After being diagnosed in October 2016, Brenda Howard of Elgin is proud to say that she has beat breast cancer. The local home healthcare nurse, sitting in front of a basket of cards she received in support during her nearly yearlong battle, is now focused on educating others about the importance of breast cancer awareness. (Zakary Kriener photo)

'Know your body and listen to it'

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

“October, the month of colorful falling leaves, pumpkins, football, and the infamous pink ribbon. Breast Cancer Awareness Month was established in 1985 to promote mammograms as the best way to detect one of the most prevalent cancers, breast cancer. The pink ribbon soon became the symbol of support for the disease. Since 1985, the declaration has evolved into an annual international health campaign organized to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.”

Those are the words of Elgin’s Brenda Howard, a survivor of the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in women and the second leading cause of death in women.

“Today, breast cancer affects one in every eight women,” continued Howard. “Think about those statistics the next time you’re in a room full of women.”

Howard’s personal experience with breast cancer began in August 2016 when she first discovered a small, raised lump on one of her breasts.

“Initially, I wasn’t very concerned because I did not have any risk factors. I have no family history of breast cancer, or any cancer really. I breast-fed both of my children, which is known to reduce the risk of developing the disease,” explained the local registered nurse. “Nevertheless, I’ve been diligent in having my annual mammogram since age 35 and it was due in September, so I made an appointment with my healthcare provider and a mammogram.”

Howard stated that the mammogram revealed an area of concern, which led to two tissue biopsies and an MRI.

“The diagnosis of breast cancer came after those tests and showed that the tumor was growing below a layer of fibrous tissue, making it difficult to feel,” continued Howard. “By that time, it had already measured approximately 5 cm in diameter and had invaded one lymph node, and was growing moderately fast.”

Howard stated that upon hearing this news, her only thought was “This isn’t supposed to be happening to me.”

In the following days, Brenda met with an oncologist who worked with her to develop a treatment plan to insure she could beat breast cancer.

Howard’s plan included five months of chemotherapy, followed by double mastectomies, and ending with 33 radiation treatments.

“Still in shock over my diagnosis, I asked the doctor how long she believed the tumor had been growing. ‘Probably just a few months,’ she responded. ‘How could I have missed this?’ I thought. ‘What if I had ignored the little bump, what if my annual mammogram wasn’t due until December or March?’” recalled Howard. “I had just started a new job and could easily have justified postponing my medical care for a few months. The thought had crossed my mind. Fortunately, I stayed on schedule, and after a year of treatment, I’ve been declared cancer-free.”

During Howard’s treatment, she made trips to Waterloo every other week for the first four weeks, followed by 12 weeks of weekly trips, and then six weeks of recovery.

“I am grateful to have family and friends that would drive me down for each treatment,” said Howard. “My husband of 32 years, Mark, went with me a lot, as did my 15-month-old granddaughter, who provided me with a lot of strength.”

Following her recovery period, Brenda had double mastectomies, which again were followed by six weeks of recovery.

“The last step was 33 radiation treatments, which were done five days per week until they were completed,” said Howard. “The last treatment was on August 7, and on Sept. 14, I was officially declared cancer-free.”

Throughout the entire process, Brenda continued to work full-time at her job, which while tiresome at times, was also helpful for her in many ways.

“By continuing to work, I was able to keep my mind off of what I was going through,” noted the in-home healthcare provider. “My patients were all very sweet and would ask me how I was doing, which was very encouraging.”

Howard also noted that the overwhelming support she received from not only family and close friends, but also acquaintances, new co-workers, and community members that she does not necessarily talk to on a regular basis.

“That was surprising to me, seeing people send cards and offer words of encouragement on Facebook,” said Howard as she showed off a basket full of cards. “They helped me stay positive throughout the entire journey. That really meant a lot to me.”

Howard went on to offer advice toward women of all ages, pointing out that the current recommendation from the U.S. Preventative Task Force is to have screening mammograms every other year between ages 50-74. She also stated that some organizations still strongly recommend starting screening at age 40, and even younger for individuals who are at higher risk of developing breast cancer.

“It is important to talk with your doctor about when you should start screening. It is no longer recommended to have a yearly breast exam or to do formal self-exams,” added Howard. “Instead, the new recommendation is to have good breast awareness, to know what is normal for you, and to talk to your doctor if you notice any changes. Because I knew what was normal for me, I was able to notice my tumor in the first few months.”

Howard added that with as quickly as my tumor was growing, she believes that her cancer would have spread much further than the singly lymph node had she postponed her mammogram and neglected her routine self-exam.

“The takeaway from my experience is that even if your risk for cancer is low, everyone should be aware of any changes in your body and have them evaluated by your health care provider promptly,” closed Howard. “As you know, early detection is the key to surviving cancer. Most importantly, know your body and listen to it!”