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Maureen’s Story

Site created on June 4, 2019

I have breast cancer; I still can’t believe that statement.

I have been getting annual mammograms since 1992 when I was 37 years old. I am now 64. I’ve had a benign lump removed, there have been a few other second look mammograms, and even a biopsy since that time but the reports were always, “No, you’re good. Come back next year.”

This year there was another second mammogram of the right breast, the same troublesome breast. The radiologist called me in and said what he probably often says, “We see an area that should be looked at more closely. 90% of the time there is nothing. We should do a biopsy”. I said fine, I knew the routine. I put it off until Niki and I would be back from our upcoming Maui vacation. I didn’t want a biopsy wound to keep me out of the ocean. I had fish to snorkel with. It could wait.

Three days after returning from Hawaii the biopsy finally happened, March 27th. The original mammogram had been two months prior.

April 1st became a new date that I will never forget. The radiologist called me at home and said that I needed to talk to a surgeon. That brought the stress level right up. I had what is called DCIS, Ductal Carcinoma In Situ. I didn’t really know what that was, but evidently it is common. Some cancer cells had started to grow in a milk duct. I can look up stuff on the computer. Stage 0 cancer didn’t sound so bad. After all, is it really cancer if it hasn’t invaded anything?

Fortunately the hospital closest to me has a satellite of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. I am working with them. I had heard of their great reputation. I was immediately connected with a nurse navigator with them. Her job was to take me along every step that needed to happen and help me in any possible way that I needed. She made all the appointments that needed to be made.

So much has happened since that day.; A breast MRI was first done for the surgeon to really get a better view of everything in both breasts before she saw me and could even talk about what kind of surgery was needed. Turned out the DCIS was kind of large and another area looked questionable so removing those segments would be quite deforming. My decision was to go ahead with a mastectomy. I had no intention of trying to save some breast segment that would need to be radiated or worried about forever. I wanted this done with and behind me.

The initial conversation with the oncologist made it sound like I could just take an aromatase drug that would block further estrogen positive cancer cells like this in the future from growing cancer again.

Since there were some other random cancers in my family it was suggested that I talk with a genetic counselor. If the BRCA gene mutations were found I was ready to undergo a double mastectomy. The bad genes were not found, yay for that. Waiting for the DNA results put the surgery date at May 7th at Northwest Hospital.

The surgery was about 3 hours. During surgery the sentinel nodes were traced to the breast. 3 nodes were removed. I stayed overnight at the hospital. It all seemed to go as planned, except for my high blood sugars. I have been living with type 1 diabetes for 27 years. Diabetes is my daily challenge and constant worry. The blood sugars have finally gotten back to where they need to be.

One last major detail to do, talk to the surgeon one week following the surgery. She would have the pathology report from all the tissue removed during the surgery. That was when the other shoe dropped. The first news was very good. The margins were clear and there was no cancer in the sentinel nodes. The not so good news, the cancer was not stage 0 but stage 1A. The cancer had left the ducts and invaded the breast. It was also found to be HER2 positive. That has been historically a more aggressive cancer. I would need chemo now. Back to the good news. There is a specific chemo called Herceptin that goes after the HER2. The surgeon said my prognosis is excellent. I would only need “chemo lite.” Is that even a thing? As much as I wanted this over with ASAP, that will have to be a little farther out.

Back to the oncologist, new plan, my schedule is now set. Beginning June 18, I will be getting chemo for the next year. Monday will be blood draws. Tuesday will be chemo. It will be every week for 12 weeks with both Taxol and Herceptin. After that it will drop to every 3 weeks with just the Herceptin. The oncologist said that Taxol is known for nausea and hair loss. I don’t look forward to any of that. Last week I had a port installed in my upper chest for both infusions and blood draws. It is under the skin. So far that device has been very hard to ignore. I guess I’ll have quite a while to get used to it.

My biggest concern is always managing the diabetes, so many unknowns with chemo. Tomorrow I will be talking to the Diabetes Care Center at UW who have been so great at helping me stay complication free for so long.

A lot of people know me only as the carpenter that I worked as for 31 years. But first I was an RN. Even at the time that I was a nurse I knew this wasn’t what I would continue as my lifelong career. Now in hindsight it makes perfect sense in how important it has been for me to have that knowledge. Most importantly I also have the perfect person, Niki, to help me on this cancer journey. Despite these ailments I always still feel blessed. Isn’t God amazing, every detail worked out so perfectly.

I know that you are in my life for a reason. I can use all of your prayers and good energy to help make this good prognosis happen.

Maureen

Newest Update

Journal entry by Maureen Tverberg — Jul 15, 2020

I'm done. The nurses at the cancer unit where I was being treated came to the door in late June during my last infusion to give me a cheer and bid me well. Friday the port was taken out. That's it.

I've been asked about future cancer screenings. So many cancer victims have cancer markers tracked and other body scans done. That is not what will happen in my case. I was told that cancer markers are not used with nonmetistatic cancer like mine. I will continue with yearly mammograms, colonoscopies, and annual physicals as usual. That is what I've been directed to do. I will do that.

I feel so fortunate to have had a cancer treatment that was tolerable. It seemed tolerable to me. Surrounded by so many competent, kind, loving, and supportive people made all the difference in the world. I will not kid you. I felt depressed and tired more than I have ever been. But I can stand anything if I can imagine that it is only for a finite period of time.

It's time to move on. Now we duck and cover to stay away from the Covid virus. I so miss seeing my friends and family. I can be patient though. I just had a good lesson. I can do this. I just have to believe that this pandemic won't be forever.

Thank you for helping me on this bumpy road we call life. Every one of you have meant more than you can imagine.

Stay well.

Love, Maureen

Read More of the journal titled "July 15, 2020 Finally Done"

Summer in Seattle on our deck.

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