Discovering Cancer: Part Two

DE PERE - Beth Hibbard underwent one of six chemotherapy sessions at the Block Center for Integrative Therapy in Illinois last week.

Every three weeks--she's there for her daylong treatment.

The De Pere woman was diagnosed with breast cancer in June. She is a wife, and mother of three.

“I still - to this day-have a difficult time saying, I have cancer. Those three words are very difficult to kind of wrap your head around and understand,” said Beth.

Beth says she chose the Block Center because it offers more than medical treatment. The Block Center also focuses on nutrition and wellness. Done in just six sessions--the treatment is more intensive than traditional chemotherapy. The drugs attack any cancer cells that may still remain in Beth's body.

“It goes through your bloodstream and because I had it in my lymph nodes, they don't know for sure if it has gone further into the bloodstream,” said Beth.

The chemotherapy has taken a physical toll on Beth.

“I've lost my hair; I have just the typical reactions from the chemo. I have some nausea, not a whole lot. I get very tired, I lose my stamina, my energy,” she explained.

Even while dealing with those negative side effects, Beth remains optimistic.

“I think that I'm rebounding back much more each time I have the chemotherapy because of the activities that I'm doing to try to stay healthy, and the food that I'm eating and just kind of the holistic approach that I'm taking, the chemotherapy is actually going quite well,” said Beth.

Beth was surprised to learn she had cancer last summer.

“I had no signs of it, I'm a very healthy person, I'm a runner, and we used to teach swimming lessons at the Y. I still like swimming… very active with my kids,” Beth explained.

This isn't just the story of one woman's cancer... it's a real life tale of how no one is ever alone.
You see, Beth may never have realized her diagnosis if not for her friend and colleague Sara Herrscher.

Beth and Sara -both 43-years old--are sharing a journey through the disease.

“On Friday March 13th, I found out that I did have breast cancer,” Sara said.

“Sara found lumps in her breast last December. But she was used to feeling lumps - as she had a history of fibroadenomas, which are benign lumps.

“I had two actually and these didn't really feel any different from the other ones actually, but and I'd been getting mammograms since I was like 35 years old. But the mammograms didn't show it. I mean I had just had a mammogram in August and it was fine,” Sara said.

Sara and Beth shared a history of non-cancerous lumps. And the two friends shared another trait: dense breast tissue - which breast experts say can make it harder to see cancer when viewing a mammogram. Sara's doctor detected her cancer with an ultrasound. She immediately called Beth.

“I can remember talking with her about it last year, just because I think we'd both had lumps in the past checked,” said Sara.

Beth asked for a breast MRI. Her doctor said it would be expensive and insurance might not cover it. But Beth wanted peace of mind.

“I was not in pain, I don't have a family history besides my mother being diagnosed at an older age last year, none of the genetic history-there was really no reason to look at that MRI,” Beth said.

A couple of days later, Beth received the shocking news.

“Some of the lumps on the MRI showed some concern so they wanted to do biopsies and so they did a couple biopsies and those came back cancer-positive,” said Beth.

“It demonstrated that there basically was one area of cancer in that right breast - in spite of the fact that she'd had in the past multiple other benign tumors - specifically the fibroadenomas in that right breast,” said Dr. Alonzo Walker of the MRI.

Dr. Walker is Beth's doctor and said her lymph nodes -which help the body fight against things like infection--also had cancer. Fifteen of 21 removed tested positive.

“With the reported pathological size of her cancer-this is one thing that we did not expect and don't usually find,” said Dr. Walker.

“Once Beth is through with her cancer treatment, Dr. Walker says she will officially be cancer-free. However he says her future remains uncertain.

“One would say that she is at high risk of recurrence of her cancer. We're not as concerned about the recurrence in the breast but more distant cancer,” said Dr. Walker.

Dr. Walker says that's because Beth had so many lymph nodes that tested positive for cancer cells. He says that increases the chances cancer can spread to bones, lungs, liver and sometimes the brain.

“She will have to be followed, very closely and carefully,” said Dr. Walker.

Beth says the extensive lymph node removal is already having other effects.

“Kind of long lasting repercussions... I still cannot feel part of my upper arm; I'm going to physical therapy right now to move my arm,” said Beth.

Beth says lymphedema or swelling is another concern, as is the possibility of infection.

“So I have to be very careful with my right arm, I cannot have any