Breast Cancer Hero
CASEY MOWATT

Seeing the Light at the End of the Tunnel

"At the end of 2017, at the age of 36, I noticed a small lump in my right breast, but I dismissed it as a symptom of my period coming.  Then I started noticing that while I was working out, that same breast was getting irritated and rubbing more against my arm.   

My period came and went, the lump was still there, and my breast was tender and painful, so I called my doctor to get an appointment to have her look at it.  After she did an examination on me, I was told not to worry, that it couldn’t be breast cancer because 1. I was young, 2. I had no family history, and 3. breast cancer doesn’t hurt.  She said it was most likely mastitis (even though I have not breast fed in many years) and was prescribed antibiotics. To be safe, she did make an appointment for me to see a breast specialist at the Baystate Breast & Wellness Center the following week.    

The appointment was scheduled immediately after I got out of work, so I went alone. By the time I arrived, my breast was in twice as much pain.  The breast specialist took one look at the area and immediately scheduled a mammogram and ultrasound.   After the ultrasound, while I was still lying on the table, the radiologist came in and showed me the image and shared that they were almost 100% certain it was breast cancer.  From there, I got a biopsy and blood work and met with an oncologist at the D’Amour Center for Cancer Care.   

It was determined the cancer I had was Stage 3 Inflammatory breast cancer, HER2+ and hormone negative. It was spreading fast and was already in my lymph nodes, so we had to move quickly. Within the next three weeks I had a port installed and six rounds of chemotherapy scheduled.

After my first treatment I immediately felt relief and could barely feel the lump anymore.  But with the good came the bad, and I got a neutropenic fever and had to be hospitalized. While I was there waiting for my body to start making neutrophils, I got canker sores all over the inside of my mouth and my hair started falling out in clumps.   Mentally, having to shave my head was the hardest thing I had to do. 

I finished my treatment in late June and had unilateral mastectomy surgery in July.   Closely following this were 30 rounds of target radiation. About nine months later, after my skin healed from the radiation, I was able to have reconstructive surgery.  I had DIEP flap surgery for reconstruction and my surgeon is and will forever be an angel sent from heaven.   Since that surgery I’ve had revision surgery and a nipple tattoo to make everything look as close to normal as possible. The entire process was painful, but I was grateful to know I was in good hands at Baystate Health. 

Baystate Health has been an amazing healthcare facility, from the nurses that administered the chemo, the tech’s that administered the radiation treatment, my surgeons, and my oncologists and all the other staff involved in my care.      

We all know someone who’s gone through breast cancer and some outcomes aren’t as favorable as others.  I feel like I believe having a support network comprising fellow young individuals within the community could have greatly enhanced my journey. Sharing stories and offering mutual support would be invaluable. 

My advice to someone recently diagnosed is to stay positive and focus on achieving the best-case scenario. My family was my inspiration and motivation for continuing through all this treatment. At the end of the day, I can say I did everything I could to beat this disease.

I felt it was necessary to share my story, six years later, as inspiration to other younger women going through the same situation and to let them know that there is a light at the end of a very dark tunnel.   Also, it’s crucial to advocate for yourself when it comes to doctors and getting second opinions.   Looking back in retrospect, I was so exhausted all the time before my diagnosis, which I know now, was my body trying to fight these cancer cells off.  I believe that by the time you start seeing outward symptoms, your body has lost the fight, and you should get treatment as quickly as possible to stop the spread.    

Rays of Hope is a great organization that shows you that survival is possible, and they put effort into raising awareness and money for cancer research. I am filled with gratitude for their work and the hope they bring to countless lives."