A Different kind of Warrior - I am a Previvor

Tell the world who you are!

I am Heidi E. Senior and I am a Breast Cancer Previvor.  I am a Wife of 14 years to an amazing husband and mother to 5 wonderful children, one of whom is grown with his own brand new daughter.  My story is for them. I live and work as a Life and Business Coach, Author/Ghostwriter and soon to be Speaker in the beautiful up and coming town of Braselton, Georgia.

How did you learn about your diagnoses?

In 2017, I applied for my Military Medical Benefits ( I am a 10 year U.S, Army Veteran) during my initial visit my doctor suggested I have my first mammogram just to get a baseline of my breast tissue as I had never had a mammogram before.  I was 46 years old and had recently learned that my biological mother was of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.  I am half African American and half Jewish.  This baseline mammogram led to a abnormal screening and thus a summer filled with tests and biopsies.  It ended with a diagnosis and a lumpectomy in December of that same year.  My Primary Care Physician wasn't satisfied with just stopping there. She felt due to my ethnic background, Family history of Breast Cancer on my fathers side, more tests and screenings should occur.  As I learned more about my biological mother and her family, I found out that she and her mother had died of Breast Cancer at ages 53 and 55.  This led to me being seen by both a oncologist and a geneticist .   They both pushed forward for the genetic mutation screening for BRCA.  In my interview with the geneticist , she told me the hardest words I have ever heard and changed my life forever.  She said, "regardless of your BRCA status, you are at a crossroads - your lifetime risk is above 62% BEFORE the results of the BRCA testing so you have to make a decision. Increased screenings or Mastectomy."   How did you respond?  I was shocked!  I had concluded in my mind that I would be BRCA negative and this would be behind me. It took me a while to come to terms that my risk would lead me to make the decision even before knowing my status. Weeks went by and I awaited the results. But I was still tormented because a choice had to be made. The results came back and I am BRCA negative, a sigh of relief for my children's future but there was still the matter of my lifetime risk.  I feel depressed, unsure and doubtful. my days were filled with thoughts of what if I don't ever get cancer, then I will have chosen mastectomy unnecessarily. On the contrary, I thought I could chose increase surveillance and kept my breast, but I couldn't fathom living waiting for results or worse waiting for cancer to rear its ugly head.  In the words of my surgeon in my consultation appointment, "you are a ticking time bomb".

What type of treatment did you receive?

in May 2019 I underwent a 12 hour surgery, Prophylactic Double Mastectomy with immediate reconstruction - DIEP. In layman terms I elected to preventative have my breast tissue removed and my abdominal tissue, veins and arteries were used to reconstruct the breast.  I am still coming to terms with no nipples, no feeling and awaiting phase 2 reconstruction. I still question my choice and feel guilty that I am not completely at peace with my choice because I know too many warriors that didn't get to fight the Goliath before the first stone was thrown.

Comical experience that made you smile during your journey?

For some months after reconstruction, your newly reconstructed "foobs" as they are called are hard and feel like hard, stiff boulders on your chest.  About 4 months Post op, I was walking in the house and I felt them "jiggle" It caught me so off guard that I  had to stop and "jiggle them again" I ran to my 13 yr old daughter with so much excitement that they felt somewhat soft and that they jiggled - I begged her to squish them and watch them jiggle. I felt oddly normal for that moment, soft, jiggly breast - sort of breast.   My daughter reluctantly obliged , she didn't understand my excitement and was not amused. I was!

Who/what has been the biggest inspiration during your journey?

Myself.  I have stretched myself and for once in a longtime acknowledged my own strength and tenacity. I have stepped out of my comfort zone and found my passion of who I want to help. Women like me that didn't have a strong support system. My husband and children were amazing but because I have always taken care of them, they didn't quite know how to take care of me throughout this journey. I found strength in leaning on my Faith and allowing my eyes to wee who God made me to be.

Advice or encouragement you would like to share with the breast cancer/previvor

As African American women, we are often not advised or offered genetic testing, if you know that you have a strong family history - demand the testing.  Initially I was denied the testing and as a Veteran would probably not received it, it wasn't until the oncologist insisted BECAUSE I was of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.

Put your superwoman cape in the dry cleaners- let go and let your family do what ever you need done, take the time to heal.  Lean on your faith and know that God is in charge of your healing therefore you KNOW you will Whole and healed.

I can be found on FaceBook: Heidi E Senior  IG: Heidi Senior Coming Soon to You Tube and my website is under construction.