis, so she looked for a second opinion. She saw another OBGYN at another hospital who assessed the situation, and again she heard the words, “Don’t worry about it.” She worried about it. I’m so glad Erica didn’t give up. She was relentless, and the doctor said, “If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll refer you to a breast surgeon at Northwestern.”
Four weeks later she saw the surgeon, and finally got a comprehensive mammogram and ultrasound. About damn time, right? Four weeks after that, a biopsy. The biopsy revealed stage one breast cancer.
What if she hadn’t given up? What if she listened to the first doctor she saw, or even the second doctor? What if she decided to wait 11 years until her 40th birthday, the age at which mammograms are actually recommended? She didn’t, she caught it early and she’s young and strong and is going to be just fine.
But what if?
Erica is getting ready to start 8 rounds of chemotherapy, every two weeks for 4 months. Two weeks later, she’ll start 7 weeks of radiation, 5 days a week. In her words, “I will be cured of this thing. I have total faith in myself and my husband and all of my friends and family. I have faith that God only gives us what we can handle, and he’s obviously letting me know that he thinks I’m a rock star.” Amen.
Subscribe to her feed. Read her blog and comment, link to her and share her story with everyone you know. Lift her up and pray for her and show her the love and support that this community is defined by.
And Check Yo’ Self. Every Day. Take control of your health and be responsible for yourself. Because breast cancer doesn’t discriminate.
17 comments
Since I found out about Erica, she has been in my thoughts non-stop. She’s inspiring and my whole entire family wishes her the best.
Erica, you are a rock star!
Wow. I think her refusal to give up when two docs gave the wrong answer shows what an amazing and strong woman she is. I’m checking out her blog now.
Oh, wow. She is beautiful and I am so sorry, but so glad she caught it in time. Second, third, and fourth opinions- as many as you need until YOU know in your gut- that’s what it takes sometimes.
I’m glad you reconnected. You are a good friend.
Steph
I can’t believe all the breast cancer stories I am hearing from women like Erica who are so young. Thank you for sharing all of this it gives me the motivation to take a minute in the shower everday.
Thank you for sharing Erica’s story. If we can continue to spread the word about early detection, we can protect ourselves and our sisters!
I don’t know why doctors are ignoring women who have lumps in their breasts, no matter the age. I’ve heard this same story way too often. I’m so thankful that Erica had the fortitude to seek other medical attention.
Thank you, Erica AND Sarah for sharing this story.
This has been on my mind since you and D were discussing it Friday night. It floors me that the doctor blew her off. Granted, this age group isn’t a huge risk factor, but it’s not as if breast cancer in a younger woman has never happened before.
I’m glad you were able to reconnect with her and share her story. Awareness is so important.
Thank God she didn’t give up!! It is so hard when doctors- the people we are supposed to trust the most – tell us we are fine and ‘not to worry’ – but you really do know your own body better than anyone else. Thank you for sharing this story. Love and prayers to Erica!
Wow. Thanks for sharing.
These stories need to be shared. My mother-in-law could possibly still be with us today if she had been persistent. It took 5 years before she finally sought a second opinion – at that point the breast cancer had already spread into her lymph nodes. Through chemo, radiation, pain medications, diet changes, etc… she was able to have five more years with her family and passed away of breast cancer turned into bone cancer at the young age of 53. She has 4 grandchildren she’s never got to meet, a daughter-in-law she never got to meet, she wasn’t able to be at her oldest grandson’s wedding… and if she had just persisted in getting a second opinion that first year the story could have turned out so different. My father-in-law remarried and we love his second wife, but we miss my husband’s mother too. She suffered so much and fought so hard and her only regret in those last days of her life was that she had not sought a second opinion sooner.
I had a non-cancerous cyst removed when I was 26, I’ll be 35 next year and I start yearly mammograms then. Breast cancer is rare in young women, but it isn’t unheard of!
Thanks for sharing this story!
Sarah, thanks so much for getting the word about my story! Breast Cancer is an epidemic and it’s so important to TALK about it with other women. Don’t take “no” for an answer!
Lots of peace and love,
Erica
Wow thanks for sharing- just goes to show you to trust your gut when it comes to your health!
Thanks for sharing this my BC was found in early detection but it took a few years to pinpoint it even when they thought it might be something the biopsy showed nothing the first year… then over time it was more pronounced. After going through 8 rounds of chemo and 33 radiation treatments – I know that finding the right doctor is crucial. I was fortunate to have the same doctors that treated Lance Armstrong… and they never said it would be easy but they were looking for the extra % of cure… 3 years and so far so good!!!
I know someone who was diagnosed with breast cancer – stage 2 – as a teenager. Understandably, I started going in for mammograms every other year at the age of 21, hoping that if I missed something in a self-exam, at least it would be caught. I could never get over the fact that, however rare, it had happened to someone I knew so young.
I’m glad to hear that Erica caught her cancer early. FIGHT, ERICA, FIGHT!
Thank you for sharing this, doctors ignore way too much, and I’m happy to hear of a “caught it early” story, since it seems like I’ve heard much of the opposite lately.
This story is a good reminder for everyone — I am not as consciencious about this as I should be.
Unrelatedly, I think that your header is beautiful.
wow wow wow. Good for Erica for ignoring those many ‘don’t worry about it’s’ and getting to the bottom of it. I applaud her!!! So many of us would listen to the first dr. and move on with out busy lives. It’s a great lesson!
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