Survivor

The Lockhart Post-Register reached out to 

readers to find those who were willing to share their stories of survival from Breast Cancer. Here are three brave women who are proud to be a survivor. Please read their stories in this Q & A about their journey and where they are today. 

Julia Dye, Lockhart, Texas 

When were you diagnosed? 1995

What type of breast cancer did you have and what stage were you diagnosed in? Colloid Carcinoma, Stage 2.

What was your first reaction when you were told that you had cancer?  I had a hard time believing it…I was only 29. I thought breast cancer only happened to older women.

How did you choose to share your diagnosis with friends and family? I was graduating with my Ph.D. that same week so it all came out at my graduation party. It was a strange celebration.

What treatment options were available and where did you go for them? I had the choice of lumpectomy with chemo and radiation or modified radical mastectomy by itself. I chose the latter. I was treated at Medical College of Pennsylvania.

Why was your specific path chosen? Because of my age, I didn’t want to flood my body with chemicals or radiation. The rest of my body didn’t have cancer (thank goodness) and exposing healthy tissue to carcinogens didn’t seem logical, especially since it was clear I was prone to cancer. I wanted my body to last another 70 years. So I chose to go more radical surgically and skip the other treatments.

What were the side effects of your treatment?  The physical recovery was a challenge as at that time, there were no recommendations for someone my age. All the charts started at age 45 and said things like “don’t lift more than 10 pounds” for the rest of my life! I worked as a stunt performer and that wasn’t going to happen. I was trying to figure out how to start weight training and martial arts again, and I didn’t have anyone to help guide me in recovery from the surgery, which included removal of the lymph nodes under my arm. Fortunately, the potential lymph edema wasn’t a permanent problem for me.

How long did treatment take? The surgery took about four hours, recovery about three weeks. I was on a film set (Starship Troopers) the next month which wasn’t recommended but I did it anyway.

How did you find the strength to go through the treatments? Every woman in my parent’s generation on both sides of the family had breast cancer: My mother, her sister, and my father’s two sisters, so I had role models of survivors. I knew it was likely that I might have to deal with it someday, but they all had it post-menopausal, so I didn’t expect it at 29! Especially since I have 6 older sisters and none of them had breast cancer at that time.

What kinds of things did you do to distract yourself when you were going through treatments? Read, television, friends mostly.

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

I did. I was working at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia at the time and they were wonderful. After my surgery I went to a performance there and they dedicated it to me to my surprise. 

What physical and emotional changes (like fatigue, “chemo brain,” or anxiety) did you experience and how did you manage them? I became angry at my body, and it took a while to trust it again. Here I was doing everything right and while I wasn’t paying attention, it was trying to kill me. To manage them I had to get back to my physical activities, like martial arts and stage combat, so that I could reintegrate my body and my mind.

When were you able to resume normal activities?  My “normal” was different that many people…and I never did get back to what I would consider normal. But I did get back to functional and back to work.

Were there any specific restrictions?  I was told not to lift more than ten pounds for life. I know now that those restrictions are not so strict, thank goodness, and I didn’t follow them anyway. Also, no sunburn on that arm, no insect bites, no injections, blood pressure cuffs, IVs, etc.

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

I didn’t find support groups all that helpful. For me, they seemed to keep people locked into a mindset that their identity was “cancer survivor,” and I found that to be one of the less interesting things about me, and I’d rather think of myself (and I’d rather other people think of me) in other ways. However, that doesn’t mean that I haven’t found therapy helpful. I’ve also found my genetic issues and getting counseling for that has been helpful for me and for my family.

What follow-up tests are needed, and how often?  Mammograms are always recommended, as are self-exams. I have had ductile lavage, a noninvasive procedure, as part of a study, and I find that very interesting. Again, I would rather have testing that does not involve radiation. 

What symptoms should you watch for that could indicate the cancer is returning? Suspicious lump, skin changes or inflammation, nipple discharge, lymph node swelling, or general cancer signs like unexplained weight loss or persistent cough.

What can you do to stay healthy and decrease the risk of recurrence? Don’t smoke, eat healthy foods and leafy greens, maintain a healthy weight, watch your alcohol intake, exercise regularly…these are all great things for decreasing risk and for general health, anyway. If you’re in good health and have a strong body, you’ll be better able to deal with health challenges that arise also. There are many potential things that may help: Vitamin D (which is actually a hormone), melatonin (also a hormone), and olive oil…I am a fan of trying things as long as you are smart and use supplements responsibly. My cancer was hormonal in nature, and so I read a lot about the hormones we use in agriculture and in our diet, and I do avoid them in milk, meat, and plastics. I’m not sure that they are harmful, but they do not add any positive benefit to my body, so it doesn’t hurt to avoid them, and it might help. I believe that women should discuss hormonal birth control with their doctors as well, especially if they are at high risk.

What long-term health issues, or late effects, should you watch for?  I’m aware of the potential for recurrence and for lymph edema. 

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

I don’t think of myself as “living with cancer.” It’s just one thing that happened to me. A lot of things have happened to me; it’s just one of many.

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

Just taking care of stuff. Showing up with prepared meals. I belonged to a grocery coop that required a certain number of volunteer hours, and upon recovery I showed up to do my hours, and other people had anonymously done my hours for me! I was very touched by that.

What is a typical day like now? It’s been 30 years since my diagnosis, so my cancer doesn’t affect my typical day much. I have other medical problems now. 

What’s the most significant change you’ve noticed in yourself?  More young women are getting cancer diagnoses today but back when it happened to me, it was pretty shocking and surprising to me and to my doctors. I do think a lot of people expected me to die because getting cancer at that age was thought of as a death sentence. The good part of that is that I started thinking that if I was “supposed” to die then, that meant that the rest of my life was kind of like recess, and I might as well do what was truly meaningful to me rather than what was expected of me. It’s been a pretty awesome ride!

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their breast cancer journey? Listen to your body and listen to yourself. Your doctors and practitioners are the experts on your disease but you are the expert on you. You are not your disease. It doesn’t define you. Don’t hesitate to ask for practical help with daily tasks: transportation to appointments, childcare, whatever. You are stronger than you think, and you don’t have to go through this alone.