Fighting Breast Cancer
Survival, hope are becoming the norm
When Celeste Clutter came to the area three years ago, she found herself in a whirlwind of moving, working and adjusting to her new home. When she finally booked her appointment for a mammogram, COVID hit and she found herself on furlough and postponed what usually is a routine exam.
A year later, through self-detection, she found a lump in her right breast and called her doctor, who immediately ordered a mammogram.
“I got confirmation that it was indeed cancer,” she said.
On April 7 of this year and at the age of 50, she heard her diagnosis of ductal carcinoma, a high Stage II breast cancer, that is estrogen and hormone produced.
Although being diagnosed with any cancer is a life changing moment, Clutter is taking it on with a positive attitude and a tremendous support system.
Although every woman’s cancer journey is different, Clutter’s positivity is warranted as breast cancer survival rates have improved dramatically in recent decades, providing hope to the millions who might be diagnosed in the years to come.
Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in women across the globe, affecting millions of women each year, including 2 million plus in 2020. Such figures are sobering, but it’s important to recognize that survival is the rule, not the exception.
In fact, the World Health Organization reports that at the end of 2020 nearly 8 million women were living despite having been diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in the preceding five years.
Among the reasons for the improving survival rates are new and better treatments, early detection and education.
Clutter describes her journey as riding a roller coaster in the dark.
“You don’t know from one second to the next what is going to happen. You don’t know how you are going to feel emotionally, physically, the next scan, the next test,” she said.
On May 31, she had a double mastectomy, as her doctors told her there was more than a 90 percent chance of the cancer recurring.
“I decided to have both breasts removed. That was a very hard decision. It wasn’t taken lightly by myself, or my team. I have a team of doctors. I have six. Every one of them gave the facts and left the decision to me,” Clutter said of the surgery.
When all the tissue, mass and lymph nodes were removed, she opted to have expanders put in for reconstruction surgery following chemo treatments.
Unfortunately, after surgery, a PET scan detected something questionable in her liver, and on her spine. Fortunately what they saw in the liver was fatty tissue that developed over the years. The mass on her spine: cancer on her T5 vertebrae.
“It had metastasized from the front to my back pretty much, which they say is pretty common,” she said.
Her first chemo treatment was on July 25, followed by at least two more chemo treatments and eight to 12 weeks of radiation on her right breast and T5. For the next 10 years, she also has to take an oral chemotherapy because of her age and the nature of this cancer.
She shared her story in advance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is October.
“I want to make sure that everybody knows my story because it can help. If it can help one person then that is important to me. It’s not for attention, it is the facts. More people go through it than you know,” Clutter said.
October is Lee Health provides many tests for both preventative measures and detection of breast cancer.
Breast Health Nurse Navigator Frances Hutchinson said they have a 3-D mammography, which can detect 40 percent more; therefore reducing false positives. If a patient needs additional diagnostic imaging, there is the ultrasound guided breast biopsy, 3D stereotactic biopsy and MRI guided biopsies.
“We are here for the community. There is someone like myself to help through that,” she said of providing guidance through the process.
There is also assistance provided through a mammogram fund for those who are uninsured or underinsured and cannot afford the out-of-pocket cost. Individuals will go through an application process and, if they qualify, the assistance will be provided for the screening and diagnostic ultrasounds. There also is assistance through the Sharon MacDonald Fund for those diagnosed with breast cancer and in need of assistance.
Assistance can also be provided when a patient loses their hair.
Hair FX Owner Susan Murphy, a 11-year breast cancer survivor, has a collection of approximately 100 wigs at her salon. Although she has provided wigs for musicals for 35 years, it was not until a client walked in with a wig that did not suit her well, that her focus then included cancer patients.
“It’s amazing when you make someone beautiful. When you give a cancer patient a wig, you are changing their life. You are helping them get through it, giving them confidence. The more they are taking care of themselves, the better they feel going through it,” Murphy said.
Since she too has experienced much of what her clients are going through, shopping for a wig often becomes a fun experience. She has a collection of traditional hair colors and some fun colors, such as pink and lavender.
“It helps them look in the mirror and not see a sick person every day,” Murphy said.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com