Kerrie Carter
I am an energetic person, big smiles, outgoing, very involved
and a go getter. I am a Unit Marketing Director for Chick-fil-A at University
Place and Davis Lake. I am also an event planner for CFA Inc. I open new stores
across the nation. On top of those other jobs, I work part time in the spring
time posing dance students for their recital pictures.
My husband Steve and I have been married this June for 25 yrs.
We have three beautiful daughters - Jamie 21, Lindsey 17, Halsey 14. The last
two have red hair. All are accomplished swimmers and the older two are
graduating one from UNCW and the other from Hopewell HS this year.
I have two dogs, Buddy and Katy.
Two years ago this July 19th, my life changed forever. Backing
up a bit to the first of that year, I went on Weight Watchers to eat better. I
was working out and taking great care of myself losing 16 lbs. I got out of the
shower and noticed a pretty good sized lump at about eleven o'clock on the left
breast. I was concerned, but I have had other things that caused my breast to be
lumpy and bumpy. I had also had a bleeding papalomous tumor removed a year and a
half earlier from the same side in the mild duct.. I played around with the bump
for about two months then deciding to go in for a mammogram. I left their a bit
concerned because it came out in a "gray" area. Could be this or that. The Doc
said he would extract it if it were his wife.
I went to Dr. Evans here in Charlotte, NC. he was wonderful.
Again, he did another Mammogram. He thought it might be scar tissue from earlier
surgery and was not going to biopsy, by my face showed concern. I had a biopsy
on July 12th. I waited five long days. I was losing weight now 22 lbs. I
couldn't eat or sleep. I pleaded with the doc to give me the news. He called at
8 PM at night. I was alone on July 19th. He made small talk, but finally came
out and said, "there was cancer". I fell to my knees. Not me. I am in great
shape, I don't smoke, cuss or take drugs. I am looked at as a role model for my
ethics and my work.
Not me! I was diagnosed with Stage II intermediate cancer on
the left breast at about 11:00. I had a 1.8 cm tumor, the size of my thumb. No
lymph involvement. My cancer was estrogen receptive. I was 44 at the time with
no other symptoms other than the lump that was noticeable from my losing weight.
I do have breast implants which in this case, helped me see it sooner. It was
pushed up by the implants. I have had the implants since 1998. I went through
all the treatment and surgery with them.
I cried for a week, finally going outside to get some air. I
ran into my neighbor. She was inquiring about our moving. I told her about my
news and she almost passed out. That was when I found out I was not alone. She
too had been diagnosed two days after me. We were able to lean on each other for
support.
All of this news came on the heels of not being able to sell
my house for three months and US Airways filing a double bankruptcy. I couldn't
take much more.
Treatment: I had surgery to remove the cancer on August 12th.
The lymph nodes were not involved but they removed four of them. Three weeks
alter, I had six cycles of chemo. I was given CM5FU. I took myself to all but
one treatment. I handled it well. Still wasn't fun. I worked on my CFA while
there and made everybody hungry. Most of the people going through treatment were
seen afterwards at my store getting something to eat. Funny thing, CFA was one
of the few things cancer patients can eat because they can taste it.
Soon after chemo, I had 33 days of radiation treatments. I
went daily for five minutes a day. I have had no reconstruction, but due to
having implants and radiation, my left side has encapsulated and causes great
pain. The doctor and I have decided to wait for one year before I do anything to
let my body heal. I can handle it. I have been on Femara for one year now to
help lower my estrogen levels.
Side effects: Chemo caused me to go into menopause. That was a
bit difficult. I gained the twenty pounds back. I got hot flashes etc... but now
under control. I have circulation problems from the surgery and the meds. My
joints hurt daily. Getting ready to visit the doc again. The chemo caused
constipation to a very high degree. I did take Mangosten juice while going
through treatment. I am taking a calcium substitute right now and I take Juice
Plus+ so I get the proper nutrition. I didn't lose all my hair but it was quite
thin and balding. I did the following: I used rose hips and mint shampoo from
Bath and Body works. I only washed my hair one or two times per week to keep
down the hair loss. I drank lots and lots of water which made the chemo work
through quickly and the recovery better. Although my white blood cell count went
below 900, i never got sick or admitted into the hospital. I used antiseptic
cleaners and washed my hands all the time. I don't know how I did it.
I have learned: to take each day and listen, enjoy and make it
complete. I pay attention to the beauty around me and to my family. I notice the
little things that I forgot about. I learned to not put things off like
mammograms. I had not had one for 1 1/2 years before I found the lump. I cannot
go back only forward. I am a advocate for self check. I tell everybody. I tell
people I am close to God as i can get so if they need something, I pray for
them. I try to find humor in simple things because life is not that bad. I found
that God gives us what we need, not what we want and that he is always with me.
I also know full well that the footprints in the sand was written for me and
many others that need that lift and spirit. I carried myself well in public and
dealt with my cancer. Behind closed doors, it was a daily struggle and continues
to be. My husband and I have our difficulties, but he loves me and I know it. My
life has changed forever, but had been made stronger even on those days I feel
week. There are so many others that are far worse off than I. If I can give a
little lift, I have done my job.
Words to live by: "I can if I think I can" Think on the
positive. You cannot change things you can learn from all of them.
I put a sign at my desk while going through treatment. I put a
tally mark over each time I had treatment. I tallied my radiation. The visual
(most women are visual) was something to look forward to. I'll keep that sign
forever to view what I have accomplished.
Do something for another human. I make little blankets for
newly diagnosed breast cancer patients I hear about by word of mouth. It is not
much, but I was given so much and this is how I "pay it forward". I don't have
much money, but, when I do, I buy fleece and I make a poem and give the blanket
for comfort. I give this blanket for the shoulders because they get cold during
treatment.
Kerrie Carter
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