Hi, I’m Katie. I’m many things: a mom, a wife, a professional, a new AMR team member, and I’m also a breast cancer survivor. I’ll be sharing my story here on Another Mother Runner as I get back into a regular running routine and train for a half marathon. I hope you’ll come along. Feel free to ask questions or share your thoughts in the comments section below.
I am now 16 weeks out from my last treatment of Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin, and Perjeta, and 14 weeks out from my bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction. I have to say that I am feeling on top of the world. The side effects from chemo are all but gone, except for a little bit of short term memory loss, but honestly I don’t know it it ever came back after my last baby, #amirite Mamas? My hair is coming back, which is a constant source of entertainment for my three girls. They think it is so funny that I look like a boy. They love to rub my head and we have a lot of side bets about what color it’s eventually going to be — it started out light, then it was jet black, and now it’s getting light again.
The only thing that still lingers in my mind is: will the cancer come back?
To this day, I still have not been able to go down the Google rabbit hole to really get to the heart of my type of breast cancer (HER2+) or the stats for its risk of reoccurrence. When I was first diagnosed, I immediately went online and became so ridden with anxiety with everything that I read, that I told myself I am just going to listen to my doctors and have faith. I’m not naive. I know that it could rear its ugly head again but I’ve recently made a decision that I am not going to let it consume my life. I’m going to be grateful for this second chance I’ve received and not look back. I’m going to take good care of myself through running (hello, AMR!), diet (thank you, Ellie!), cut back on wine (which is soooo hard after a long day!), and pay more attention to the harmful products that are all around us.
This picture is from a walk we took over the weekend. We went to the cookie store, jumped in puddles of melting snow, and enjoyed another gorgeous day in February. My oldest has been pretty quiet about all of this, so when her sisters ran up ahead of us, I decided to try to talk to her about my breast cancer. I asked her if she was scared when I was sick, and she grabbed my hand, looked at me with her big blue eyes, and said, “Yes.” I held back tears and told her that I was scared too, but now I’m all better, so there is nothing to worry about it.
And I can honestly say that I finally believe it.
Want to catch up with Katie’s story? Click here.
Wonderful pic! I had “happy tears” reading this. Wishing you & your family all the best!!!
You rock, Katie!
What a strong, beautiful and epic example you are setting for your children. You deserve much happiness in life! I hope you get the hair of your dreams!
Love, love, love this!!! Prayers to you and your continued health! You have a beautiful family, thank you for sharing your encouraging story!
Love you, love you, love you Katie!! We are so proud of you. Never look back. You’ve got a lifetime ahead of you ❤
You are amazing and this brought tears to my eyes!!! You ALL have showed incredible strength this! Great reminder to not get your panties in a wad and embrace those special moments life allows. Love you girl!
You are amazing and strong and a terrific mother. I would have bawled my eyes out (I can never seem to remember that I should set a stronger example, but I swear, I cry when one of my kids throws up and I’m worried they’ve got a stomach flu). You’re an amazing person!
I love you Katie! You are so strong and I can’t imagine having that conversation with one of my children. You taught her how to be so brace and strong but also real.
Cancer does not define you….LOVE your positive attitude. It’s been 32 years for me…my prayer was to raise my children…..& you will too! Love you❤
Like you I decided to trust my medical staff and not the Internet. Best decision I ever made. 10 years out and I still am not sure how many nodes were removed. The positive outlook and focus on staying healthy (and time I’d course) helped me switch from breast cancer patient to survivor. Stay strong. Sounds like you are doing all the right things. Prayers to you and your family.
love to you and your family. You are a shining example of a woman who did what it took and came out of the other side. Hoping for a nice easy downhill section for your life run after this uphill struggle. Making a mammogram appointment now. thanks for the reminder.
Katie, your strength and faith are AMAZING! I wish you years of good health and much happiness!
We have a lot in common. I just finished 10 months of chemo (pre/post surgery), including 6 rounds of THCP, for triple positive BC. I was 39 at diagnosis. Prior to the hellish Taxotere, I was a distance runner, averaging 40+ miles/week. I had to stop running due to the Taxotere fluid retention and muscle weakness. Being only 1.5 weeks out from my last infusion, I am still carrying 20lbs. of fluid, and that amount changes day to day. I can only run 0.2mi. before having to walk, when I used to run 20 miles before breakfast! I want to cry just typing this! Can you comment on any experience you had with fluid retention/muscle weakness and your return to running? (Really, I just want someone with some personal Taxotere experience to tell me when I will have some glimmer of normal!)