Patient Perspective: Breast Cancer

Transcript

00:00 --> 00:03Funding for Yale Cancer Answers is provided
00:03 --> 00:07by Smilow Cancer Hospital and Astra Zeneca.
00:07 --> 00:09Welcome to Yale Cancer answers with
00:09 --> 00:11your host doctor in East Tag Power,
00:11 --> 00:13Yale Cancer Answers features the
00:13 --> 00:15latest information on cancer care by
00:16 --> 00:17welcoming oncologists and specialists
00:17 --> 00:19who are on the forefront of the
00:19 --> 00:21battle to fight cancer this week.
00:21 --> 00:23It's a patient perspective on breast
00:23 --> 00:25cancer with breast cancer survivor,
00:25 --> 00:25Claudine Maury.
00:25 --> 00:28Dr Chad Power is a professor of surgical
00:28 --> 00:31oncology at the Yale School of Medicine.
00:33 --> 00:36So I am so excited about this
00:36 --> 00:38show because Claudine is
00:38 --> 00:42one of the most courageous, positive,
00:42 --> 00:45incredibly inspiring people I know.
00:45 --> 00:48And so I maybe we can start with
00:48 --> 00:51your story Claudine. Take us back.
00:51 --> 00:53You know what is it now seven
00:53 --> 00:55years and start the story with
00:55 --> 00:58you know Once Upon a time I was
00:58 --> 01:01perfectly well and then dot dot dot
01:02 --> 01:03Once Upon a time.
01:03 --> 01:05I was the picture of health.
01:05 --> 01:08I had never seen the inside of
01:08 --> 01:12a hospital and that was. June.
01:15 --> 01:205th 2014. Was the day I found my lump,
01:20 --> 01:23which was two days after I had my
01:23 --> 01:26yearly checkup and had a clean bill
01:26 --> 01:28of health and scheduled my routine
01:28 --> 01:30mammogram for two months later.
01:31 --> 01:33So how old were you at that point,
01:33 --> 01:36Claudine? I was 42. You were 42,
01:36 --> 01:38you would just go into the doctor.
01:38 --> 01:40You had gotten a clean bill of
01:40 --> 01:42health and you found this lump
01:42 --> 01:44like just on a on a physical
01:44 --> 01:46exam on your own self breast exam
01:46 --> 01:48sitting. On my couch watching jeopardy.
01:51 --> 01:54I don't know what it was literally
01:54 --> 01:56the right next to my breastbone.
01:56 --> 01:59It almost felt I have no idea
01:59 --> 02:00what made me even reach up.
02:00 --> 02:02I don't know if it hurt.
02:02 --> 02:05I don't know why but it felt like it was
02:05 --> 02:09the size of a pea and I said to my husband.
02:09 --> 02:11I think I just found a lump.
02:11 --> 02:14And I I was one of those people that
02:14 --> 02:17didn't believe in self examinations.
02:17 --> 02:19'cause I was like I don't know how would
02:19 --> 02:21you know what a lump feels like like it.
02:21 --> 02:22It all feels the same.
02:22 --> 02:24It feels I have dense breast tissue,
02:24 --> 02:27so to me I don't know.
02:27 --> 02:29But let me tell you.
02:29 --> 02:30You know your body better than
02:30 --> 02:32anybody else when you feel something
02:32 --> 02:34that doesn't right seem right or
02:34 --> 02:36doesn't feel like it should be there.
02:36 --> 02:38Just trust your gut because
02:38 --> 02:40you know yourself best and
02:40 --> 02:42that is so important, right?
02:42 --> 02:44Like you didn't kind of blow it off and say,
02:44 --> 02:45well, you know the doctor said I was
02:45 --> 02:47fine two days ago, so I must be fine.
02:47 --> 02:49You kind of said no like I know
02:49 --> 02:52me and this doesn't feel like me.
02:52 --> 02:54Well I gave it a I you know what
02:54 --> 02:56I said hey maybe it has something.
02:56 --> 02:59Maybe it's maybe. Maybe it'll go away.
02:59 --> 03:01So I think I gave it two weeks and was
03:02 --> 03:04still there and then I made the phone
03:04 --> 03:07call come when in for another check up.
03:07 --> 03:10Got the diagnostic,
03:10 --> 03:12the prescription prescription for
03:12 --> 03:15the diagnostic ultrasound went in
03:15 --> 03:18got the ultrasound same day which
03:18 --> 03:21I know is extremely unusual I.
03:21 --> 03:2430 minutes later they were doing a biopsy.
03:25 --> 03:27Did that freak you out?
03:27 --> 03:30No, I asked to see and your fight.
03:30 --> 03:32You're going to hear later that's because
03:32 --> 03:35my work schedule was off the chart
03:35 --> 03:38and I was panicking that I wouldn't.
03:38 --> 03:40I didn't know when I was going to be
03:40 --> 03:43able to schedule the time for a biopsy,
03:43 --> 03:44so I said, you know what?
03:44 --> 03:45It was a Friday afternoon.
03:45 --> 03:46It was two o'clock.
03:46 --> 03:49I said can we do it now because I knew you?
03:49 --> 03:53Well, I knew that it was my best shot.
03:53 --> 03:56So they called my doctor.
03:56 --> 03:58She put the the you know she
03:58 --> 03:59put it into the system.
03:59 --> 04:03The approval to have the biopsy and and
04:03 --> 04:07yeah the nurse held my hand while I got
04:07 --> 04:12the biopsy come and that was a Friday.
04:12 --> 04:16Uhm, I don't remember how many days it took,
04:16 --> 04:19but unfortunately I don't recommend
04:19 --> 04:22that process to anyone because
04:22 --> 04:24I kind of bucked the system.
04:24 --> 04:25That's not,
04:25 --> 04:27I guess how it and what do I know.
04:27 --> 04:29I knew nothing about any of this and
04:29 --> 04:31nobody does until they're unfortunately
04:31 --> 04:34thrust into the world of cancer.
04:34 --> 04:37But I guess the typical process is if
04:37 --> 04:39you find something you're supposed to set
04:39 --> 04:41up an appointment with a breast surgeon,
04:41 --> 04:42you see them first.
04:42 --> 04:44You do the biopsy so that when the
04:44 --> 04:47results come back they get the results
04:47 --> 04:49and they read the results to you and
04:49 --> 04:51they explain whatever the results are.
04:51 --> 04:54That didn't happen in my case up.
04:54 --> 04:56So and to be
04:56 --> 04:59honest, you know a lot of people get
04:59 --> 05:02their diagnosis exactly the way you did.
05:02 --> 05:04You know they go for their imaging.
05:04 --> 05:06They get a biopsy and then they go and
05:06 --> 05:08see the breast surgeon who has to explain
05:08 --> 05:11to them what exactly this is in English.
05:11 --> 05:13But I mean it's all good and I love them.
05:13 --> 05:15Fact that you advocated for yourself
05:15 --> 05:17and and you kind of said look,
05:17 --> 05:19you know I don't know when I'm
05:19 --> 05:20going to be able to come back.
05:20 --> 05:21Can we do this now?
05:21 --> 05:24I I think it's so great when
05:24 --> 05:26patients can kind of speak up.
05:26 --> 05:26So when you
05:26 --> 05:28have to, you absolutely have to.
05:28 --> 05:30You have to be your own best advocate. Yeah,
05:31 --> 05:33so you get the biopsy.
05:33 --> 05:34It's a Friday afternoon.
05:34 --> 05:36How was that weekend for you?
05:38 --> 05:41You know how scary.
05:41 --> 05:43I saw you know the when the
05:43 --> 05:45technician was doing the ultrasound,
05:45 --> 05:47I asked them to turn this.
05:47 --> 05:48I could see their face.
05:48 --> 05:52I knew you, you know and I
05:52 --> 05:53knew something wasn't right.
05:53 --> 05:54They keep going over the same
05:54 --> 05:56spot over and over and over.
05:56 --> 05:58And then she got the doctor to come in.
05:58 --> 06:01So I'm like OK this isn't good and I
06:01 --> 06:03asked what they were looking at and
06:03 --> 06:05they turned the screen and I looked at
06:05 --> 06:07the screen and it looks like a cartoon.
06:07 --> 06:11It looked like one of those splat where they?
06:11 --> 06:12Have like a caption,
06:12 --> 06:15but this plot is like very jagged.
06:15 --> 06:16Yeah, that's what it looked like.
06:16 --> 06:18And then there was a little.
06:18 --> 06:20I called it like a little arm and it
06:20 --> 06:23was reaching out to something else.
06:23 --> 06:25Yeah, so I said OK,
06:25 --> 06:27that doesn't look good.
06:27 --> 06:29So you know, I I say this over and over.
06:29 --> 06:33Trust your gut, your your intuition knows.
06:33 --> 06:36Yeah, I knew, UM,
06:36 --> 06:38so I wasn't surprised when the
06:38 --> 06:39doctor called me and stayed in
06:39 --> 06:41her office late for me to get
06:41 --> 06:43there so she could tell me.
06:44 --> 06:46It's good for her so so yeah.
06:46 --> 06:48So she called you into the office and
06:48 --> 06:50you had a conversation in the office.
06:50 --> 06:54Yes, yes, UM it was. It was 5:36 o'clock
06:54 --> 06:56might have been sick at this time.
06:56 --> 07:00I actually saw her come and she had
07:00 --> 07:03told me you have breast cancer.
07:03 --> 07:05I'm, you know, and and of course she's.
07:05 --> 07:07She was very, very kind and tried to
07:07 --> 07:10deliver the news as best as possible.
07:10 --> 07:11But of course that's the worst
07:11 --> 07:13news you could ever have.
07:13 --> 07:14You have breast cancer.
07:14 --> 07:15Who wants to hear those words?
07:15 --> 07:18Yeah, and then I had called my husband
07:18 --> 07:20on the way so I had told him OK,
07:20 --> 07:23she wants me to come in and she's waiting
07:23 --> 07:26so I said it's probably not good news.
07:26 --> 07:28So when I came home I think he
07:28 --> 07:30he knew what I was going to say.
07:30 --> 07:33Yeah and I remember we were sitting in
07:33 --> 07:35the kitchen and I'm gonna tell you this
07:35 --> 07:38was the most life changing experience.
07:38 --> 07:40I probably have ever had.
07:40 --> 07:43Uhm, we were sitting there and kind
07:43 --> 07:46of just trying to absorb the fact
07:46 --> 07:49that this was reality, our reality.
07:49 --> 07:54And I remember looking up and I remember
07:54 --> 07:59asking the question in my mind why me yeah,
07:59 --> 08:02and I'm immediately got an answer and
08:02 --> 08:05it said because you have something
08:05 --> 08:08to learn when it was when I tell
08:08 --> 08:09you it rocked my world,
08:09 --> 08:12I will tell you it was literally
08:12 --> 08:14like somebody slapped me in the face.
08:14 --> 08:17And I said.
08:17 --> 08:17OK.
08:17 --> 08:22I have something to learn and I just said.
08:22 --> 08:23Alright,
08:23 --> 08:25game on let's go and literally I feel
08:25 --> 08:28like I feel like I was the running
08:28 --> 08:31back in the football team that said,
08:31 --> 08:31alright,
08:31 --> 08:33give me the ball and I'm gonna go and
08:33 --> 08:35I'm gonna get over the finish line.
08:35 --> 08:36I don't care how I get there I'm
08:36 --> 08:38putting my head down I'm holding
08:38 --> 08:40that balls close to my chest and
08:40 --> 08:41I'm getting over that finish line
08:41 --> 08:44and that you literally I feel
08:44 --> 08:47like how I took on cancer.
08:47 --> 08:50I just said for you I love
08:50 --> 08:52that not gonna beat me.
08:52 --> 08:53This is not,
08:53 --> 08:55you know cancer.
08:55 --> 08:57Come on game on you took this on
08:57 --> 09:00you're not gonna beat me and.
09:00 --> 09:02The day I met you,
09:02 --> 09:04I knew I'm telling you I
09:04 --> 09:06feel like my doctors,
09:06 --> 09:08my team of doctors was picked from like my
09:08 --> 09:11angels above because I did no research.
09:11 --> 09:13I didn't know anything I didn't want
09:13 --> 09:15to look online because honestly
09:15 --> 09:17you look anything on the Internet.
09:17 --> 09:19If you start researching cancer,
09:19 --> 09:23it's just a black hole of fear and
09:23 --> 09:26that's just not where you want
09:26 --> 09:29your mind to be because.
09:29 --> 09:31You don't know like that stuff
09:31 --> 09:33doesn't pertain to you and why put
09:33 --> 09:35that stuff in your head because
09:35 --> 09:37it's just going to feed negativity
09:37 --> 09:39and fear into your into you.
09:39 --> 09:41That is the last thing you need
09:41 --> 09:43so I didn't do any research.
09:43 --> 09:45I didn't know anything about you.
09:45 --> 09:48I didn't know anything about my oncologist,
09:48 --> 09:50my plastic surgeon nothing,
09:50 --> 09:53and I literally feel like I had
09:53 --> 09:55the A team of doctors.
09:55 --> 09:58I just absolutely loved every
09:58 --> 10:00single one of you.
10:00 --> 10:03Each one of you was exactly what I needed.
10:03 --> 10:05You are the personality I needed.
10:05 --> 10:07You were my cheerleader,
10:07 --> 10:10my plastic surgeon just was the
10:11 --> 10:14most patient and and he needed to
10:14 --> 10:15be patient because unfortunately,
10:15 --> 10:18he and I saw each other a lot because
10:18 --> 10:21I had four surgeries with him.
10:21 --> 10:26Uhm so thank God he was as wonderful
10:26 --> 10:30as he is and my oncologist was
10:30 --> 10:32a complete straight shooter
10:32 --> 10:36because she had to deliver some.
10:36 --> 10:38You know the news that no
10:38 --> 10:39woman wants to hear.
10:39 --> 10:42And. She listened to,
10:42 --> 10:45you know when after,
10:45 --> 10:48after you removed all my cancer from me
10:48 --> 10:51and the reconstruction surgery was done.
10:51 --> 10:52Uhm, you know,
10:52 --> 10:55I'm sitting in the room of oncology,
10:55 --> 10:58and that's when you get the that's
10:58 --> 11:00when you find out how bad your
11:00 --> 11:02cancer really was and she told
11:02 --> 11:03me what I didn't want to hear
11:03 --> 11:05that I was going to need chemo.
11:05 --> 11:07So let's let's take the story
11:07 --> 11:10back a little bit Claudine so.
11:10 --> 11:12So you get home from your doctor's
11:12 --> 11:14office and you're sitting in
11:14 --> 11:16the kitchen with your husband.
11:16 --> 11:18And what happened at that
11:18 --> 11:19point at that point,
11:19 --> 11:20did they make appointments for you
11:20 --> 11:23to see the breast surgeon and the
11:23 --> 11:25oncologist and the radiation oncologist?
11:25 --> 11:27Or how did things kind of evolve?
11:27 --> 11:29I didn't have that for a few days,
11:29 --> 11:31so uhm, it took awhile to
11:31 --> 11:32get an appointment with you.
11:32 --> 11:35It took at least three days just to get
11:35 --> 11:37someone that had an opening quickly,
11:37 --> 11:40and so it was eight days later that I
11:40 --> 11:42I met you and came into your office.
11:43 --> 11:47And and talk a little bit about
11:47 --> 11:49that appointment. Like what?
11:49 --> 11:51What advice do you have for women
11:51 --> 11:54who are in that situation who have
11:54 --> 11:57just been given this advice or
11:57 --> 12:00this news that they've got breast
12:00 --> 12:02cancer and they're getting ready
12:02 --> 12:05to go and see the breast surgeon
12:05 --> 12:07and they feel like their world
12:07 --> 12:09has just been tipped upside down.
12:09 --> 12:12Tell us about that visit and and
12:12 --> 12:15advice that you have for people.
12:16 --> 12:19I would say to stay off the Internet.
12:19 --> 12:21That's number one because like I said,
12:21 --> 12:24it's just you don't know.
12:24 --> 12:26And until you speak to your doctor,
12:26 --> 12:27I think if you want to do some research
12:27 --> 12:29after you speak to your doctor,
12:29 --> 12:32then I think that's fine, but.
12:32 --> 12:35Until you speak to someone professionally,
12:35 --> 12:37you don't. You're not a doctor.
12:37 --> 12:38You're not a doctor.
12:38 --> 12:40You know you can't just go on
12:40 --> 12:42WebMD and find out you know the
12:42 --> 12:44answers to all your questions.
12:44 --> 12:46I think it's great to speak to other
12:46 --> 12:48people that have had breast cancer.
12:48 --> 12:50Yeah, because they will give you the
12:50 --> 12:53best advice and the most honest advice.
12:53 --> 12:56Because it's really scary going into
12:56 --> 12:58that appointment is just very scary.
12:58 --> 13:01UM, and you bring somebody with you, yes,
13:01 --> 13:03and that's exactly I was just going to say.
13:03 --> 13:05I recommend to bring someone with
13:05 --> 13:07you to record the appointment
13:07 --> 13:09because you are in a fog.
13:09 --> 13:12So absolutely have someone with you to ask
13:12 --> 13:14the questions and maybe they do the research.
13:14 --> 13:15You know,
13:15 --> 13:17because maybe they're the ones that
13:17 --> 13:20have more questions and you know so
13:20 --> 13:22that you have an advocate with you
13:22 --> 13:24because you're really you're just.
13:24 --> 13:27A mural in shell shock?
13:27 --> 13:27Yeah,
13:27 --> 13:30when I was talking to you,
13:30 --> 13:31so that's what I would say
13:31 --> 13:34yeah and make sure that you
13:34 --> 13:35really ask all your questions
13:35 --> 13:38and that you don't kind of.
13:38 --> 13:40It's OK to say I don't
13:40 --> 13:42understand what you just said.
13:42 --> 13:44Can you say that in English, right?
13:44 --> 13:45You know what I mean.
13:45 --> 13:47I think that a lot of people they think
13:47 --> 13:49that they're supposed to be so smart.
13:49 --> 13:52And and it's so important that
13:52 --> 13:53you actually understand what
13:53 --> 13:55your doctor is saying and.
13:55 --> 13:57And if you don't speak up
13:58 --> 14:00exactly because all of this
14:00 --> 14:01is new vocabulary you have,
14:01 --> 14:04I had no idea what any of this was.
14:04 --> 14:07So and you were incredible,
14:07 --> 14:09just the way that you handled
14:09 --> 14:11telling me my options,
14:11 --> 14:13my diagnosis, my options, and.
14:13 --> 14:16You know, if I made a decision that day,
14:16 --> 14:19I was I was OK to change that decision
14:19 --> 14:21if I needed to ask you more questions,
14:21 --> 14:23you were there for me and that is
14:23 --> 14:25so important and let me tell you,
14:25 --> 14:28if you do not feel that that doctor is
14:28 --> 14:31good for you, you're going to know.
14:31 --> 14:32Go see somebody else.
14:32 --> 14:33Get it exactly
14:34 --> 14:35such good information.
14:35 --> 14:37We're going to pick up this
14:37 --> 14:39story right after we take a
14:39 --> 14:41short break for medical minute.
14:41 --> 14:44Please stay tuned to learn more
14:44 --> 14:45about Claudine story. Funding
14:45 --> 14:47for Yale Cancer answers comes
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14:49 --> 14:51advancing options and providing
14:51 --> 14:53hope for people living with cancer.
14:53 --> 14:59More information at Astra Zeneca Dash us.com.
14:59 --> 15:01There are over 16.9 million
15:01 --> 15:04cancer survivors in the US and
15:04 --> 15:06over 240,000 here in Connecticut.
15:06 --> 15:08Completing treatment for cancer
15:08 --> 15:10is a very exciting milestone,
15:10 --> 15:12but cancer and its treatment can
15:12 --> 15:14be a life changing experience.
15:14 --> 15:17The return to normal activities in
15:17 --> 15:19relationships may be difficult and
15:19 --> 15:20cancer survivors may face other
15:20 --> 15:22long term side effects of cancer,
15:22 --> 15:24including heart problems,
15:24 --> 15:25osteoporosis,
15:25 --> 15:28fertility issues and an increased
15:28 --> 15:30risk of second cancers.
15:30 --> 15:32Resources for cancer survivors are
15:32 --> 15:34available at federally designated
15:34 --> 15:36Comprehensive cancer centers
15:36 --> 15:38such as the Yale Cancer Center
15:38 --> 15:40and its Milo Cancer Hospital.
15:40 --> 15:42To keep cancer survivors well
15:42 --> 15:44and focused on healthy living,
15:44 --> 15:46the smilow cancer hospital
15:46 --> 15:47Survivorship clinic focuses on
15:47 --> 15:49providing guidance and direction
15:49 --> 15:51to empower survivors to take
15:51 --> 15:53steps to maximize their health,
15:53 --> 15:55quality of life and longevity.
15:55 --> 15:58More information is available
15:58 --> 15:59at yalecancercenter.org you're
15:59 --> 16:01listening to Connecticut.
16:01 --> 16:03Radio welcome
16:03 --> 16:05back to Yale Cancer answers.
16:05 --> 16:07This is doctor Nice Jaguar and I'm joined
16:07 --> 16:09tonight by my guest Claudine Maury.
16:09 --> 16:11We're learning about her journey
16:11 --> 16:13with breast cancer and cluding.
16:13 --> 16:16We were right at the part of the
16:16 --> 16:18story where you had just come to
16:18 --> 16:20see your breast surgeon and you
16:20 --> 16:23gave us a lot of good advice on what
16:23 --> 16:25people should remember when they're
16:25 --> 16:28going to see their doctor at that
16:28 --> 16:30first initial appointment after
16:30 --> 16:33you've been given the diagnosis of.
16:33 --> 16:33Breast cancer,
16:33 --> 16:35so tell us a little bit more
16:35 --> 16:37about what you learned that day.
16:37 --> 16:39How big was your cancer?
16:39 --> 16:40What was the stage?
16:40 --> 16:42What decisions did you have to make,
16:42 --> 16:45and what was the pathway forward in terms
16:45 --> 16:48of your decision-making at that point?
16:48 --> 16:51So we thought we had caught it very early.
16:51 --> 16:56So you had given me my options.
16:56 --> 16:58You explained that having estrogen
16:58 --> 17:01progesterone positive was very good
17:01 --> 17:03because it was one of the most
17:03 --> 17:05common and treatable cancers and
17:05 --> 17:08it was ductal which was another you
17:08 --> 17:10explained was another good thing.
17:10 --> 17:13So I felt like OK, I have that on my side
17:15 --> 17:18and you started to also explain because I
17:18 --> 17:22was 42 years old we started to talk about.
17:22 --> 17:24Risk factors of recurrence.
17:24 --> 17:28And there was a formula that you had kind
17:28 --> 17:32of explained and to me I don't remember
17:32 --> 17:34the exact percentage that you said,
17:34 --> 17:37but whatever the percentage was to me,
17:37 --> 17:40it was too high of a recurrence.
17:40 --> 17:43The younger you are, the longer you live,
17:43 --> 17:45the more probable of a recurrence.
17:45 --> 17:50So quite frankly I said OK,
17:50 --> 17:53this is I'm going to make this the.
17:53 --> 17:56The first and last time I go
17:56 --> 17:58through this so you had explained.
17:58 --> 18:01My options I could have a lumpectomy.
18:01 --> 18:04I could have a single mastectomy.
18:04 --> 18:06Or I could have a double mastectomy
18:06 --> 18:08because of where we lived.
18:08 --> 18:10And it didn't matter if I didn't
18:10 --> 18:13have cancer in my other breast I
18:13 --> 18:15had the option to if I wanted to.
18:15 --> 18:17I could get a double mesec to
18:17 --> 18:21me and that was my choice.
18:21 --> 18:24A very close dear friend and
18:24 --> 18:26coworker had gone through breast
18:26 --> 18:29cancer the year before me and she
18:29 --> 18:32adopted to have a single Miss Ectomy
18:32 --> 18:36and I remember in my mind saying.
18:36 --> 18:39I think I would have just opted for
18:39 --> 18:41the double because I wouldn't want
18:41 --> 18:44the fear of it potentially coming
18:44 --> 18:47back in my other breast and I didn't
18:47 --> 18:49want that hanging over my head and
18:49 --> 18:50that's what I said to myself in
18:50 --> 18:532013 when she was going through it.
18:53 --> 18:55So I'm sitting there in the room
18:55 --> 18:58with you and these are my options
18:58 --> 19:00given to me and I said,
19:00 --> 19:04how do I not go with what I questioned
19:04 --> 19:07a year ago for somebody else?
19:07 --> 19:10And, uhm, you know my husband was with me,
19:10 --> 19:12and although he really wasn't dumb, you know.
19:12 --> 19:14He just looked at me and said the answer.
19:14 --> 19:16You know, the decision is yours.
19:16 --> 19:18I said, well, I.
19:18 --> 19:20Think I'd like to proceed with the
19:20 --> 19:23double msek to me and we kind of
19:23 --> 19:24you said OK and you said, listen,
19:24 --> 19:26you can change your mind at anytime
19:26 --> 19:28before your surgery happens.
19:28 --> 19:31I signed the paperwork and you
19:31 --> 19:34said someone will call me with an
19:34 --> 19:36appointment for the next surgery date.
19:36 --> 19:37And uhm,
19:37 --> 19:41my husband and I walked out of there and.
19:41 --> 19:43I just looked at him and I said that's
19:43 --> 19:45too high of a risk for me and he said,
19:45 --> 19:46quite frankly,
19:46 --> 19:48I agree with you and he said I will
19:48 --> 19:51stand behind whatever decision you make.
19:51 --> 19:53The decision is yours,
19:53 --> 19:53he said.
19:53 --> 19:55But I think you're making the right decision.
19:56 --> 19:58And so I want to just stop
19:58 --> 19:59you there for one second,
19:59 --> 20:01because I think that there's a
20:01 --> 20:03couple of points that I want to.
20:03 --> 20:05You know, kind of amplify here
20:05 --> 20:07and one is and and you talk
20:07 --> 20:09about this all the time too.
20:09 --> 20:11Is surrounding yourself with
20:11 --> 20:13a really supportive tribe?
20:13 --> 20:15Can you talk a little bit about that?
20:17 --> 20:20Well, I will tell you this,
20:20 --> 20:22I never realized how much support I
20:22 --> 20:24had until I've had breast cancer.
20:24 --> 20:32I. I was absolutely amazed I had my
20:32 --> 20:35family and unfortunately I decided
20:35 --> 20:38to not tell my mother and my father
20:38 --> 20:41so I didn't tell my mother until,
20:41 --> 20:44UM, a week before my surgery.
20:44 --> 20:46I told my brother I just didn't
20:46 --> 20:48think my mom could at the time
20:48 --> 20:50what was she was dealing with.
20:50 --> 20:52I didn't feel like she could.
20:52 --> 20:54I didn't want to give her too much time
20:54 --> 20:57to dwell on it, and my father's wife.
20:57 --> 20:58Had just been.
20:58 --> 21:00She was also going through cancer and
21:00 --> 21:03she was in the hospital at the time.
21:03 --> 21:07She was not having a come.
21:07 --> 21:09She wasn't doing well and they
21:09 --> 21:10had just lost their dog.
21:10 --> 21:12So I'm like, Oh my God,
21:12 --> 21:13I feel like I'm going to be
21:13 --> 21:15the third shoe that drops.
21:15 --> 21:15Yeah,
21:15 --> 21:17I just couldn't do that to them
21:17 --> 21:20so and they lived in Florida so I
21:20 --> 21:22really was was I had my husband.
21:22 --> 21:25I had my daughter and who was a away
21:25 --> 21:28at college at the time and I had
21:28 --> 21:32his family and and then I had my
21:32 --> 21:34friends so it's really really good.
21:35 --> 21:38If you can grab someone to go with you.
21:38 --> 21:40To these appointments and there are many,
21:40 --> 21:42many, many appointments.
21:42 --> 21:46UM, so you know.
21:46 --> 21:48I always felt like my Yale,
21:49 --> 21:51my smilow doctors and nurses.
21:51 --> 21:53You were like my family.
21:53 --> 21:55You are like my second family for awhile
21:55 --> 21:59and I mean I love it when I see
21:59 --> 22:00a spouse or partner or friend.
22:01 --> 22:03Whatever saying listen.
22:03 --> 22:05Whatever is your decision,
22:05 --> 22:07I'm there for you. I support you.
22:07 --> 22:09You know it's fine if you want to
22:09 --> 22:11ask their opinion and they tell you,
22:11 --> 22:13yeah, you know, I'm I'm.
22:13 --> 22:15I do the same thing,
22:15 --> 22:17but even otherwise it's so nice
22:17 --> 22:21to just know that that they were
22:21 --> 22:24supporting you in that in that decision.
22:24 --> 22:26So, so that's so critical.
22:26 --> 22:28Support is definitely key,
22:28 --> 22:31yeah, and so you had kind of decided
22:31 --> 22:35that you were going to do double
22:35 --> 22:36mastectomies. And so did you.
22:36 --> 22:38Go and see the plastic surgeon. Next
22:39 --> 22:41I did. I actually interviewed.
22:41 --> 22:452 I went to one that was recommended.
22:45 --> 22:50I believe you had recommended him and I
22:50 --> 22:53also and I also made another appointment
22:53 --> 22:56to see someone else that other people
22:56 --> 23:00had gone to that had had positive
23:00 --> 23:02recommendations about and I interviewed
23:02 --> 23:06them and that's why I say to people, you doe.
23:06 --> 23:08End interview your doctors.
23:08 --> 23:10You do not have to just go
23:10 --> 23:13with who they tell you exactly,
23:13 --> 23:15and because these people you
23:15 --> 23:18are with for a long time,
23:18 --> 23:20it's not just a you know one
23:20 --> 23:21trip and you're done it.
23:21 --> 23:24It's a relationship and you really need
23:24 --> 23:26to be comfortable with these people.
23:26 --> 23:29So come and let me tell you talk
23:29 --> 23:33about a stark contrast in interviews.
23:33 --> 23:39I mean completely different doctors and uhm?
23:39 --> 23:43Oh, I think I Dorothy I had the same
23:43 --> 23:46person go to both appointments with me.
23:46 --> 23:48They were on different days so
23:48 --> 23:49she got the same information,
23:49 --> 23:52heard the same information kind of got the
23:52 --> 23:56same vibe that I did and it was hands down.
23:56 --> 23:59We knew exactly who the doctor was going
23:59 --> 24:02to be and and that's why I say to anyone,
24:02 --> 24:04trust your gut a totally
24:04 --> 24:05if you get something.
24:05 --> 24:09If you get it, there's energy is.
24:09 --> 24:11Gee, you feel someone's energy.
24:11 --> 24:13You know when it jives with yours.
24:13 --> 24:15And you know, when it doesn't.
24:15 --> 24:18So trust that feeling it is so
24:18 --> 24:21critical in every aspect of life.
24:21 --> 24:22So dumb.
24:22 --> 24:23So yes.
24:23 --> 24:28So I had you and my breast my restrict
24:28 --> 24:31bum sorry my reconstructive surgeons,
24:31 --> 24:32my reconstructive surgeon,
24:32 --> 24:36yeah. And that's so so important, right?
24:36 --> 24:39Is is you've got to make sure that.
24:39 --> 24:42That it's a relationship that clicks right?
24:42 --> 24:45Because these are long term relationships
24:45 --> 24:47and and I love the concept of,
24:47 --> 24:48you know, interviewing people,
24:48 --> 24:50getting a second opinion if
24:50 --> 24:52you're if you're gonna buy a car,
24:52 --> 24:54you test drive a couple of cars
24:54 --> 24:55before you make it decision.
24:55 --> 24:57You know you look at a couple of
24:57 --> 24:59houses before you buy a house.
24:59 --> 25:01This is this is your your life and
25:01 --> 25:04your body and it's important that you,
25:04 --> 25:06you know put the same effort into
25:06 --> 25:08finding the team that's right for you.
25:08 --> 25:10Exactly and so with surgery.
25:10 --> 25:12The next thing that happened
25:13 --> 25:16yes, three weeks later I had an
25:16 --> 25:19appointment to have my surgery
25:19 --> 25:21and So what was that like?
25:21 --> 25:23I mean, what was it like waking
25:23 --> 25:25up the day of surgery and
25:25 --> 25:28knowing today's like the big day?
25:28 --> 25:32So my this is just as crazy so my brother my
25:32 --> 25:35brother came so my brother lives on long.
25:35 --> 25:37My family lives in Long Island.
25:37 --> 25:38My brother came the night
25:38 --> 25:40before and stayed over.
25:40 --> 25:43He wanted to be with us with me and keep
25:44 --> 25:48Jim Company while I was in surgery and so.
25:48 --> 25:53The morning you know, the day comes.
25:53 --> 25:58It's August 28th, 2014 and I think my
25:58 --> 26:01surgery was scheduled for 11:00 AM.
26:01 --> 26:04And it was the day that there
26:04 --> 26:10was a fatal accident on 95 Oh no,
26:10 --> 26:12and someone, a friend,
26:12 --> 26:16two friends had texted me saying that hey,
26:16 --> 26:17just a heads up.
26:17 --> 26:19Traffic is really bad,
26:19 --> 26:21the highways closed and where is it?
26:21 --> 26:22It's at Long Wharf.
26:24 --> 26:27Unfortunately, I didn't see that
26:27 --> 26:30text until I was ready to leave.
26:30 --> 26:31Well, let me just tell you, yeah,
26:31 --> 26:34it's only a 15 minute drive from my house,
26:34 --> 26:38but that day it was an hour and a half.
26:38 --> 26:41So when I tell you and and I literally
26:41 --> 26:43felt like I was in Grand Theft Auto.
26:43 --> 26:47OK, so I'm we are trying to get to Yale
26:47 --> 26:50and we literally hit a roadblock every
26:50 --> 26:54single term we made now like an idiot,
26:54 --> 26:55I left my phone at home.
26:55 --> 26:56Note yeah I left my phone
26:56 --> 26:57at home 'cause I'm like,
26:57 --> 26:59oh, I don't need my phone.
26:59 --> 27:01Did it give Jim?
27:01 --> 27:03Jim didn't have my
27:03 --> 27:05brother's cell phone number?
27:05 --> 27:07I didn't exchange so my brother
27:07 --> 27:10is just following us so you know,
27:10 --> 27:13and Jim has to go all these back
27:13 --> 27:16roads and we think my brother is
27:16 --> 27:18behind me the whole time and I'm
27:18 --> 27:21calling Yale at trying to tell them
27:21 --> 27:23that I'm going to be late and I'm
27:23 --> 27:26like I can't believe I'm late to my
27:26 --> 27:28surgery like late is kind of my middle
27:28 --> 27:31name and Jim always makes fun of me,
27:31 --> 27:32but I'm like,
27:32 --> 27:34are you kidding me like how
27:34 --> 27:35could this be happening and.
27:35 --> 27:38It was literally like every turn we
27:38 --> 27:41made like it was like the the person
27:41 --> 27:44came up in the video game with the with
27:44 --> 27:47like the stop and it it was just it was.
27:47 --> 27:49If you were watching it you would
27:49 --> 27:52think it was hysterical and we finally
27:52 --> 27:54get to the the air rights garage and
27:54 --> 27:57we think my brother is behind me and
27:57 --> 28:00the car drives right by us and I go
28:00 --> 28:03Oh my God that wasn't my brother.
28:03 --> 28:04We have no idea where he is.
28:04 --> 28:09So I ran into to the hospital.
28:09 --> 28:12My blood pressure was through the roof.
28:12 --> 28:14I hadn't been able to drink
28:14 --> 28:16because of course, you know,
28:16 --> 28:17so I'm dehydrated.
28:17 --> 28:20Of course it comes time to for doctor
28:20 --> 28:23out to find my vein to put the Ivy in.
28:23 --> 28:25Couldn't find one 'cause the blood
28:25 --> 28:26pressure is up and dehydration
28:26 --> 28:28had to go through my hand.
28:28 --> 28:30It was so yeah,
28:30 --> 28:31so that was not fun.
28:34 --> 28:37Claudia Marie is a breast cancer survivor.
28:37 --> 28:38If you have questions,
28:38 --> 28:39the address is cancer.
28:39 --> 28:42Answers at yale.edu and past editions of
28:42 --> 28:45the program are available in audio and
28:45 --> 28:48written form at Yale Cancer Center Org.
28:48 --> 28:50We hope you'll join us next week to
28:50 --> 28:51learn more about the fight against
28:51 --> 28:53cancer here on Connecticut Public
28:53 --> 28:55radio funding for Yale Cancer
28:55 --> 28:57Answers is provided by Smilow
28:57 --> 29:00Cancer Hospital and Astra Zeneca.

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October 31, 2021

Yale Cancer Center

visit: http://www.yalecancercenter.org

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