Amanda Searight, Beaver County
My diagnosis and treatment
I received my diagnosis December 9, 2021. With covid, my first mammogram was pushed off since everything was backed up. I had my mammogram and they told me everyone usually gets a call back after their first to get a baseline. I got the call and they scheduled a second mammogram and ultrasound. It was the radiologist who told me. She said that she would be shocked if I did not have breast cancer. I was so scared and alone. My husband was away that afternoon and could not come back. I just cried and cried. I did not want to die and leave my family. I was diagnosed with invasive lobular stage 3. I had 12 lymph nodes positive.
My grandmother on my mom’s side had breast cancer in the 70’s, but I had all genetic testing done and was clear of breast cancer.
Treatment was hard with 5-year-old twins at home. I went into fight mode. I started treatment with a double mastectomy on January 21, 2022 and started chemo March 3, 2022. It was a whirlwind. We did not tell the girls until the week before my surgery because we did not want them to worry. The first question they asked was, “Can we go to school and tell our friends that you are not going to have a chest?” (I did not have reconstruction). So this had to open up the communication with our school about what I was going through. I had 4 red devil treatments followed by 12 taxol and radiation. My oncologist fast tracked my treatment and I completed all chemo July 14, 2022. I pushed through and everyone, said I made chemo look easy. I had a reason to fight and I was not going to let cancer win.
Words of Wisdom
Reach out and use all resources available. Groups like the PA Breast Cancer Coalition and our local 412thrive gave me the support and resources to fight and be my own
advocate for my health. I was able to read the resources given and make my health a priority. No one will tell you “no” if you have done your research.
Challenges
Working and going through treatment with a young family was the hardest. My boss was amazing and told me to take whatever I needed. I work in a chiropractic office, and I tried to not let treatments affect my work.
Bright spots
Friendships – this has given me the opportunity to meet young women just like me! We are our own support system now. I never would have met these amazing women if it was not for my diagnosis. Breast Cancer has taught me to live a little more each day, to love harder and never stop!