Hanna-Marie Adams

Survivor

Me, too

I was diagnosed with triple positive invasive ductile breast cancer on 12/15/2020. I had no family history. I found a mass in mid September 2020 that felt like a pencil eraser. During this time I was having horrible nausea and pelvic pain weeks after my cycle and ovulation period. This was out of the norm for me, even during my cycle I was one of the lucky ones with no cramps or nausea. I went to the OBGYN in late September to discuss the nausea and pelvic pain and totally forgot to discuss the mass. I received a pelvic ultrasound and was told there wasn’t any abnormalities. My well women’s exam was due in late October so I waited until then to alert my doctor about the mass. Her saying is “if you feel something we without a doubt do a mammogram. I’m 35 so I have never received a mammogram before. Due to work schedule and scheduling with the imaging center I didn’t get the mammogram until November 24,2020. I received a mammogram (that wasn’t uncomfortable as I was told) and a breast ultrasound. Three mass were discovered which required a biopsy that I received on 12/8/2020. On 12/15/2020 the biopsy revealed that :

Estrogen-positive
Progesterone-positive
Her2-positive
Ki-67-80%

As of 8/12/2021 I am Cancer Free!
The best advice I can give to someone newly diagnosed is to :

Take time to review your health insurance benefits, you would be surprised at what things can be covered with a cancer diagnosis.
——For instance, acupuncture wasn’t covered with my plan unless there is proof of a chronic illness such as cancer.
Trust your gut and don’t be forced into something that doesn’t feel right for you.
Advocate for yourself, no one else will take care of you like you can. Speak out of something isn’t right and remember closed mouths don’t get feed. Don’t be scared to ask!