My Life Matters - Fall 2021 - 4

The Power of One COMMUNITY
The Power of the
Community
BY TERLISA SHEPPARD
THROUGH MY METASTATIC BREAST
CANCER JOURNEY
M
4
MY LIFE MATTERS
FALL 2021
y community of support has been a major factor within my
breast cancer journey and has gotten me through many years.
From the moment that I was diagnosed with early-stage breast
cancer, over 22 years ago, to my first diagnosis with metastatic
breast cancer just a couple years later, I have always had an
army of support right there with me to help me throughout this journey.
My breast cancer journey started out in somewhat of a unique way, since I
was only 31 years old and eight and a half months pregnant at diagnosis. I was
young and pregnant. This type of diagnosis was not happening very often in
1998. At that moment, I had to make some fast decisions about my healthcare
and the pending healthcare of my unborn child. I remember the somber evening
that I received the news of my diagnosis. I had no idea what was going to
be my new fate in the matter of just one appointment.
To me, I was an extremely healthy young lady who would soon be welcoming
another baby girl to my family. Because I was being monitored by my ob-gyn on
a regular basis during my pregnancy and had no apparent illness, I thought all
was good. I did notice that I had a lump that was slightly under my left breast
and near the armpit area. This area was never painful, but I did notice that it was
getting larger and larger as time went on. Of course, I notified my gynecologist
of these findings, but he assured me that it was probably just clogged milk ducts
due to my pregnancy. I was then told not to worry about it.
As time went on, I felt compelled to continue bringing this issue to my doctor's
attention, and yet again, he felt that it was nothing for me to be concerned
about. Looking back now, as a breast cancer patient advocate, I realize how naive
I really was during that time. For the mere fact that I had a noticeable lump
in my breast area, and was already 34 weeks pregnant, I should have insisted
much earlier that my ob-gyn send me in for further testing. By the time that he
heard my insisting pleas, the results were not what he nor I had anticipated. A
mammogram revealed that I had a 3.5 centimeter, stage IIIB aggressive tumor
that was growing right along with my pregnancy.
This was a tough blow for me and even more so for my family and friends.
They had watched me go through this pregnancy without any issues until
now. I was young and never had been sick. How did my pending diagnosis slip
through the cracks? Why wasn't my doctor proactive with my findings? I had
many questions and I just could not come up with decent answers. My mind
was very clouded. Like a true mother, I had to
immediately think of my unborn child and her
wellbeing at this point.
The cancer diagnosis was aggressive, so my
baby had to be delivered right away. After my
daughter was delivered and healthy at just 34
weeks, I was immediately thrust into scans,
medical appointments, and then lifesaving
chemotherapy treatments. Following this
regimen, it was on to surgery and radiation. I
had finished my early-stage treatments! I had
worked throughout my diagnosis, and my
amazing support system had continued to
support my every need throughout. They were
there every step of the way. My family, friends,
co-workers, church members, and neighbors
were all awaiting answers and were there to
aid and assist me in any way.
My early-stage diagnosis was short lived.
Just two years after my cancer-free diagnosis, I
was diagnosed with stage IV, metastatic breast
cancer in November 2001. My family and I
were not expecting this news. Nonetheless,
now I was a part of the nearly 30% of women
diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer that
will develop metastatic disease later.
It has been almost 20 years since my first
metastatic diagnosis. Since then, the cancer
has spread to my bones, lungs, liver, spine,
abdomen, and brain. My oncologist at the time
of my first metastatic diagnosis did not think
that I had long to live, so she suggested that I
quit work and get my life in order. At the age
of 34, with two daughters only three and five
years old, giving up on life was not an option
My Life Matters - Fall 2021

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