Keeshone Cook
- Angela Inspires
- Jul 1, 2022
- 4 min read
Introduction
My name is Keeshone Cook. I was diagnosed with stage 2-3 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma at the age of 36 with a very aggressive tumor.
Diagnosis
One afternoon while in the shower, I felt a lump on my upper right breast. I didn't think much of it because in 2002 I had been diagnosed with a benign fibroid adenoma in my left breast. I thought maybe it was the same thing and I had no family history of cancer. About a month later it grew very large and could be seen poking through my skin. I became alarmed and scheduled an appointment to see a doctor. I went to my gynecologist to have her look at it and she became very concerned and had me go to a breast surgeon that same day. The breast surgeon performed an ultrasound and told me he would have the results the following week.
On March 1st, 2010 I was informed to come in to see the breast surgeon for my results. I did manage to go to work that day but I could not even think straight wondering what if? I was praying at work all day about the results. I clocked out of my job for what seemed like the longest walk ever to my car. Part of me wanted to know and part of me didn't. I had a good job, a nice home, my family was happy and I didn't need anything to interrupt my life. As I sat in the waiting room the doctor entered the room and he sat down and opened his computer and looked at me and said, “I'm sorry but you have breast cancer”. At that moment it seemed like I was frozen I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I said, “OK” and didn't ask any questions because I was speechless. He handed me some pamphlets and told me to schedule an appointment with an oncologist. I was diagnosed with stage 2-3 breast cancer with an aggressive tumor.
I don't know how I made it to my car but when I did I broke down crying. My world was forever changed. I had a biopsy which confirmed the diagnosis, I had to go to a chemotherapy teaching and things just didn't seem real until the day I had to have my port put in that's when it hit me that this was real. The next 6 months of my life consisted of chemotherapy treatments, called (TAC) Taxotere, Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide. I continued to work in between chemo treatments to help keep my mind off of bad things. After chemo I had radiation treatments followed by at least 5 surgeries which consisted of bilateral mastectomy which was my decision and then tissue expansion, Diep flap surgery and nipple reconstruction the left side nipple got infected and had to be removed. I also ended up with a very bad burn from the radiation treatments I was so ready for all of this to be over! The Diep flap surgery was the most serious and very scary it ended up being an eight hour surgery and I had to stay in ICU to make sure the tissue that was taken from my stomach didn't die. I ended up having a silicone implant on the left breast and my own tissue on the right. This happened because the right side didn't stretch the way my breast surgeon wanted it too and he suggested I use my own tissue.
I continued to work and my boss worked with me during this difficult time and was truly grateful. I had to work to keep my mind off of what I was going through. My husband was so supportive and he was often emotional just watching me fight this ugly disease. He was my biggest cheerleader he would often tell me we are going to beat this! My co-workers were very supportive I looked forward to seeing the happy faces and flowers they would draw on my IV medication bag to make me feel better! I worked as a pharmacy technician in a hospital and one of my job duties were to mix chemotherapy for cancer patients and I ended up becoming a patient myself! You never know what life will bring. I was completely blown away! I kept a positive attitude and always told myself I will beat this ugly disease! I wanted to live not only for me but I had a son who was my only child and I couldn't imagine not being here for him. I fought with everything in me I prayed and continued to think positive and when people at work would find out I was fighting breast cancer they would ask me how do I continue to work and smile and look as good as I looked…Lol! I would tell them it was nothing but God and the will to live!
Life Now as a Breast Cancer Survivor
Life after breast cancer has not been easy I make the best of it even with all the scars, the pain, the fatigue, the memory loss and trying to find my purpose after the fighting the hardest battle of my life! I thank God for it all because what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and I AM STRONGER THAN CANCER!!!!
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