*This is the third in a series of articles on breast cancer survivors in recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Primary physician, oncologist, nutritionist, general surgeon, plastic surgeon, chemotherapy nurses, radiation therapists — the team defined by Katrina Lee necessary to treat her breast cancer found in April 2021.
Katrina initially thought what she found was a boil as it was raised, red and sore. “I had a knot come up under my left arm; it was real sore. I went to my doctor at the VA and told her about the pain and she said it sounds like a swollen lymph node.” Katrina was referred to a gynecologist for a mammogram that showed nothing of consequence; therefore, there was no biopsy. Instead she was prescribed antibiotics and advised to stop wearing underwire bras.
The knot went away only to return three months later. “It was bigger and more painful. I went back to the doctor and they decided to do a biopsy. My doctor from the VA called and asked, ‘Are you alone?’ I answered, yes. She said, ‘Well, I’m calling to let you know the biopsy came back and it was nothing but cancer’.”
Katrina was then referred to an oncologist. Breast cancer usually begins in the breast and then spreads to the lymph nodes. She said her oncologist believes it did start in her left breast and then spread. Because of the large size of her breasts and the tissue density the tumors were difficult to see.
In addition to the mammogram, her oncologist ordered a PET scan. “They inject radiation into your body through an IV and wait a little while. They put you in a little tube like a CAT scan and wherever the cancer is, it lights up. My left breast had three tumors and spread to my lymph nodes.” The PET scan also revealed good news: cancer was isolated to her left breast and lymph nodes.
Katrina said she had the genetic testing, BRCA, that showed there were no genetic connections. No one on her mother or father’s side had ever been diagnosed with breast cancer. Her cancer was a result of environmental factors. In fact, Katrina’s team believes her cancer is a result of time spent during deployment in Iraq when she was with the Army.
Burn pits constantly filled the air with acrid smoke as all kinds of trash and debris were burned near and on the base; oil pits too. Katrina noted that prior to serving in Iraq she had no health issues, never taking a pill even for a headache. When she returned to the US she went through a post deployment health assessment that revealed diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma for which she continues to take medications. She retired as a staff sergeant in 2018 after serving 21 years.
A course of treatment was enacted to eradicate the Stage 3 cancer. Katrina began with eight rounds of chemotherapy, then surgery, six weeks of radiation and then the final reconstruction surgery.
She began chemo on May 8, 2021, first using a drug that created severe nerve pain. As a diabetic, Katrina already dealt with neuropathy. It was so detrimental to her that her oncologist only ran three rounds of it before moving her to the Red Devil, also a very strong medicine. Katrina tolerated it much better. “I was sick but I didn’t have as much pain. Before, it had gotten so bad I had to stay highly medicated in order to sleep.”
Red Devil took its toll too. Despite taking medication to combat the effects, Katrina was constantly nauseous. She lost a lot of weight, did not want to eat and was always tired. “After the first round all my hair came out. After that session, I went home with a bad headache. I realize now it was my hair follicles dying,” Katrina said.
The doctors gave Katrina’s body an opportunity to rest before tackling surgery. She was told there was a 75 percent chance of cancer returning if she opted to have only her left breast removed. Her doctor highly recommended she have a double mastectomy for that reason as well as reconstruction. Because Katrina was a large breasted woman it would be difficult to match a new left breast size-wise with her right one. Eleven lymph nodes were also removed.
During all of this Katrina received a job offer at the naval base in Meridian, Miss., that she firmly believes was a God thing. The employer called her, interviewed her by phone, and offered her the position. Everything fell into place and she was able to make her move there before beginning radiation treatments. While she was not able to work during chemo, she did work half days with radiation, leaving in the afternoon to take treatment. Radiation was not without its side effects. Her skin sloughed off and the lymphedema she had was worse. But Katrina has a high tolerance for pain. “It looked worse than it felt.”
Katrina is looking forward to her final reconstruction surgery on November 4. At the time of her first surgery, expanders were put in place which she says are extremely uncomfortable. “My doctor wanted me to get implants but I don’t want anything foreign in my body.” Instead Katrina will have something called a DIEP flap where the surgeon will remove fatty tissue, skin and blood vessels from her abdomen similar to a tummy tuck and move that to her breasts, resulting in much smaller breasts than before. “I look forward to my new size!”
To look outwardly at Katrina there is no indication she has ever had cancer. Her doctors tell her she is cancer free. She celebrates every opportunity she has and is excited about this new chapter in her life.
Katrina’s smile radiates the joy from within and her positive outlook is contagious. “If I’m still here, God still has a purpose for me.”
