I have exciting news! Persistence and having faith pays off! I was approved for Proton Radiation at Northwestern. It was a challenge trying to get this treatment, because I didn’t follow the standard protocol. I was told “No” right away when I called Northwestern because of this. I kept calling, and I shared my story with the nurses. I was granted a meeting December 17th with a radiology oncologist at the Northwestern Proton Center. Again, I had some pushbacks because I didn’t follow typical protocol. The meeting was a success as the doctor agreed to the possibility of treating me, but I would have to complete a PET scan first to make sure the cancer was only in the lymph nodes and the breast, and that it hadn’t spread.

Results of PET Scan:

So the good news….. the breast tumor is almost dead and very small. There was very little hypermetabolic activity on the PET scan and hypermetabolic activity means cancer activity. The treatment (Cryoablation and Immunotherapy) I received at Chipsa for the tumor worked! Just to remind everyone, the cancerous tumor was 10 cm in diameter previously. The PET scan can’t measure in cm but uses SUV max as a measurement of cancerous activity. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max) is widely used for measuring the uptake by cancerous tissue. Increased uptake values reflect the viability of cancer cells, and can be imaged and quantified using a PET scan. The SUV max of the tumor is 2.9 which means the actual tumor that has cancer is less than 1.5 cm. This is outstanding news for me! However, the lymph nodes in the axillary (arm pit) show lots of hypermetabolic activity meaning lots of cancerous activity and there are some big lymph nodes present. This is why Proton Radiation is so important for me. With Proton Radiation, it is a targeted radiation that can kill these cancerous lymph nodes without damaging the nerves and blood vessels that surgery would do; or Cryoablation, which is freezing of the tumors. This is why I couldn’t get Cryoablation of the lymph nodes when I was at Chipsa.

After receiving the PET scan results, I had to wait several days before hearing from the oncologist a confirmation that I could get Proton Radiation. It was a long wait. I called constantly and even had my parents help call. I was able to have a teleconference with the oncologist on Monday, January 3rd. During the call, I could hear hesitation in his voice. He kept bringing up the fact that I didn’t follow the typical protocol of surgery and chemotherapy prior to radiation; however, he seemed surprised to see the amazing results of the tumor on the PET Scan. I reminded him again as to why I didn’t go the standard protocol route and that based on the PET scan results, the treatment I chose obviously worked for the breast tumor cancer. He also explained that because I have so much cancerous activity in the lymph nodes and because they are so big, that a higher dose of radiation would be needed. I would have a 15 percent chance of developing lymphadema, which is swelling of the arm and hand that could be permanent. Lymphadema is more likely to occur in overweight women and I am very thin, so it is less likely, but still a possibility. I told him that I will take that 15 percent chance, as it is a very small percentage, and I NEED this treatment! Our conversation ended by him telling me that he would have to meet again with the panel of doctors on Tuesday to review my case. The panel of doctors must all agree to treat me. He would get back to me Tuesday afternoon. Well, another waiting game for me. I didn’t hear back on Tuesday afternoon so I called and called. Tuesday night with no response, I had anxiety and worry. I laid in my infrared sauna and listened to Joel Osteen podcasts that night, like I do every night. I also said my nightly prayers and read from the Bible. “I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, are with you in all you do. ” Joshua 1:9

Having a close relationship with God and having faith has really helped me overcome these challenging moments. My anxiety and worry went away. I woke up Wednesday morning feeling great, and knowing that I would get approved for Proton Radiation. It was in God’s hands. I received a phone call that morning from a nurse that around 1pm I would hear from the doctor. I was working that day at the clinic and tending to my patients. I kept myself occupied and I didn’t worry. I got the call around 1pm and that was when I received the amazing news! I was approved for Proton Radiation treatment!!! The panel of doctors agreed to treat me like a patient who has already had surgery because the results of the PET scan showed that the Cryoablation, in place of surgery, worked. I will be getting Proton Radiation 5 days a week for 6 weeks. The Proton Center is open until 10 at night so I can still work. I am starting the planning process now for the Radiation treatment; so I do not have a set starting date, but it should be soon. I have an appointment at Northwestern Proton Center Monday, January 10th, to start the required scanning for the treatment. This is part of the planning process.

I am very hopeful that with all the treatments I have been doing, and now adding in the Proton Radiation, I will be cancer free. I am so blessed that I have an amazing support system with my family and friends. I am also blessed that I was able to find other ways to treat this cancer; and at the same time, allow me the quality of life I wanted. I am still working as a Veterinarian and doing what I love, which is helping animals. I am still able to play with my son and pick him up, and hold him. I am still able to exercise and be active. For all of these things, I am truly blessed. I want to thank everyone who has been there for me, and for all of the prayers and kind words. “For I know what I have planned for you, says the Lord. I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.” Jeremiah 29:11