Never did I think that when I started my pelvic health certification journey with EIM, I would be having to treat myself at the same time. I started the pelvic health certification in January 2024, while working full-time and managing a household with my husband and two young boys. That in itself was a challenge, as my husband also works full-time.

Then in May 2024, I was scheduled for my yearly mammogram, and about 2 weeks before my appointment, my right nipple inverted, and I knew something was up. I was scared and nervous, but I was trying to stay positive.  Unfortunately, the radiologist found 2 areas of concern in my right breast, and I was scheduled for a biopsy a week later.  Of course, my results came back a week later, revealing I had stage 1a invasive ductal carcinoma as well as Paget’s disease of the breast (when cancer cells grow on the outside of the breast). To say the least, I was freaking out, because I just wanted to know the plan. The waiting was the most difficult part, especially when trying to meet up with the breast surgeon. I was waiting for the doctor, and she explained to my husband and me what my options were. This appointment took an hour and a half, and I decided with my breast surgeon that I would get a lumpectomy. All I could think of is that I have my pelvic II lab in two weeks and then my lumpectomy the week after. I was not missing my lab in Kentucky! To say the least, I was so overwhelmed because I still didn’t know if I was getting chemotherapy and/or radiation. I was almost half done with this certification, and I was not going to let breast cancer stop me.  I went to my pelvic floor II lab on June 16, 2024, and then 9 days later had my lumpectomy on June 25, 2024. I was able to heal, but had to keep waiting for the pathology report from my surgery.  The pathology report would let my oncologist know if I needed chemo or not.  I remember checking MYCHART a million times, waiting to see if my pathology report was back yet.  It was a Sunday evening, and I received the email that I had new results. I remember reading them, and I started crying and hyperventilating. I had multiple emotions that night. I have been an OT for almost 23 years, and I read that my cancer was aggressive, and I knew that meant I would be getting chemotherapy.  My husband came up to me and hugged me and reassured me that, “We will do this together.”

I remember walking into medical oncology and having an anxiety attack because everyone in there looked so sick.  I did not feel sick, and truthfully, I felt truly inconvenienced by this diagnosis because I had so many things going on.  The anxiety was unbearable because I did not know my full treatment plan. I met with medical oncology on July 16, 2024, and the doctor told me, “I recommend 4 rounds of chemo; one every 3 weeks.” My first statement to the doctor was, “Well, that is better than 8.” I hated that I had to have chemotherapy, but I was glad I knew the plan.  I knew I had to finish my assignments prior to chemotherapy, but I completed my assignments as well as my CAPSTONE exams.  I was finished with all the assignments the day before I started chemo. I was relieved to have gotten this all done before August 17, 2024, because I did not know how I would react to chemotherapy. I had so many doctors’ appointments, and then I had to meet with radiation oncology. I was ready to fight, and I would complete 4 rounds of chemotherapy and then 20 rounds of radiation.

I had my first round of chemo on August 17, 2024, and I tell you it was not fun! I felt so tired and nauseous as well as weak.  I remember sitting down and attempting to get my pants on, and I leaked some urine.  I was like, “What the heck?” I used another word, but you get the drift.  I realized I was getting weaker and my stamina was not what it was, and I felt crushed.  The bright side was that I knew how to help myself due to being a pelvic health specialist as an OTR/L.  Mind you, I worked full-time while I was undergoing chemotherapy, but modified my schedule to have the day off after chemotherapy.  After about three weeks, when I was getting ready for the second round of chemotherapy, my hair started coming out, and I asked my husband to shave it off.  My hair follicles hurt, and every muscle/joint hurt as well, but I was determined to get through this. I remember sitting for my second round, completing pelvic floor uptraining, because I did not want to continue to have leakage.  I am so fortunate that I knew how to help myself because I was not going to let BREAST CANCER beat me. I had a supportive husband, who helped with cleaning, cooking, taking care of the kids, and taking care of me.  I was fortunate to have a wonderful boss and co-workers as well as friends to help me through the next 6 months of my life.  It was a struggle every day, but I knew staying home would not be the best decision for me.  I wanted to work, and I needed my patients just as much as they needed me.  I would be treating pelvic floor clients, and I would joke around with them, saying I am doing the exercises with them! I was able to genuinely empathize with my patients and realized I was not alone in this journey.

After all the chemo and radiation, I was exhausted. I had multiple and frequent doctors’ appointments, and I was not used to that addition to my schedule. Trying to figure out appointment times while I was trying to work and take care of my family irritated me, because many offices had awful appointment times. I met up with my medical oncologist, and she stated I had to start taking LUPRON shots and taking immunotherapy (blocks estrogen) pills daily.  This medicine would be putting me into early menopause due to my cancer, estrogen-positive (it grew due to estrogen being in my body). Again, being a pelvic health certified occupational therapist helped me in this situation. Being pushed into menopause at 45 years old was a hard pill to swallow.  I knew from all of my recent education what I was going to have to deal with very soon. It became more difficult to be intimate with my husband due to sexual changes from having declining estrogen in my body.  I had to ask my breast surgeon for vaginal estrogen (that is the only estrogen you can ever use again after having estrogen-positive breast cancer) to reduce further risk of vaginal atrophy as well as lubrication issues. I was grateful to have a husband who had a good sense of humor and was always a support for me. Thankfully, my husband completely understood because we had open communication and were able to work on this together. I had a lot of empathy for my clients before breast cancer, and this made me have a whole new perspective on my clients. It is very different when you become the patient after being the therapist for many years.

I look back to last year and am proud of how I dealt with breast cancer, my certification, my family/friends, and work. When you are a breast cancer survivor, you will forever be part of this club that you never wanted to be part of, but have the most supportive people who understand the trauma of having breast cancer. I was able to help myself and my clients with their pelvic health issues because I have them myself. My biggest piece of advice is that if you or a loved one has cancer, be transparent. I was very vocal about my cancer because if it inspired someone to get a mammogram or go to the doctor to get something checked out, it could save their life.  I have helped many co-workers and even clients by offering support and education due to being a pelvic health specialist, OTR/L, and a breast cancer survivor! I would joke around with my clients about what hair color and texture my hair would come back as! One of my clients wanted it to come back blonde and curly. Sorry to disappoint, but it came back dark brown/grey, but I got the chemo curl!

Cancer sucks, but do not let it get in the way of living your life.  It may be stubbornness, but even after all of this, I still see life with a glass-half-full attitude, and I hope that never changes. There are days I feel better than others, but it is getting better every day.  There are so many things to be thankful for, including having my supportive family/friends and a job that I love.  I will always remember and take pride that I got through this and kicked cancer’s butt (Of course, I used another word, but you get the drift.)  Thank you for reading my blog.