KC Cares for Becca
Donation protected
Here is Becca's story!
I had a biopsy on April 24th and the results came back as positive for breast cancer, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. I have not been given a "stage" but it is graded 3 out of 3, which is the most aggressive form.. But apparently that's a good thing because the chemo has better results on the more aggressive form. However, both of my doctors have told me that this is a very treatable form of cancer. For my particular strain, there is a high success rate and a less than 10% reoccurrence.
I will have to undergo chemo and that starts on Monday, May 18th. I will have treatments every 3 weeks, 6 treatments in all, 18-week process in total. They are also giving me an antibody that attacks the receptor for the particular cancer I have, and I will continue to have those injections over the next year, also every 3 weeks. There are no side effects with the antibody. I will have a port put in at some point before the 18th but that has not been scheduled yet...that is just an outpatient surgery.
After chemo is complete, I will undergo a mastectomy and reconstruction. They gave me the option of a lumpectomy but due to the location of the tumor and personal preference, I opted for the mastectomy. They took a blood sample in order to do genetic testing and if I show the mutation for breast cancer, they will do a double mastectomy & reconstruction.
In most cases, there are no cancer cells once they test the removed tumor (I don't know a percentage) but, if there are still cancer cells I will then go thru radiation.
My job is completely supportive and have told me that I have nothing to worry about and I will have my job once this is all over. Good thing, is that thru all this Covid stuff, we have all been working remotely so I will just continue in that form until I am able to join the office. My doctor said that the main side effect from this will most likely be fatigue and to just take it easy on those days, but I should be fine to work as I would like on other days.
I have a great support system here in KC with family & work to help me thru all of this, so I have a positive outlook. Not looking forward to this by any means, but thankful for the people I have.
I had a biopsy on April 24th and the results came back as positive for breast cancer, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. I have not been given a "stage" but it is graded 3 out of 3, which is the most aggressive form.. But apparently that's a good thing because the chemo has better results on the more aggressive form. However, both of my doctors have told me that this is a very treatable form of cancer. For my particular strain, there is a high success rate and a less than 10% reoccurrence.
I will have to undergo chemo and that starts on Monday, May 18th. I will have treatments every 3 weeks, 6 treatments in all, 18-week process in total. They are also giving me an antibody that attacks the receptor for the particular cancer I have, and I will continue to have those injections over the next year, also every 3 weeks. There are no side effects with the antibody. I will have a port put in at some point before the 18th but that has not been scheduled yet...that is just an outpatient surgery.
After chemo is complete, I will undergo a mastectomy and reconstruction. They gave me the option of a lumpectomy but due to the location of the tumor and personal preference, I opted for the mastectomy. They took a blood sample in order to do genetic testing and if I show the mutation for breast cancer, they will do a double mastectomy & reconstruction.
In most cases, there are no cancer cells once they test the removed tumor (I don't know a percentage) but, if there are still cancer cells I will then go thru radiation.
My job is completely supportive and have told me that I have nothing to worry about and I will have my job once this is all over. Good thing, is that thru all this Covid stuff, we have all been working remotely so I will just continue in that form until I am able to join the office. My doctor said that the main side effect from this will most likely be fatigue and to just take it easy on those days, but I should be fine to work as I would like on other days.
I have a great support system here in KC with family & work to help me thru all of this, so I have a positive outlook. Not looking forward to this by any means, but thankful for the people I have.
Co-organizers (4)
Melissa Jones
Organizer
Overland Park, KS
Rebecca Williams
Beneficiary
Dale Vestal
Co-organizer
Jennifer Williams
Co-organizer