Karin: Breast Cancer Survivor since 2008

Karin went every year for her annual Well Woman exam and yearly Mammogram. She had been having mammograms since she was 40 and when digital mammography was available she started having those.  Every year she received a card in the mail saying her mammogram was normal. It was never mentioned in those letters to Karin that she had “Heterogeneously Dense Breasts” or that it could be an issue until January 2008.

Karin had lost several friends to breast cancer over the years and was diligent about self-exams until the summer of 2007.  “I was always afraid I wasn’t doing my self-exams accurately even though I had been shown how to, that and the fact I had lost several friends to the disease. The fear was always at the back of my mind.” Karin decided that she was becoming too obsessive about her self-exams and decided to take a break from them for a few months.

A few months became a bit longer, partly due to the fact she had been having abdominal pain for a few weeks in September and was diagnosed with a small ovarian cyst, which was rechecked in December and had gone away. Due to this Karin had postponed her yearly well women and mammogram. She started to examine her breast again and discovered a lump; she went to her gynecologist in January 2008. She was sent to have a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound. The diagnostic mammogram didn’t find the mass but the ultrasound did and she was set up for a biopsy the next week. She received a copy of her report from the mammogram and ultrasound, it stated she had “Heterogeneously Dense Breasts” this was the first time she had been informed of this.

“Consequently I was diagnosed with Stage 3A locally advanced  breast Cancer; I was 48 years old at the time and was considered young for the disease” I tested negative for the Braca 1 and Braca 2  genetic mutations and my family history has only one person who had Breast Cancer, a Great Aunt on my mother’s side.”

Karin then started her treatment journey. She started with a Breast Surgeon and a Bi-lateral Breast MRI, which showed the cancer, was more extensive in her breast than the ultrasound had shown. She then underwent 6 cycles of chemotherapy, a modified radical mastectomy, 19 lymph nodes removed and six weeks of radiation. “I am happy to be alive and try to appreciate every day that I have. Whenever I get too intense or upset about something, I remind myself I am a cancer survivor and nothing is more important than my health or wellbeing.”

Karin is now a volunteer for the Arizona Oncology Resource Services Center. She wanted to give back to the Cancer Community, “I feel a great sense of satisfaction when I assist another survivor who is going through treatment, I hope that I am a bright spot for them in the midst of all the uncertainty that a cancer diagnosis brings.”

“My wish is that information and appropriate diagnostic testing will become more available and affordable to women who have density issues.  Mammograms are important tests but may not be enough for Women with Breast Density. My message to women is, ask if you have dense breasts, because you may not know you do.  Inquire if an ultrasound or Breast MRI in addition to a Mammogram might be appropriate for you. Be diligent about self exam, be your own advocate. I can’t stress that enough.”