Candie & Amanda

Amanda's hair cut for Locks of Love

The Jaeger family - Jeff, Amanda, Candie

See Photos of Candie in Ann Taylor Salute to Survivors fashion show, October 21, 2004

2/7/07 Please see Candie's updates on Caringbridge.com.

Candie's story - update September 7, 2006

I am a 5 year Breast Cancer Survivor! I was diagnosed February 29, 2000, at the age of 24 with Stage IIIA cancer, which means I had a tumor that was larger than 5cm and lymph node involvement. I had a mastectomy with 16 lymph nodes removed, with 1 testing positive for cancer. I underwent 6 months of extensive chemotherapy and 5 weeks of radiation. After my treatments I was put on Tamoxifen, a preventative cancer medication, which is a standard regimen for women that are hormone receptor positive.

A year later, in January 2001, I had breast reconstruction to my left side. I opted for a Transverse Rectus Abdominus Muscle (TRAM) Flap surgery, which is removing the tissue from the lower abdominal area and forming a mound where the breast would be.

About a year and a half later, in July 2002, my husband, daughter and I decided it was time for a new beginning. Seeing that I was coming up on my 2-year anniversary of being diagnosed with breast cancer, we decided to buy a new house. A month after moving into our new home, I started getting backaches. The backaches were so severe I could barely walk and was using a cane. I underwent CT Scans, MRI’s and blood test. Within several days of taking the tests I found out that the breast cancer had metastasized to my lower backbone and liver. Two weeks later it had spread to my left hipbone. I immediately underwent very high doses of radiation to the lower back and hip area for 3 weeks and then began chemotherapy. I also started getting Zometa which is a bone strengthening medication (not chemotherapy) given through an IV every 4 weeks. I still am getting Zometa treatments. Three months into the chemotherapy I went for a CT scan and found out that the chemo and radiation did shrink the tumor in my liver and the bones showed scar tissue. I decided then to continue 3 more months of chemotherapy. Being on chemotherapy for 6 months gave me tremendous relief to my back. I was able to stop my pain medication and began to walk without a cane. Obviously, at that time my test results came back clear of cancer. I then started another form of preventative medication, but this time it was a shot called Faslodex that is administered intramuscularly every 4 weeks. All seemed fine, or so I thought.

On August 10, 2004 my life was once again put on hold. One Sunday evening I leaned up against the vanity to wash my face and felt a pain in my groin area. I felt a lump and thought this cannot be. I panicked and began to cry. Thank God I was going to see my oncologist the next day for my 4-week appointment. The day came to see him. “I felt a lump in my groin area”, I had said to Dr. Nabrinsky. Naturally, he reassured me it probably was nothing, but on the safe side he ran a blood test to check my tumor markers. (1 month short of my 4 year!) “Hmmm, I do feel something in your lymph node”, he had said to me. Unfortunately, I had to wait until Wednesday to actually find out what my tumor markers were before I would get a CT scan. I received the results Tuesday night that my tumor markers went up from 26 to 70. (Tumor markers are substances, usually proteins that are produced by the body in response to cancer growth or by the cancer tissue itself.) I went for a CT scan the next day and the scan showed a 2cm tumor in the groin area of my lymph nodes. Dr. Nabrinsky took me off the Faslodex shot and started me on an oral pill called Aromasin. I would take this pill daily for 6-8 weeks (mid October); with the hope my tumor markers would be reduced.

Knowing that this nasty cancer had struck again, I opted for a second opinion and went to Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and met Dr. Janet Wolter. I first saw Dr. Janet Wolter when I was originally diagnosed with breast cancer in February of 2000. She strongly agreed with the treatment that Dr. Nabrinsky prescribed, and that made me much more at ease. The only thing that she suggested was that I should be on a second form of anti-estrogen barrier. My body was still producing estrogen, which the cancer was feeding off of. She suggested Zolodex, which is a shot given in the tummy every 3 months to shut down my ovaries. Needless to say I am getting MAJOR hot flashes at age 29! FUN! Hey, I am not complaining if this is what I have to deal with to fight this cancer. Bring it on! I began the Zolodex shot a week later.

The end of October, I received my results after being on the Aromasin for 8 weeks. My tumor markers went up to 117. He looked at me and all I could think of was more chemotherapy and I would lose my hair. Dr. Nabrinsky assured me there would be little or no side affects and not to worry – Thank you God! I may sound selfish but it had taken me almost 2 years to get my hair in a ponytail. The new chemotherapy was called Navelbine. It was a very mild chemotherapy given weekly intravenously. Hair thinning can be a possibility, but I have had no signs of it. White and red blood cells do get low, and I go in several days after the chemo to get a booster shot to kick up my white blood cells or red blood cells, whichever is necessary. I started Navelbine on November 5, 2004 and since then my tumor markers have dropped 50%, 117 to 66 within 1 month. So I am very happy with the results so far.

However, I started to notice my feet numbing quite often for no apparent reason. Dr. Nabrinsky stated if the numbing continued I would have to stop Navelbine because of the long-term nerve damage. Unfortunately, the numbing did not stop, and we switched to a new drug called Gemzar on February 21, 2005. The side effects are similar to Navelbine. I have asked Dr. Nabrinsky how much longer I will have to be on chemotherapy, and will there be an end? Unfortunately, the answer he gave me was not what I wanted to hear. My form of breast cancer is a very aggressive one. It has been fed by estrogen, and has spread to other parts of my body. Our job now is to find the correct medication that will kill the cancer cells and keep them from spreading; the trick is “FINDING” the right medication. I am fortunate right now that we were able to find a mild chemotherapy that is working. I pray that as I need to change drugs the RIGHT one will be available for me.

This brings me to today. As I sit here I think back at the past 6 years and thank God every day that I am ALIVE. This has not been an easy journey and I still have a lot more fights ahead of me. With all the support that I have had thus far, and all the wonderful people that I have met along the way, I know I can do it! Thanks for your continued support! There is HOPE!

Click here to see my story in Complete Woman Magazine Oct. 2006.

Live each day like there is no tomorrow!

Candie

jeffcandieamanda@charter.net