Karri Banovitz
Survivor
In 2020 as everyone was trying to move around the unknown with the pandemic I was trying to wrap my head around CANCER. In April before we were suppose to head to Hawaii for spring break I felt a lump during my self exam. I was scheduled to go and have my mammogram done so I didn’t think anything of it, I would let them check it when I went. Next day it was gone, weird I though but I was about to have my menstrual cycle. The doctors office called me to cancel my appointment due to COVID, they didn’t want anyone in the hospital that did not need to be there which at the time was understandable. Then in June just before my birthday the lump was back and this time bigger, so I called the Dr and she scheduled me an appointment to get my mammogram done. 10 days after my birthday I was getting the mammogram done and everything seemed normal, until it wasn’t. They took me in for an ultra sound and then immediately did a biopsy. No leaving and coming back, they did it right there. Dr. Rad took my sample and promised to call me as soon as he got the results. 2 days later he calls me and gave me the news. I was diagnosed with grade 3a IDC and it had spread to my lymph nodes. So next came all the appointments, all the information and all the video calls. I started Chemo in August 2020 and finished February 2021. Red Devil, that is no joke, but I have to say if you drink lots of ice cold water and walk around with the IV pole it’s not as bad. Same thing with the Taxol, get up and move. I did this with all the treatments, walked, drank water and peed it out.. I think that is what helped keep me from getting nauseous. After my first AC treatment the tumor was gone, but they made me continue until all were done. In March 2021 I had a lumpectomy to remove anything else that was there and 7 lymph nodes. ALL CLEAR! Radiation was next, 29 zaps to keep this beast away and then monthly lupron shorts to keep my hormones in check. I was diagnosed with HR positive HER 2 negative so my cancer was feeding on the estrogen. Fast forward to October 2022, going in to my mammogram with scan anxiety, I felt nervous. they did my scan and then I got to see Dr Rad again. He said I had calcifications that they needed to do a different mammogram/biopsy to get the micro samples. Ok, let’s do this and get on with business. Lay on the table with your breast through this hole and we will numb the area. Done! 3 days later we are discussing double mastectomy because now I have DCIS. After that i was shook. WHY!! Because of radiation I was not a candidate for reconstruction with implants, only other option was DEIP FLAP surgery. February 2023 I have a double mastectomy with immediate DEIP FLAP surgery. Once i was healed it was back to Chemo, this time only 4 infusions and scheduled ovary removal. As of today I am free and thriving… there is so much more to my story that I am happy to share and give my advice. I am an open book so to say….