#LOVEKnowsBreasts

In Her Own Words…

May 2018 my life changed when I received my breast cancer diagnosis. I had no idea what I was about to face and all the important decisions I would have to make.

When I heard the words “it’s positive for cancer” I completely went numb. I was 24 years old and just graduated with my BBA two short years before this. I was trying to figure out life as a young adult and this was the last thing I thought I’d have to deal with.

At that time, I was given the option for a lumpectomy or double mastectomy and I chose to undergo a double mastectomy. I was unaware that I had the option for immediate reconstruction, so I was flat for two years. During surgery they removed 35 lymph nodes and I was now at risk for lymphedema. After deciding to get a second opinion at MD Anderson, my oncologist told me the scans that had been done locally didn’t show all my organs. I redid scans and that’s how I found out the cancer had spread to my liver. I now had stage IV, metastatic, breast cancer. Before starting chemo, I was able to freeze my eggs, still holding on to hope that I’d be able to have a family one day.

I went through chemo, radiation, and a liver ablation. My body had responded well to the treatments and I was stable. I was then given the ok to proceed with reconstruction surgery. I was on Letrozole, along with Zoladex injections, since March 2019. It was working well until December 2020. Soon after my 27th birthday, getting engaged, and the holidays, scans showed the cancer had spread to new areas. I felt numb all over again. I was in a clinical trial from Feb 2021 until recently when I learned about my new progression to my bones, specifically my spine.

Every pain is a worry. Every scan makes me worry. It’s hard to accept that I’ll be on some sort of treatment for the rest of my life. This is my life with metastatic breast cancer.

Get To Know Savanah…

#LOVEKnowsBreasts