Jamie’s Breast Cancer Fight
Donation protected
On Friday, May 25th 2018, My best friend was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer that metastasized into her liver. As we try to come to terms with her diagnosis and life long battle, we have no doubt that she will kick this cancers ASS and fight stronger than ever. On June 8th 2018, Jamie had her first intense Chemo treatment. She has an AMAZING positive attitude but the road over the next several months will be challenging. We are reaching out to Jamie’s amazing supportive network of family and friends to help, in any measure. Any donations is greatly appreciated and will be a huge help to Jamie during these next several challenging months.
Here is the beginning of jamie’s story:
“How did I find the cancer?As most of you know, I just had a baby girl named Brynlee on February 8th, 2018. I had been breast feeding her when I noticed a lump when she was around 2 months of age. After talking to my MD, we both believed this to be a clogged milk duct or mastitis. I was prescribed antibiotics to hopefully get rid of the lump. About a month later I had noticed that this lump had not gone away. By this time, I was done breast feeding.
On Monday, May 21st, I decided to get it checked out and made an appointment with my doctor. While both of us were still thinking it was a clogged duct, she sent me to get a breast ultrasound anyways just to verify that's what it was. Also, because of my mom's history of breast cancer in 2006, she wanted to be safe.
On Friday, May 25th, I went in for my ultrasound at 8:30am. After the ultrasound tech did the imaging the Radiologist came in to take another look. I could tell they weren't just measuring the lump that I had been feeling... but they were measuring numerous ones. After they were done looking, the Radiologist told me that the ultrasound they had just preformed is "suspicious". There was a lymph node also in my armpit that was of concern. He wanted to send me for more testing. So, it was off to a mammogram I went. But, not before I called my husband and mom hysterical and worried.
After the mammogram, I had more ultrasound done. When this was completed, the Radiologist suggested I have my family come in to discuss. It was then that he had stated he thought this was cancer. Next step was to have biopsies done. I had 4 biopsies - 1 of the lump I could feel, 2 of the lumps furthest from the main one and 1 of the lymph node that was enlarged. From then... it was the waiting game. I went through the whole weekend wondering what those results would come back showing.
When did I find out?
On Tuesday, May 29 I had an appointment with a breast surgeon to discuss everything more in detail about the surgical part of curing this disease. About 10 minutes before my appointment I got the call... It was cancer. 3 of the 4 biopsies came back positive for cancer. The lymph node came back negative.
As I sat in the waiting room I couldn't help but cry thinking about why is this happening to me? I was feeling SO many different emotions... the biggest one being that I have a not even 4 month old baby girl back at home! We met with the surgeon for about 2 hours. Leaving that appointment I felt like I had a better handle on the plan moving forward.
What is the treatment plan?
I will be doing treatments every 2 weeks for 4 doses to begin with. These treatments will be about 5 hours long. Once those 4 doses are completed, I will then be doing a treatment every week for the next 12 weeks that last about an hour at a time. All in all, the chemo will last 20 weeks.
The plan after chemo will be to have a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. We will have to wait for a few weeks after my last chemo for my body to regulate again and for another MRI to be done.
Once all that clears then I will be good to go for surgery. The reason they do chemo before surgery is so that they can shrink the tumor (that is their hope).”
Once we’ve beaten this, the testing will be ongoing to ensure it never returns.
Even if you are unable to help Jamie financially please share this far and wide, help us help our beautiful friend kick cancers ASS!
To follow her journey go to her caring bridge journal.
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jamiehickmann
Cancer is messin’ with the wrong girl!
“This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me”
Here is the beginning of jamie’s story:
“How did I find the cancer?As most of you know, I just had a baby girl named Brynlee on February 8th, 2018. I had been breast feeding her when I noticed a lump when she was around 2 months of age. After talking to my MD, we both believed this to be a clogged milk duct or mastitis. I was prescribed antibiotics to hopefully get rid of the lump. About a month later I had noticed that this lump had not gone away. By this time, I was done breast feeding.
On Monday, May 21st, I decided to get it checked out and made an appointment with my doctor. While both of us were still thinking it was a clogged duct, she sent me to get a breast ultrasound anyways just to verify that's what it was. Also, because of my mom's history of breast cancer in 2006, she wanted to be safe.
On Friday, May 25th, I went in for my ultrasound at 8:30am. After the ultrasound tech did the imaging the Radiologist came in to take another look. I could tell they weren't just measuring the lump that I had been feeling... but they were measuring numerous ones. After they were done looking, the Radiologist told me that the ultrasound they had just preformed is "suspicious". There was a lymph node also in my armpit that was of concern. He wanted to send me for more testing. So, it was off to a mammogram I went. But, not before I called my husband and mom hysterical and worried.
After the mammogram, I had more ultrasound done. When this was completed, the Radiologist suggested I have my family come in to discuss. It was then that he had stated he thought this was cancer. Next step was to have biopsies done. I had 4 biopsies - 1 of the lump I could feel, 2 of the lumps furthest from the main one and 1 of the lymph node that was enlarged. From then... it was the waiting game. I went through the whole weekend wondering what those results would come back showing.
When did I find out?
On Tuesday, May 29 I had an appointment with a breast surgeon to discuss everything more in detail about the surgical part of curing this disease. About 10 minutes before my appointment I got the call... It was cancer. 3 of the 4 biopsies came back positive for cancer. The lymph node came back negative.
As I sat in the waiting room I couldn't help but cry thinking about why is this happening to me? I was feeling SO many different emotions... the biggest one being that I have a not even 4 month old baby girl back at home! We met with the surgeon for about 2 hours. Leaving that appointment I felt like I had a better handle on the plan moving forward.
What is the treatment plan?
I will be doing treatments every 2 weeks for 4 doses to begin with. These treatments will be about 5 hours long. Once those 4 doses are completed, I will then be doing a treatment every week for the next 12 weeks that last about an hour at a time. All in all, the chemo will last 20 weeks.
The plan after chemo will be to have a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. We will have to wait for a few weeks after my last chemo for my body to regulate again and for another MRI to be done.
Once all that clears then I will be good to go for surgery. The reason they do chemo before surgery is so that they can shrink the tumor (that is their hope).”
Once we’ve beaten this, the testing will be ongoing to ensure it never returns.
Even if you are unable to help Jamie financially please share this far and wide, help us help our beautiful friend kick cancers ASS!
To follow her journey go to her caring bridge journal.
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jamiehickmann
Cancer is messin’ with the wrong girl!
“This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me”
Organizer and beneficiary
Ashley Huber Dieball
Organizer
Jackson, WI
Jamie Hickmann
Beneficiary