Sarah Burke has dense, fibrocystic breasts, which has led to numerous mammograms and ultrasounds. In March 2024, after a routine mammogram and ultrasound, Sarah was told she needed a biopsy. This is her breast cancer story in her own words.
My Usual Routine Mammogram is Not Routine
In September 2020, I went in for my routine mammogram. I have very dense, fibrocystic breasts, so I’ve had more mammograms and breast ultrasounds than I can keep track of. However, this time after the breast ultrasound I was told I needed a biopsy. I was referred to a surgeon who, at the time, I had no clue would be doing two more surgeries on me over the next four years.
A Biopsy Finds Atypical Cells
My surgeon performed my biopsy under anesthesia. Atypical cells were found noted on my pathology report and I was referred to an oncologist for recommendations. Since the pandemic was happening, I was introduced to him via telehealth. He suggested I get mammograms and breast ultrasounds every six months, but didn’t indicate for how long. I had always been mindful of my health, eating and exercise habits, so I took it upon myself to dig deeper into cancer fighting foods and more ways to reduce my risk.
3.5 years, 6 Mammograms and 6 Breast Ultrasounds Later
In March 2024, my husband and I felt a small lump in my left breast. I brushed it off since I had just had a clear mammogram and breast ultrasound only six months earlier, in September 2023, and I had been dealing with this for a decade.
But in April, the lump was larger. I went in for exam…and that’s then the snowball hit us in the face. I was told to get a diagnostic mammogram, a breast ultrasound and a biopsy. An MRI showed I had invasive carcinoma in my left breast. More breast ultrasounds and biopsies eventually showed I also had breast cancer in my right breast.
Surgery As Soon As Possible
My husband and I pushed for surgery ASAP. I had surgery in May, during which my husband and children were told I had lobular carcinoma in my left breast, all left sentinel nodes and axillary lymph nodes, as well as lobular and ductal carcinoma in the right breast.
The breast surgery was supposed to be a lumpectomy on each breast but ended up being a mastectomy on my left side and a lumpectomy on my right.
Worrisome Scans
After only 10 days of recovery, I was scheduled for more scans. The bone scan showed a spot on my sternum that was unclear and on the right axilla area that was inconclusive. The worst scenarios clouded my thoughts. Breathe, pray, breathe.
Complications During Chemotherapy
In June, I started the most aggressive chemotherapy I could, the Red Devil (Adriamycin). Approximately 1% of patients have a seizure. I was that 1%. I am lucky that I don’t remember that night, but my husband and kids were not so lucky. Following the seizure, I had an MRI of my brain. I was told I had a flair which was ‘normal-ish’ after a seizure.
Devastating News
The next day my mother-in-law died after a 10-year battle of her own with breast cancer. More sadness and emotional pain not only for me, but for my husband who had the reality hit of his mother dying of the same cancer fight I was just beginning.
Chemotherapy Continues
Every two weeks I had a round of AC (Adriamycin and Cytoxan) chemo to blast out any cancer cells that may have been left after surgery removed as much as it could. It only took two infusions for my hair to fall out, so one day when my family wasn’t around, I sat alone in my bathroom and shaved my head. That was a hard day. We were relieved to finish my final AC round of chemo in August.
My Lowest Point
But anger, frustration, sadness and emotional pain soon followed, when an MRI revealed what they thought was the flair on my brain was instead a brain tumor. The neurologist reviewed the results, and I was bluntly told I would most likely need a brain surgery to do a biopsy. I sat there speechless.
Later that day I hit my lowest point. In less than four months I changed from a healthy, energetic woman that loved my life, felt pretty and in the best shape of my life, to a woman completely shattered. I remember crying that day and telling my husband, “I hate me.”
When I looked in the mirror, I didn’t recognize me. And on top of the cancer diagnosis, sickness and fatigue, I needed brain surgery. I started planning out my funeral and thinking of what I wanted done with my life insurance money when I died.
Continuing Treatment
Luckily, the surgeon agreed with my gut feelings that with everything I was going through, I should have a third brain MRI after the chemotherapy was complete and wait for those results before making any big decisions. From August to October, I lived trying not to fear my next MRI.
My next type of chemotherapy was Taxol, which required me to go weekly, and after each treatment I felt weaker. Finally on Oct. 21, I completed the final chemotherapy.
A Third MRI & Positive Results
I had been praying for healing since the beginning, but never had I prayed as much as I did leading up to my next scans: a full body bone scan, CT scan and a brain MRI. The previous set of scans had not looked good, and I needed good news.
The area on the bone scan showed no sign of concern or cancer, the CT scan that had previously shown an area of concern in the right axilla was clear and the brain tumor had shrunk and was basically gone. After six months of being in tears at some point every day I had new tears, tears of joy.
Treatment Ends
I had 18 days of radiation, which is not for the faint of heart. I finally rang the bell on December 4, signaling the end of my treatment. It was a day to celebrate with both my kids and sweet husband there to cheer me on.
At the beginning of the new year, I had a second mastectomy and reconstruction. Instead of feeling sadness and loss, my heart was filled with joy that I had done all I could do to never get breast cancer again, a promise I had made to my family a year before.
Statements and opinions expressed are that of the individual and do not express the views or opinions of Susan G. Komen. This information is being provided for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Persons with breast cancer should consult their healthcare provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment.
