In honor of breast cancer awareness month, I’d like to share my best friend’s story because:
A) She’s amazing
B) She kicked cancer’s ass
C) She was only 31 when she discovered the lump and
D) She started a super awesome company for all cancer survivors
Ladies, I can’t say it enough…check yourself before you wreck yourself. And now…it’s time for you to meet Heather, founder of Also A Survivor.
Heather’s Story
I never thought of myself as an athlete, but I was always active. I was never into any sports. I was in dance from age 2 until age 16, but that was it. I worked in gyms in college. I was in to any kind of aerobic class I could get in to, sometimes 2 to 3 a day. At age 31, I had a great life. Happily married, good job, just bought my first house; I was enjoying life in everyway. Like many women, I found my lump in the shower. It was on the upper inside of my chest so I wasn’t concerned, although it was quite large and seemed to appear overnight. A week later I had my annual well women’s exam. I had no risk factors but my doctor still ordered a mammogram and ultrasound; both were inconclusive. Still wanting a diagnosis, it was decided that I should have either a needle biopsy or a lumpectomy. Given its size, I choose the lumpectomy. I remember sitting in his office the day the lab results came back. The doctor came in and said with the most amazingly straight face, “it is cancer.” He quickly moved from chemotherapy, to radiation, to a mastectomy. I was numb. The doctor paused for a second and the tears started, and the conversation was over. I was not prepared for this discussion let alone the decisions I was being asked to consider. As one wades through all of the information on-line, learning about the disease the possible courses of action are more than overwhelming. When I was ready to move forward, I found a wonderful oncology group: great surgeons, specialists, and support; truly a great place. I felt they were honestly concerned with my life. I had a second lumpectomy to clear the tumor margins. I also had a sentinel node dissection to determine if the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes (which it had not), and to have a port inserted in my chest for chemotherapy. I had great results from these procedures.
I would not say that I am “girly,” but like most women, I have always been concerned with how I look, and I now had one breast that was smaller than the other and was about to start chemo treatments that were guaranteed to make all of my hair fall out; I was dreading this. My husband is very athletic, and he thought that I should do some “pre-game” before chemo. He thought that I should beat it to the punch and shave my head. Although I did not buy in to this idea at first, it became my first opportunity to show this disease that I was in charge and I was not going down without a fight. It was a great evening, our friends came over, my husband got out his clippers (he shaves his head), and did the honors. I remember feeling empowered and ready to take on Cancer. All of my girlfriends were crying and I was smiling.
I went through 8 rounds of chemotherapy and 8 weeks of radiation. I was lucky with chemo. I had some nausea two to three days after treatment and then I was just tired. As the rounds went on, things got worse, but never terrible. Through all of the treatment, I tried to keep my life as normal as possible; aerobics classes and working with a personal trainer. I missed a few days, but made it to more than I missed. I spent the first two years after treatment getting my strength and stamina back. This is also the time when “survivorship” begins. During this time, I considered what my role in the “fight” against cancer was. I began to think about not just showing the world that I was beating this disease, but seeing what I was actually physically capable of. A year and a half after my first surgery and treatments, I put on my best pink gear and with the support of two of my dearest friends, walked a half marathon. This was an amazing experience: the achievement, the camaraderie, and the joy. Later that year, I found a new lump. It turned out to be a fibroid cyst, but the scare was more than I could take. I spent a lot of time thinking about “what if?” So, I decided to have some genetic testing done to try and ease my mind; fat chance. I tested positive for the BRACA 1 gene. This basically meant that I had a 60% chance that either the breast cancer would return and I could eventually get ovarian cancer. Again, I had choices. Do I wait to see what fate would bring, or do I take an aggressive approach to beating this disease. Do I want to have children? This was that moment. My husband and I had discussed children before, and prior to my initial diagnosis we were actually considering the possibility. After much discussion in a very short period of time we choose for me to have a double mastectomy with TRAM Flap reconstruction for the breast cancer, a complete hysterectomy and oopherectomy for the ovarian cancer. It was a 13-hour procedure and 6 week recovery period just to be able to walk around pain free. It was nearly two years before I was back to my “new” self, and I wasted no time. I walked two half marathons that year. I also decided to start competing in triathlons. My husband, although skeptical at first, was very supportive of me and helped me through the simple stuff; you know how to ride a bike, run efficiently, stuff like that. I completed my first triathlon that same year. The following year I ran the entire 13.1 miles of a half marathon and have since competed in 9 triathlons. I am also happy to say that after helping me through my first triathlon experiences, my husband has also taken up the sport. He competed in his first Ironman distance race in July 2010; I could not be prouder.
With this new level of fitness and good nutrition, I feel better than I ever have. The commitment that it takes to train and participate in these events has definitely had a positive affect on my life. I cannot say that I have become competitive; I still do not try and “beat” anyone, but I do strive to improve upon what I have already achieved. Get a little faster from race to race and encourage even more women to achieve all that they can. In October of 2009, I had one of my knees scoped so that I can continue to be out there racing. I have 4 tri’s and 2 half marathons scheduled for 2010. With the support of all of my friends and family – I can never say it enough – I could not have done or continue to do any of this without all of you, I look forward to seeing you all out there.
Also A Survivor,
Heather Pawinski
Lights. Camera. Life. 