Krista's Story – The Beginning of My Breast Cancer Journey

It was December of 2021. I was 41.

My GP had told me I should start getting mammograms when I turned 40. I hadn’t yet, and I was feeling behind. In a random but decisive moment, standing in my daughter’s room—probably cleaning—the thought struck me: you haven’t done that yet. I decided then and there to do a self-exam.

That’s when I felt it.

A lump in my right breast, just centre and below the nipple. Strange, I thought. Maybe a blocked duct? But it was clear—this was my sign to schedule that mammogram.

I called right away and was told to go through my GP to get in as soon as possible since I now had a symptom. My first mammogram was scheduled for March 20th. I went to the appointment, did the exam, and returned home.

Early the following week, they called me back for more imaging. Again, I thought it was probably nothing—dense breast tissue often requires a second look, or maybe the images just weren’t clear enough. But when I returned for the second appointment, things started to feel different.

They took more mammogram images and then brought me in for an ultrasound. The tech did a sweep, and shortly after, the doctor came in to look for himself. The room shifted. The energy changed.

He looked me in the eye and said, "You need to get a biopsy. Immediately."

He offered me a spot at the hospital that same day. I raced out of the clinic, made a quick call to my sister Marla to stay at the house with the kids, and flew to the hospital like a woman on a mission.

The biopsy was done, and then came the waiting.

On April 13, 2022, my GP called. I knew the moment I saw her number that this was it.

She told me they found invasive ductal carcinoma. It was ER and PR positive, HER2 negative. I would be getting a call from the surgeon’s office shortly.

That day, we were out at the Chilliwack Tulip Festival with the kids, trying to distract ourselves. We were far from home, trying to stay in the moment. But this news changed everything. Ryker was 4. Isla was 2. I will never forget the weight of that day.

Drinking my Arbonne Greens Gut Glow to keep me healthy during chemo.

My mom came to every chemo session.

F*ck Cancer

Strong as a mother holding my babies and showing off my bald head.

Chemotherapy at Lions Gate Hospital.

IV sessions at Port Moody Health to support me during treatment.

The First Phase of Treatment

I began with chemotherapy, followed by a lumpectomy. However, during surgery, they discovered a small satellite spot in my breast. That small area was enough to cause concern, and we decided to move forward with a full mastectomy to be thorough and proactive.

Following that, I went through 15 rounds of radiation.

They recommended an oral chemotherapy drug, capecitabine, but I didn’t tolerate it well. I made the decision to discontinue it and instead stayed on tamoxifen.

At diagnosis, my cancer was:

• Estrogen receptor positive (ER+)

• Progesterone receptor positive (PR+)

• HER2 negative

  
  

Out of four or five lymph nodes removed, one had a small deposit of cancer at the time. That was the extent of nodal involvement.

This was just the beginning of my story. A story that would continue to unfold with strength, resilience, deep reflection, and a whole lot of heart. A story that is still unfolding today.

To be continued...