Claire’s Story
I was first diagnosed with breast cancer (III) in July of 2016 at the age of 26. My daughter was a few months shy of 2 years old and I had quit working to be a stay at home mother. My husband and I had planned for our daughter and made smart financial decisions so that this was possible.
After chemo, bilateral mastectomy, reconstruction with expanders and radiation I was clear and we had a new found view on life. The opportunity arose for our family to move cross country from Indiana to Georgia with my husband's job. We had always wanted to live in Georgia and we moved in May of 2017.
Fast forward to October of 2020, after living in Georgia and our what we thought was our forever home for three years. We discovered that I had AML after I was transported from our small town ER to a large hospital in Atlanta. This was the day of our daughter's 6th birthday party that was through video because of covid. What I thought was just a horrible case of strep throat that wouldn't go away turned into a nightmare.
I spent over a month in the hospital with no visitors (covid) or any idea that I would have to leave my family for so long. Chemo put me in a better place to return home and in spring of 2021 I had a bone marrow transplant. My husband and little girl were alone on our island with very few visitors because of covid and my brand new immune system that was at risk for any and everything.
We made it through and again decided to live our lives to the fullest. I was getting another chance to be here for my family.
In July of 2023, we got more devastating news. My breast cancer had come back, this time in the form of a tumor in my left shoulder, tumors in my liver and multiple lesions throughout my bones. Despite being seen by an oncologist regularly for AML and an oncologist regularly for breast cancer.
This time I couldn't do chemo and/or radiation to beat this and return to our lives, this time it was forever. Heartbroken we knew that we needed to move back to Indiana so we would be closer to my husband's family. So we would have a larger support system just down the road instead of 9 hours away.
During this time my husband was also let go from his job of 10 years because of my condition. This company had already insured us through two cancer diagnosis' and a bone marrow transplant. So we moved back to Indiana, left our wonderful friends and forever home to be closer to family. As well as what we would find out was an amazing oncologist to help me with this never ending journey.
My family has been through so much in the 10 years that I have been battling cancer. Any time we were able to save money, we have had to use that for cancer treatment, cobra insurance for 18 months and insurance premiums. Moving back to Indiana was a financial strain and now we travel 60 miles one way to my hospital at least once every three weeks, more when I need scans or a hospital visit for the flu or sickness.
As a metastatic breast cancer patient, my treatment is ongoing. I have chemo every three weeks and am usually down for 5-6 days after chemo. Longer during the winter when sickness is being spread around.
Right now I am in a good place with myself mentally and my chemo diagnosis. Three years in and I have found a routine that works for me and my family. But at 36 this is not how I pictured my life, however I try to keep a positive attitude. I know that has made the world of difference in my cancer battles and my survival!