Testimony!
Sistaz with Faith (Erika Watkins Breast Cancer Foundation) was founded on September 4th, 2009 by Erika Watkins, a breast cancer survivor.
This is my testimony: I discovered a lump and went to the emergency room on January 27, 2008. I was set up for a mammogram on January 29, 2008 just 2 days later. During the month of February 2008 I followed up on my mammogram and was told that my mammogram was normal and that I did not have cancer. Due to the growth of this tumor, which I was told wasn't cancer, I felt a need to follow up again on March 31, 2008.
During my doctor's visit on March 31, I expressed to the doctor the pain I was experiencing. The doctor took a look at my left breast by this time the tumor was visible to the naked eye and all the signs of breast cancer were there: inverted nipple, discharge coming from the breast, breast enlarging and the tumor. The doctor decided at that point to do a needle biopsy. On April 16, 2008 I went in for the results of my biopsy, only to hear that the test came back inconclusive. I was told that normally cancer is not painful, so he wasn't sure why I was experiencing pain in my breast, he then suggested to wait 3 months and do a repeat on the mammogram. I had a gut feeling that something wasn't right and maybe I was being misdiagnosed. So following my gut feeling I asked to be put to sleep immediately and have a excisional breast biopsy to remove the tumor.
My surgery was performed on May 1, 2008 and on May 7, 2008 I received the shock of my life. At the tender age of 38 and very afraid I heard those words, cancer. After being told this devastating news, I encountered a bad panic attack, had to be placed on oxygen and was given Xanax to calm me down, my first thought was oh no God what about my four beautiful children and my family. On May 12, 2008 I changed doctors and during this visit with my breast surgeon, to whom I look to as my hero, it was like taking a class and actually learning.
On this day not only was I informed about what has taken place in my body I was now empowered with information that I understood. I was explained that I had a very aggressive type of cancer, it also had a name it was called High-grade infiltrating ductal carcinoma and I was also, Her 2+ (positive). Her 2+ is a breast cancer that tests positive for a protein call human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (Her 2), which promotes the growth of cancer cells. Her 2+ is usually a very aggresive and fast growing cancer. I was at a stage 3B with stage 4 being the very worse. By this time my tumor had grown to 13 cm and the surgeon and I came up with a plan of action that was to began immediately. On May 31, 2008 I began chemotherapy, which would be my first of my eight rounds I had to complete. Due to complications I was only able to complete 7 rounds and was sent to set up surgery asap.
On November 11, 2008 I underwent a double mascetomy plus axillary nodal dissection. After awaken from surgery another blow, my family and I was told that the cancer was really bad and we had to wait on the lab results to see if my breast surgeon was successful in removing all the cancer. The lab results brought yet another blow, that in removing 13 lymph nodes 10 of the 13 showed cancer present and the cancer had began to metastasize to my skin, at this point I am now classified as a stage 4 breast cancer patient. So instead of recovering for 6 weeks, then having radiation it was important for me to began radiation after 3 weeks of recovery. I began a very aggressive radiation, I had 8 weeks of radiation, 2 times a day, 5 days a week. The radiation ended for me January 2009, even though the radiation left me with third degree burns I was almost done with our plan of action. After radiation I would have to undergo 13 treatments of Herceptin, this drug is used to treat Her 2+ (positive) patients, (Herceptin was administered every 3 weeks). I finished Herceptin on December 1, 2009. (Hooray for the last Herceptin!!!)
Through my whole ordeal it has brought me closer to Christ and my faith has surpass far beyond that of a mustard seed. I believe if it had not been for Jesus Christ, his grace and mercy I wouldn't be here today to share my triumph and my testimony with you. I still face daily challenges, but my current 2009 (January 22, 2009) pet scan do not show sign of active disease or no evidence of disease (NED), to doctors this means no cancer is currently present, to me this confirms my faith and belief that I have been healed by Christ. Here were my daily confessions: (God's word) I shall not die but live and declare the good works of the Lord; No weapon formed against me shall prosper and By his stripes I am healed.
This foundation is founded on Hebrews 11:1, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for , the evidence of things not seen. God gave me a vision to pay it forward and now SWF give my life a new purpose.
