Pinktober Profiles: Tina Marie Vucci

Pinktober Profiles: As part of the breast cancer community, I’ve been blessed to hear so many stories of strength, perseverance, hope, struggle, survival, and courage. To me, those stories bring real awareness about this disease. The people I profile this month honor me in allowing me to write their story. Please join me in celebrating them and share their stories widely!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For my part in raising awareness, I’m going to profile survivors throughout the month. Originally, I'd hoped to have a new profile everyday, but let's be real: survivors keep busy (me included). On this last day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I have a final profile to share with you. 

 

Tina Marie Vucci describes her past as negative and self-destructive, though you'd hardly guess that if you met her now. I came to meet Tina this year at the Pretty In Pink Foundation's Pink Fashion Walk fundraiser. Backstage, Tina was lively, funny, the embodiment of joy. Her laughter contagious, like her pzazz! 

I was surprised when Tina shared that she hadn't always been that way. She told me that she'd found a pea-sized lump in her breast years ago and ignored it. At the time, she was on a destructive path. She ignored the lump for two years and it grew tremendously in that time. When she finally went to see a doctor, she was met with an incredibly negative experience.Tina was told she had cancer and that she would die. The doctor actually said he'd hoped her negative choices were worth it. Thankfully, Tina moved forward with another doctor, a surgeon who was wonderful and encouraged Tina to fight for her life. Her surgeon informed her she had stage 3 breast cancer. There was a golf ball sized tumor in her breast and 3 more, the same size, in her lymph nodes. 

Tina endured a modified radical mastectomy and removal of all her lymph nodes, followed by chemotherapy. At her doctor's urging, she participated in a study that would dose her with triple the amount of chemo (as compared to what he would have treated her with based on standard protocol). Chemo was followed by 19 blasts of radiation. She was unable to have reconstructive surgery at the time.

Tina said that the cancer and subsequent treatment wasn't enough to jolt her off that negative, self-destructive path. It was years before she made strides to change her life around. Today, Tina is 13 years cancer free and on a positive journey. She has strong faith, and spends much of her time volunteering with local organizations that help other women diagnosed with breast cancer. Tina says, "I'm showing up for life today, and I love it!"

Pinktober Profiles: LaDonna Coates

Pinktober Profiles: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For my part in raising awareness, I’m going to profile survivors, previvors and caretakers throughout the month. Originally, I'd hoped to have a new profile everyday, but let's be real: survivors keep busy. I'll continue to write and post profiles of amazing men and women as I get their stories, but it may not be every single day.

As part of the breast cancer community, I’ve been blessed to hear so many stories of strength, perseverance, hope, struggle, survival, and courage. To me, those stories bring real awareness about this disease. The people I profile this month honor me in allowing me to write their story. Please join me in celebrating them and share their stories widely! 

October 7, 2014 

In the late 90s, LaDonna Coates lost her best friend, Brenda, to cervical cancer. Watching her friend suffer through the pain and trials of her disease reinforced an idea in LaDonna's mind; people don't survive cancer. They may go into remission, or feel better for awhile, but eventually the cancer wins. It took battling the disease herself before she realized just how wrong she'd been.

In the Spring of 2007, with a newborn son at home, LaDonna's husband, Todd, deployed to Iraq. During this deployment, LaDonna started feeling tired all the time, but her concerns were dismissed by doctors. Surely she was depressed, having been left to care for an infant while her husband was deployed overseas.   But even after his return in the summer of 2008, she still felt tired. They moved to another army base early the next year, but the exhaustion never let up. Then, one Thursday evening in early May 2009, while watching TV, LaDonna went to scratch the skin on her breast and found a "huge lump." By the following Monday, she was meeting with her doctor, who scheduled a mammogram and ultrasound right away.  The whirlwind of diagnosis followed. By the first of June, she'd received her diagnosis. It was Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and she had a 4.5cm tumor (about the size of an egg).

Knowing a mastectomy would be her only option if she chose to stay within the Army Hospital system, LaDonna sought other opinions at Emory University Cancer Center in Atlanta. In her mind, she was dying, but she sought treatment anyway because that is what her family wanted, and she knew from experience how hard cancer was on the caretakers, friends and families. Typically, a tumor of that size would indicate a mastectomy (removal of the breast) instead of a lumpectomy (removal of the tumor and affected tissue from the breast). But new research, data, and the right medical team led LaDonna down a different path. Along with her team of doctors, LaDonna decided they would do FEC chemo to try and shrink the tumor, and then remove the smaller tumor by lumpectomy, since the data suggested the recurrence rates for that approach were no higher than any other approach.

Awareness Tidbit: The decision between having a mastectomy or a lumpectomy requires the consideration of many factors, and more often than not, the choice must be made quickly. It's important that every patient understands their options and makes an informed choice that's right for them!

After 6 rounds of FEC chemotherapy every 3 weeks, beginning in June 2009 and ending shortly after her 40th birthday in October, the only thing left for anyone to see in the scans was the marker from her biopsy. The chemo had more than shrunk the tumor. LaDonna's breast showed no evidence of disease! Comically, it puzzled the doctors and radiologists, who all crowded in her room at the teaching hospital to try and figure out where her tumor had gone (I'm picturing Where's Waldo?! Lol!)  

LaDonna still had the lumpectomy in November, to remove the tissue around the marker. She chose to have a Plastic Surgeon close the wound and perform a breast reduction on the other breast with the same amount of tissue removed. The scars are hardly visible, she says. And, even though there were differing opinions on the course of treatment post-surgery, LaDonna chose to have radiation, just to make sure that they'd destroyed every last cancer cell there was. 

LaDonna remembers the moment her doctor told her and Todd that the pathology (from the lumpectomy) was clear. She remembers thinking she should have been happy. Everyone else in the room was happy. LaDonna just felt lost and confused. It had finally dawned on her that surviving WAS an option. She told me, "I didn't know people actually did that."  She'd let herself gain weight throughout her treatment. In her mind, she was dying anyway, so why should she care about her weight? It wasn't until her doctor at UNC, where she goes for her follow up care, told her she was cured, not in remission, but CURED, that it really sank in.

And while, yes, there are trials and tribulations as a result of medications and surgeries, LaDonna has lost the weight and the idea that cancer always wins. She wants others to understand that, like her and so many of the amazing men and women she's met along the way, people do REALLY survive!

Pinktober Profiles: October 3, 2014 - Melissa Bolton

Pinktober Profiles: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For my part in raising awareness, I’m going to profile a survivor, previvor or caretaker each day. As part of the breast cancer community, I’ve been blessed to hear so many stories of strength, perseverance, hope, struggle, survival, and courage. To me, those stories bring real awareness about this disease. The women I profile this month honor me in allowing me to write their story. Please join me in celebrating them and share their stories widely! 

October 3, 2014

Breast cancer was the last thing on Melissa Bolton's mind in January 2013. She was busy caring for her family, including her 6 month old son, Morgan, who'd just decided he was done nursing, when she found a lump the size of a grape in her breast, near her nipple. Assuming it was a clogged duct, she tried to clear it using her breast pump. When it didn't clear after an hour of pumping, Melissa chalked it up to a stubborn duct, attributed it to hormonal changes, and decided to wait it out. In March, it seemed slightly larger, so she decided to contact her ob/gyn. A nurse at the practice felt the suspicious lump and scheduled a mammogram and ultrasound as soon as possible. At that point, Melissa knew it could have been several things. Surely, it wasn't cancer. She worked to keep the "what ifs" at bay, but then there was all the waiting...

First the short wait for the radiology appointment. Then there was the waiting between the mammogram and the ultrasound, about an hour, during which Melissa sat in what equates to a closet with a curtain, nothing but old magazines and some crazy old lady shrieking in the closet next door to entertain her. Needless to say, her nerves were shot. More waiting after the ultrasound images were taken (to confirm they'd gotten all the images they needed), and then Melissa was sent home to wait for a call from her doctor. When the doctor called, noting "suspicious areas" in the images, Melissa was referred to a breast surgeon. She ended up having a biopsy that day, even though she hadn't known that would happen. That was followed by more waiting. She'd have her biopsy results the next evening.

Melissa called on a dear friend to help her get through the wait. She was expecting a call at 5:30, but the phone didn't ring. Minutes crept by slowly. Then, at 5:45, her breast surgeon called with bad news. Melissa had two tumors, one was cancerous (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma), the other precancerous, and she was scheduled for surgery to remove her breast. Her friend, Stephanie, hugged her tight, held her hand and cried with her until her husband got home that night. She leaned on him while a million thoughts ran through her mind. "Why? I'm not ready! I'm only 36. How do I tell my 7-year old?" 

Maybe some people take it for granted, but Melissa was well aware of just how important her breasts had been in her life. They'd been part of what felt beautiful, intimate, womanly. They nurtured her children. Just before surgery, Melissa remembers having time to really think about the impact of this loss while she time waiting for the uptake of the sentinel node dye. This would be the last time she would see herself as she'd always been. 

Surgery went well, aside from a nasty reaction to the pain medication which gave Melissa hives and made her itchy from head to toe. Her sentinel node had looked clear, and she was home the next day, on her way to recovery.  Then came a call with more bad news. 2 nodes were actually positive. She was now stage 2b, and would have more surgery the following week to remove the rest of the nodes. It felt like "a punch to the gut," she recalls. And she wasn't prepared for what happened after the nodes were removed. The back of her upper arm was numb, her chest was numb, and the few areas that had feeling experienced a strange nerve pain which made her jump when touched. She got lymphedema, which meant swelling, physical therapy, compression sleeves, manual lymph drainage, pumps. She also had bad reactions to medications she needed to take, like Tamoxifen, Lupron, and Femara. "Even though the mastectomy was bad," she says, she feels lucky to not have needed chemo or radiation. The hardest part is the waiting, she says. "Patience is a virtue, and it gets tested!" Waiting for appointments and test results that determine the next step is a necessary evil in this process. One that surely tries the "patients." 

Awareness Tidbit: Lymphedema can happen at any point after the removal (or blockage) of lymph nodes. These nodes play an important role in clearing bacteria from the body through a network of delicate vessels that carry fluid from infections and wound sites through the lymphatic system. Heat, burns, bites, cuts, and rashes can aggrivate lymphedema, causing swelling of the soft tissues throughout the affected limb.

Two things really stand out for Melissa when she reflects on her cancer journey. First is that her husband was her rock through it all. He was her "superhero." She says "He was my biggest support, helper, tear-wiper, listener. He was my everything."  Melissa knows the help of her close family and friends helped her through this ordeal. Second is how her relationship with her step dad prepared them both for their battles with cancer. Melissa's step dad was diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer the day her son Morgan was born. Right as Melissa was gearing up for the battle of her life, she got news that her step dad was now diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. They'd worked hard, throughout her life, showing horses and competing in shows, including competing with the MSU Equestrian team. They'd worked hard to win in the past, and now they would work hard to fight and win against cancer, together. 

Melissa has a lot of great advice for anyone facing cancer:

1. Keep a positive attitude, but know it's ok to be upset, cry, be pissed off at the world, laugh, be happy.
2. Talk when you feel like it.
3. Ask for and accept help.
4. Reach out to one of the many wonderful support organizations. Melissa loves the people she's met through the Pink Heals organization and knows the special bonds that develop between survivors, fighters and the taken.
5. Music can be healing.
6. Hugs are awesome.
7. Just know that "every little thing will be alright."
   
   

Now 38, with 5 surgeries down and 1 more to go (the majority of which have been related to reconstruction), Melissa has taken up running, which she finds very therapeutic. She says she's not fast, but she is determined. Come out and cheer Melissa on at the Run for the Ta Tas 5k tomorrow at Mayfaire Towne Center in Wilmington. While your at it, send some extra thoughts and prayers for her step dad who's been struggling with his latest round of chemo. He's been fighting cancer for 2 1/2 years and he won't give up until it's gone!

Pinktober Profiles: October 2, 2014 - Marti Peterson

Pinktober Profiles: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For my part in raising awareness, I’m going to profile a survivor, previvor or caretaker each day. As part of the breast cancer community, I’ve been blessed to hear so many stories of strength, perseverance, hope, struggle, survival, and courage. To me, those stories bring real awareness about this disease. The women I profile this month honor me in allowing me to write their story. Please join me in celebrating them and share their stories widely! 

October 2, 2014

Marti Peterson was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 49. After having a routine mammogram, she was called to come back for a Magnification View Study because the radiologist saw a cluster of calcifications. A stereotactic biopsy, done as a follow up at the urging of her radiologist, revealed stage 2 ductal carcinoma of the left breast. Marti recalls knowing the news would be bad by the way the doctor's demeanor changed after he took the sample. She remembers having to hold it together because she had a long 4-hour drive home after the biopsy. When the news came, confirming her suspicions, Marti cried and recalls how scared she felt. "I was so afraid of what the future would hold," she said.

Awareness Tidbit: Young women tend to have denser breast tissue which can make it difficult to detect abnormalities in standard mammograms. If your radiology report indicates ANYTHING, please talk with your doctors about more effective ways to follow up. Ultrasounds, MRIs and biopsies can all be effective in detecting breast cancer in young women.  

On the advice of her breast surgeon, she opted for a lumpectomy, which removed a golf ball sized tumor from her left breast. Pathology results confirmed that the surgeon hadn't removed the entire tumor, so Marti was called to return for another surgery to remove part of her chest wall muscle. In her words: "Ouch!"  Marti soon returned to work, albeit slowly, and worked with her doctor's to figure out an effective care plan. Having gone for the biopsy and the consult with the breast surgeon alone, Marti chose to bring her son to the oncology

appointment, just to have that extra set of ears. Her oncologist prescribed hormone therapy and 6 weeks of radiation therapy, which she completed away from home.  A few months later, she developed cellulitis, which had to be drained. A few months after that, it happened again, so she was sent back for more surgery to remove another mass (twice as large as the original one) and place a drain. She later developed a blood clot, likely as a result of the hormone therapy, which she had to dissolve with daily injections. Another medication made her miserable. It was one challenge after another for Marti, but she was up to the fight. Marti relied on her son and her friends from work for support, which they gave in abundance. At one point, they even organized a benefit to help her overcome the financial burdens caused by her cancer. 

After treatment was over, life didn't feel the same. Marti's worldview changed. She eventually quit her job to get away from an abusive boss, sold nearly all of her belongings and moved from Montana to North Dakota to be closer to her son. Marti recalls the worst part, for her, was the waiting and the worry. She stayed strong and kept a positive attitude as much as she could. Looking back, she laughs thinking about the friend that told her she made cancer look easy. When Bryce, her son, looks at her, he sees strength, and it's that strength that Marti wants to share with others, even if just by holding a hand or giving them a shoulder to lean on.

Marti celebrates her 3 year anniversary of her diagnosis this month, and is thrilled to celebrate her 2nd normal mammogram in a row! While she'd never opt to go through all of this again, Marti says that "coming out on the winning side" has not just changed her attitude, it made her a better person. 

Pinktober Profiles: October 1, 2014 - Susan Naumuk

Pinktober Profiles: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For my part in raising awareness, I’m going to profile a survivor, previvor or caretaker each day. As part of the breast cancer community, I’ve been blessed to hear so many stories of strength, perseverance, hope, struggle, survival, and courage. To me, those stories bring real awareness about this disease. The women I profile this month honor me in allowing me to write their story. Please join me in celebrating them and share their stories widely!

October 1, 2014

Susan Naumuk was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer when she was 59 years old. In February of that year, her mother had passed away. Soon after, she noticed a lump in her left breast as she was getting dressed. Busy mourning the loss of her mom, Susan ignored the lump. About 2 months later, with no change in the lump, Susan knew it was time to consult her doctor. She recalls seeing her doctor’s face and knowing the news wasn't good.  In a 2-week time frame, Susan had a biopsy, was diagnosed, and met with a team of doctors.

Awareness Tidbit: Diagnosis can be a whirlwind. Cancer patients work with teams of doctors to make life altering decisions about their care plan, and quite often feel overwhelmed. The 2-week time frame Susan experienced from biopsy to starting chemo isn't unusual. Some advice for the newly diagnosed? Bring a friend, family member or reach out to a local support organization so that there is someone else in the room with you and the doctors. You’re bound to miss hearing some important information if your shocked ears are the only ones listening in the room.

Susan remembers losing her hair after her first treatment. She was lying on her couch one Saturday night, running her hands through her hair when it started to come out in clumps. Her response was to call her friend Trisha. A few days later, all of her friends came to her house, cut what was left of her hair into a Mohawk, cried and laughed. For Susan, it was a great way to cope with this significant loss.

Chemo was hard on Susan. She was sick all the time. Managing to keep down a cup of soup was a victory. Even so, Susan was determined to stay active, not letting chemo keep her closed up in her home. After chemo came surgery, followed by 31 days of radiation. Susan tested positive for the BRCA2 genetic mutation last year, which she says influenced her decision to have a bilateral mastectomy (removing both breasts and all the breast tissue). With her doctor’s recommendation, Susan chose not to undergo reconstructive surgery. 6 years later, Susan is under the constant supervision of her doctors. Because of her “triple negative” status, Susan sees her doctors every 3 months. She finds their constant supervision comforting, because she knows they are always looking out for her.  

Her advice to people diagnosed with breast cancer: “Talk to your friends. Be part of organizations (like Lump2Laughter). Get all the support you can. This is a hard journey but you can get through it. We can all learn from each other.” Susan obviously heeds her own advice. She is very involved with local organizations that support breast cancer survivors. In fact, Susan was responsible for sending me a Lump2Laughter care package shortly after I was diagnosed. Coincidentally, we were put in touch with one another by a mutual friend (Thank you, Sarah Butler!). I think it's fitting that Susan is the first woman to be profiled here because Susan was the first woman from the breast cancer community to share her story with me, to encourage me, and to let me know it was all going to be ok. Thanks, Susan!