Coping with an Unexpected Diagnosis
- A woman, 29, who dealt with unexplained weight loss and a noticeable knot under her armpit was dismissed by multiple doctors until one gave her “knot” an ultrasound, leading to the discovery of stage 3 breast cancer.
- The woman’s breast cancer type was inflammatory breast cancer, which is “rare and aggressive,” according to the National Cancer Institute.
- Inflammatory breast cancer means the cancer cells block lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. This type of breast cancer is called “inflammatory” because the breast often looks swollen and red or inflamed.
- The woman received chemotherapy and radiation for treatment. Chemo works by traveling through the bloodstream, killing cancerous cells. However, the process also impacts healthy cells, leading to side effects.
- Radiotherapy during breast cancer treatment kills cancer cells in a targeted way. With breast cancer, it is often used after surgery to kill off any cancer cells that may remain in the breast or surrounding area.
A North Carolina high school band teacher found herself steadily vomiting and losing weight. Now 150 pounds lighter, Heaven Watson-Weary, 29, sought an explanation for her medical mystery. Despite seeing multiple doctors, some even suggesting there was nothing wrong with her, she finally got answers after a suspicious mass under her arm was biopsied.
“It didn’t feel like anything crazy. It didn’t hurt. But once they ultrasound the knot, they said, ‘Oh well, she needs a biopsy,” Watson-Weary told WBTV News.
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“We would be at [a band] competition sometimes, and I’m legitimately sick, like throwing up behind the bus. I lost 150 pounds over the two and a half years with me doing that throwing-up stuff,” Watson-Weary explained.
The beloved band teacher also expressed frustration with several doctors dismissing her concerning symptoms.
“Being told that there was nothing wrong with me, it was all in my head that, you know, I need to see a psychiatrist for my anxiety. I needed to be on medication for those things. I need to see a therapist. Because, you know, all of this was in my head,” Watson-Weary said.
Watson-Weary was diagnosed with Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), this type of breast cancer is rare and very aggressive.
An IBC diagnosis means the “cancer cells block lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. This type of breast cancer is called “inflammatory” because the breast often looks swollen and red, or inflamed,” the NCI explains.
After the 29-year-old teacher learned she was facing breast cancer, she began treatment. She needs multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Watson-Weary says since undergoing treatment, she’s been “cancer-free,” where scans reveal no evidence of disease for four months as of October 2024.
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- Breaking Down the Major Shift in Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
- Chemotherapy Side Effects – Hair Loss
- Chemotherapy Side Effects – Neuropathy
Undergoing Chemo for Breast Cancer
Watson-Weary endured six rounds of chemotherapy and 21 rounds of radiation for treatment.
Chemotherapy is an effective tool for oncologists to help treat cancer by stopping cancerous cells from growing, dividing, and spreading to other organs. Chemo works by traveling through the bloodstream, killing cancerous cells. However, the process also impacts healthy cells, leading to side effects.
WATCH: Managing chemo side effects.
Patients almost universally experience fatigue, often alongside gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea. Doctors have many effective medications to combat chemo-induced nausea. “But mitigating that fatigue often depends on the patient,” Gynecologic Oncologist Dr. Renata Urban said.
“Neuropathy is probably one of the most challenging side effects,” Dr. Urban continued.
Neuropathy results from damage to the peripheral nerves. It usually resolves after chemotherapy treatment, but sometimes symptoms can persist. While it’s typically characterized by numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation in the hands and feet, neuropathy can have several different symptoms, including:
- Weakness in the hands or feet
- Stabbing or burning pain in the hands or feet
- Difficulty gripping, such as when holding a fork
- Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as writing or buttoning a shirt
Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy. When chemotherapy affects the rapidly dividing cells in the stomach lining, the resulting cellular havoc in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to side effects such as nausea and vomiting. However, doctors can help patients mitigate the hit with various medications before, during, and after treatment.
“Part of the chemotherapy prescription includes a set regimen of anti-nausea medications…We also ensure patients have medications at home that they can use should they develop nausea after treatment,” Dr. Urban added.
Tips to Navigating Chemo Side Effects
Doctors don’t have an arsenal of prescription medications to combat fatigue. However, you can do several things to help minimize the hit and restore your energy.
- Exercise: While it may be counterintuitive, physical activity can help alleviate side effects, especially fatigue. “Although ovarian cancer is not common, we often draw upon the experience of patients with breast cancer and colon cancer that have shown that physical activity can not only improve quality of life but may also have beneficial impacts on cancer outcomes,” Dr. Urban says.
- Eat well: Even though nausea may interfere with your ability to eat a healthy diet, it’s essential to ensure you’re eating appropriately, getting enough protein, and not losing weight. Not only will nourishing your body support your recovery, but it may also help you feel more energized.
- Sleep: Want to mitigate fatigue? Be sure to maintain your regular sleep-wake cycle while on treatment. Sticking to a set sleep schedule helps reduce fatigue by ensuring enough hours for your body to heal and restore itself each night. It may also help you recover more quickly by keeping energy levels high during the daytime.
Radiotherapy and Breast Cancer
The purpose of radiation is to kill cancer cells in a targeted way. With breast cancer, it is often used after surgery to kill off any cancer cells that may remain in the breast or surrounding area.
“When it comes to radiation therapy for the breast, what we’re learning is that shorter courses of radiation, like short courses whole breast, may be associated with equal clinical outcomes and even the potential for reduced side effects,” Dr. Chirag Shah, director of breast radiation oncology at the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, explains to SurvivorNet.
WATCH: Debates Around Radiation for Breast Cancer
Although radiation is helpful during treatment, it can leave patients with irritating side effects. One side effect includes skin discoloration and irritation. Bright red or dark reddish coloration and swollen skin is possible. Skin dryness, itchiness, flaky skin, and blistered skin are potential side effects of radiation. Fortunately, some moisturizing creams exist to help mitigate the discomfort.
What To Ask Your Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may have questions about keeping your strength through treatment. Here are a few questions to help you begin the conversation with your doctor:
- What treatment will I be receiving?
- What side effects are associated with this treatment?
- Are there steps I can take daily to help minimize these side effects?
- What physical activity routine do you recommend for me during treatment?
- Do you have recommendations for someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy exercise?
- Can you recommend a dietician who can help me with healthy eating tips and weight maintenance?
- I’ve been having trouble sleeping. Do you have any treatment recommendations?
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