Susan’s Story – Life with Stage 2 Breast Cancer
Have you met Susan DePetris? She works for C’s Home and Office Management. You may have spoken with her on the phone at one time or another. You may have seen her around the Hampton area shopping or enjoying an evening with her friends at World Pie or celebrating one of our many community events. But did you know that for the past year she was battling Stage 2 breast cancer? We interviewed Susan so she can share with others what has happened to her. Here is Susan’s story about her life with stage 2 breast cancer.
“In November 2018, I was 54. I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer. I had three lumps in my breast, and it had traveled into one lymph node.”
How was your cancer initially detected?
I found a mass and then some dimpling. I went for a mammogram and a sonogram.
How did you feel when you first head the news?
I didn’t believe it. The lump had been there a while but that entire time I thought it was nothing. I never even thought it could be stage 2 breast cancer.
Please share with us what your treatment process was.
I started my stage 2 breast cancer treatment with eight rounds of chemotherapy. Four rounds of one type of chemo comprised of Adriamycin and Cytoxan and then four rounds of Taxol. For me, this was the worst part of my treatments. Going through Chemo treatments was not fun at all.
Approximately 7 ½ weeks later I had a double mastectomy. About 5 weeks after that, I had to undergo 30 rounds of radiation. I am happy to say that I am now nearing the finish line. I just have reconstruction ahead of me.
Were there any programs or services offered to you that would help with the treatment?
I was put in touch with the Coalition for Women Cancers of Southampton Hospital. The support from them was amazing.
Did you face any obstacles during your treatment process? If so, how did you overcome them?
The Chemotherapy made me very sick in the beginning, but my doctor helped me through that with hydration infusions, vitamin infusion, etc. I found that very helpful and was very grateful for it.
What message would you like to provide women in the community?
Well, I myself waited to go to the doctor for different personal reasons going on in my life at the time. Plus, the fact was, I didn’t believe it was anything to worry about. So, my message would be; “DON’T WAIT” yes, it could be nothing, but it also could be something.
