Giving Thanks. An IBC Survivor In Her Own Words

In 14-years of reporting on breast cancer through Buddy Check 9, I've heard scores of remarkable stories of survival and courage in the face of this devastating disease. In October, I heard Pamela Crum's story. Three years ago, not only did she learn she had breast cancer, but also one of the most virulent forms of the disease ---Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Now, in her own words, Pam takes us on her cancer journey. Pam also offers advice and hope to other women.

My name is Pamela Crum. There is no known history of breast cancer in my family. I had never heard of Inflammatory Breast Cancer before and knew nothing about it. Once I started learning about it, I didn’t believe I could have breast cancer, much less such an aggressive form.

At the time of my IBC diagnosis in November 2004, I was 42 years old, and 22 weeks pregnant. In late October, I noticed a red, bumpy rash on my left breast one day in the shower. It was very unusual looking, almost like a bruise or burn. I couldn’t remember any event which would cause this, and it seemed to happen overnight.

My OB-Gyn, Dr. Joseph Collea, thought the condition might be mastitis. But after seeing the redness increase, he immediately sent me to Dr. Marie Pennanen a breast surgeon at Georgetown. Dr. Pennanen ordered a mammogram, which revealed a suspicious 3-centimeter lump. A few days later, she tried to drain the reddened area but didn’t find any liquid. I had a biopsy the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and was told I wouldn’t hear the results for at least a week, especially with the holiday. I received a call the Monday after Thanksgiving, informing me that I had breast cancer. The next day, Dr. Pennanen called and told me that the type of breast cancer was IBC. From start to finish, I was diagnosed within about four weeks.

Although I knew the news would be upsetting for my husband, family and friends, my biggest concern was for my daughters. I was already in a high-risk pregnancy, and I wondered how I could keep my baby healthy until she was born. My oldest daughter was 3 ½ at the time, and I couldn’t imagine how devastated she would be if something happened to me. I remember driving home from work after the phone call, thinking about my daughters. I knew that for my children, I had to beat this cancer. I discussed various treatment options with my oncologist. But because of the aggressive nature of IBC, Dr. Minetta Liu's recommendation was to begin chemotherapy treatment as soon as possible. Starting in early December, I had four cycles of Adriamycin/Cytoxin while I was pregnant. The last cycle was the hardest due in part to a low white blood cell count. I was hospitalized for two days.

Eight days after my release from the hospital, I returned to have an induced birth. My daughter, Grace, was born at 36 weeks in March 2005, and went home with us three days later. There is a concern of low birth weight for babies born to women receiving chemotherapy, but she was 6 lbs, 7 oz at her birth, with a full head of hair even though I had none! The day after I left the hospital with Grace, I returned to start a different chemotherapy drug, Taxotere. Over the next two months, I had four treatments of Taxotere. In July, I started 5 ½ weeks of daily radiation treatments. After I completed my radiation treatments, I began taking Tamoxifen, which I still take daily. With both chemotherapy drugs, the first two treatments mainly left me feeling exhausted, while the last two left me achy, as if I had the flu. I was very fortunate; the anti-nausea drugs worked extremely well for me. I did lose my hair, but overall, the treatments weren’t as bad as I might have thought.

Almost three years after diagnosis, I am currently cancer free, and extremely thankful for my good health. I am recovering from a prophylactic mastectomy on the right breast and reconstructive surgery. My daughter, Grace, is now 2-1/2 years old and is in the 98th percentile for height and weight. My advice to all who read my story - Be vigilant. Be aware of your body. Don’t ignore odd changes just because you are busy, scared, or unsure if it is a problem. Early detection is critical. I am convinced that my speedy diagnosis was a key factor in my current health.

You don’t need to have a family history to have IBC, and it can happen to you at a young age. Be persistent with any questions or concerns you have. You know your body better than anyone else. If you think something is wrong, but aren’t getting a diagnosis that makes sense, find another doctor. If your doctor doesn’t believe they can successfully treat your cancer, find another doctor. Trust your judgment. While I did get a second opinion, I ultimately chose Georgetown, and was very pleased with my treatment.
Have faith! One woman sent me a card, and wrote “visualize yourself as a grandmother”. I did. You can survive, and thrive.

Pamela Crum, IBC Survivor