Survivor

Sara Holzgrafe, Martindale, Texas 

When were you diagnosed? September, 2018.

What type of breast cancer did you have and what stage were you diagnosed in?  Invasive ductile carcinoma Stage IIA.

What was your first reaction when you were told that you had cancer?  Denial and cold hard fear.

How did you choose to share your diagnosis with friends and family? I told people by phone especially as we had to cancel plans to make way for treatment. My family does not live nearby so those were hard phone calls. Especially to my sister. Everyone expressed love and rallied around us.

What treatment options were available and where did you go for them? My treatment was a lumpectomy, a portal then put in chest for chemo, 4 sessions of chemo, 20 sessions of radiation the 5 years of oral chemo. 

Why was your specific path chosen? I tested positive for a chance of re-occurrence. 

What were the side effects of your treatment?  Typical-hair loss, nausea, fatigue.

How long did treatment take and where did you receive it at? Treatments began in Nov 2018 (after surgery) and ended March 2019. Everything moved smoothly. Texas Oncology in New Braunfels. Great people!

How did you find the strength to go through the treatments? There’s no choice, you do what you have to do. That was my job. And my job was to keep breathing.

What kinds of things did you do to distract yourself when you were going through treatments?  Knit, read, journal. Friends made me go out and Alan, my husband treated me like normal.

Did you need time off work and if so was your employer supportive of your journey?

I was retired. My job was to breathe and keep going.

What physical and emotional changes (like fatigue, “chemo brain,” or anxiety) did you experience and how did you manage them? Mostly fatigue so I made sure to get back to the gym as quickly as possible. The nausea is intense, the wt loss was a positive.

When were you able to resume normal activities and were there any restrictions?  I was sick for about 3 days after chemo, sick as in flat on my back but as soon as I could start moving. The only restriction was that I had to be careful of my port. I kept hitting it accidentally. 

What resources, such as support groups were most helpful to you and your family?

 Friends were my support.

What follow-up tests are needed, and how often?   I see the oncologist once a year for labs and a mammogram.  I am in a long-term study program.

What symptoms should you watch for that could indicate the cancer is returning?   I was told to come in if I feel something is not right and I can’t explain it.

What can you do to stay healthy and decrease the risk of recurrence?   Bone loss. Scans every 2 years and I try to lift heavy weights to improve my density.

What long-term health issues, or late effects, should you watch for?  My oncologist always stresses I do NOT have cancer, I HAD cancer.

What is most important to you now that you are living with cancer? 

 I celebrated my 5 year survival date with friends and family and threw myself an “I didn’t die” party.

What did friends or family members do or say that meant the most to you?

They are understanding of my limitations.

What is a typical day like now?  Life is completely normal. I rarely think about it until it’s time for my annual appointment. 

What’s the most significant change you’ve noticed in yourself?  I do think that I have an underlying sadness.

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their breast cancer journey? Get going, don’t delay, take notes and breathe.