Journey: Amy Brechon
Name: Amy Brechon
Age: 19
Year: 2013
Major: Nursing
Campus Activities: MUSNA, Intramural sports, Relay For Life
My Journey:
I guess that you could say that I’m a normal college freshman here at Marquette — except for maybe one thing: I am a five-year breast cancer survivor
The roads I took to get there:
In August 2004, when I was 13 years old, I discovered a lump in my left breast while I was showering. I felt uncomfortable, but I told my mom. She assured me that it was probably nothing — just a “normal” part of developing.
When it didn’t go away after a month, we went to my pediatrician who ordered an ultrasound and sent us to a surgeon. The radiologist and surgeon agreed that I needed to have surgery, and the lump would have to be removed. On Oct. 18, 2004, they removed a tumor about the size of my thumb.
Everyone was afraid that it might be cancer, so they sent a biopsy to Mayo Clinic. I wasn’t really worried because I didn’t quite understand what was going on, and my parents kept telling me that it would be OK. They said that they would take care of everything, and that was just fine with me!
Besides, whoever heard of an eighth grade girl with breast cancer?
Bad news came back from Mayo a week later: My tumor was malignant. Its official name is cysto-sarcoma phyllodes tumor, a very rare type of tumor — rare to find in young women and rare that it would be malignant.
A month later, my parents took me to a breast cancer surgeon in Chicago to remove more tissue from my left breast to be biopsied just to be sure that all of the cancer was gone. Those margins came back clear, and we were all relieved. Even though my cancer had a low-malignancy, radiation and chemotherapy would not help to fight it.
This experience may sound scary, but for me, it wasn’t. I was so young, and I don’t think I understood the seriousness of it all. My parents told me not to worry — so I didn’t!
We kept my “situation” private until the following summer, when my mom’s friend asked if I would be able to be the co-honorary cancer survivor for our local Relay for Life. My parents discussed it for days without telling me. They were afraid that I was still too young and might not be able to handle the attention it could bring. Eventually, they asked me what I thought, and I assured them that I could handle it.
I must admit, that first speech went rather well, even though I choked up a couple of times. My family and my high school basketball coach and team were in the audience supporting me, and I felt a strong bond with the other survivors and their families.
Word got out in my community, and my family and I were impressed by the positive, supportive reaction we felt. I started getting requests from local Girl Scout troops to come and share my story with their members. I would tell the girls, who were about my age when I found the lump, that you are never too young to examine your breasts. Start now! I also told them; if you do find something that scares you, don’t be afraid to tell someone. It could save your life.
Continuing the Journey:
Over the past couple of years, my story has gotten a lot of exposure not only in Illinois (where I live) but also all over the country. I have spoken to reporters from television and newspapers. I have met wonderful, supportive people and many brave cancer survivors. I have been given many wonderful opportunities.
I am one of the lucky ones!
Now, I must turn my negative into a positive. I am very driven to spread my message about breast self-exam to all.
This fall, I was awarded the 2009 Woman of Strength Award from the Get In Touch Foundation. This “grass roots” foundation’s mission is to educate girls in grades 5-12 on the importance of breast self-exam and teaches them how to examine themselves. Its founder, Mary Ann Wasil Nilan, also a five-year breast cancer survivor and receiver of the Oprah Magazine and CoverGirl “Giving Beautiful Back” award (February 2009), has asked me to be their Ambassador of Hope, a position that I am proud and excited to fill.
We are in the process of planning a “GIT Your Pink On” Day at Marquette where all the proceeds will go directly to the foundation. Hopefully, we can make “GIT Your Pink On” a yearly event at Marquette and as a campus we can “Be the Difference.”
Tags: amy brechon, awareness, breast cancer, Journey
Loading ...