Heather's 2nd Fight Against Cancer

My name is Heather McCullough. In February of 2012, I was first diagnosed with stage 3-breast cancer at age 25. The treatment I received shortly after that diagnosis was 8 rounds of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, 33 radiation treatments, and 25 hyperbaric oxygen treatments (because I had a really hard time healing after all of the treatments I had already gone through). Days before my double mastectomy I got married to my husband Wesley. It was one of the best days of my life and I thank God for him daily. Then, in July of 2013, I had breast reconstruction surgery. I had a hard time healing after that and spent 5 days in the hospital on high dose antibiotic. I was on hormone suppression therapy for almost 4 years. I had really awful side effects from those and got off of them in July of 2015. At the time I was diagnosed, I was on active duty in the US Air Force and thankfully my insurance covered all of these treatments and medicines. I have since been medically retired from the Air Force. In May of 2014, I moved back to MI to be near family. On March 4, 2016, I found out I was 5 weeks pregnant. What a miracle it was because I was told it would be VERY difficult to have a baby after all of my cancer treatment. BUT, God knew how much I desired to be a mommy and he gave my husband and me that gift on Oct. 21, 2016 when our beautiful, healthy baby boy was born. I thank God for my son Jackson everyday who is now 10 months old. Since having Jackson I just haven't felt well. In just the last few months it got worse and I started getting a rash with bumps on my right breast/chest that never went away among other health problems. I went to the dermatologist at the beginning of August 2017 and they biopsied 2 spots and it came back positive for recurrence/metastatic breast cancer. In the last few weeks I've had many tests done (scans, blood work and a liver biopsy). It turns out that the breast cancer is stage 4 and has spread to my skin (in the area where my original tumor was and the skin around it on my chest), and to both of my lungs and liver. After weeks of prayer, research and discussions with my husband and doctors I have decided that I want to use alternative cancer treatments in addition to some conventional treatments to fight this second battle with breast cancer.

The first time around I used mostly conventional treatments and it wiped out my immune system and I have experienced many health problems since. I want to fight cancer differently this time and have a better chance at having quality of life. With that being said my insurance will not cover anything that isn't standard of care and will not be covering any of the integrative/alternative treatments that I will be using. I will be having surgery Sept. 1, 2017 to have my implants removed (which have been an issue since day one in my body and have caused a lot of pain in discomfort in the last 4 years) and I will be having a hysterectomy (that has been recommended by doctors because my cancer is ER/PR+/HER-) and they want to put me in menopause so I will have a better chance at fighting this hormone positive breast cancer. Insurance should cover most of this but not all of it. If you feel led to donate to my healthcare fund please do.  If you are unable to, that's okay too. I'll happily accept your love through prayers. Your prayers and support are very much appreciated. If you want to know more please contact me via Facebook or e-mail and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

God got me through cancer the first time 5 years ago and I know that He will guide me through it this time. I have my fears about my son Jackson growing up without a mommy but my faith is stronger than my fear. And I have to submit my life to God’s plans and His will. I will not let fear keep me from following God, for I know that he will always love me and never leave me. I knew this day could come and cancer “could” viciously return to reek havoc in my body again I just didn’t think it would be right now. However, it is my hope that God uses this trial to impact the lives of people around me. 

“The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

Thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart.

Here are a few links to some videos that were made the first time that I battled cancer...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocz5NlreN5c&t=9s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tyxWCCK-uA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ApP33GCrbc

SpaceCoast Living Magazine Article: http://spacecoastliving.com/survivor-a-call-for-camaraderie/