The following story is told in the patient’s own words.
It was May 2023, and I was 32 years old when I was diagnosed with breast cancer (DCIS) at stage 0. A month later I had a double mastectomy with reconstructive surgery. The procedure lasted 12 hours. It was during that surgery that the surgical oncologist was able to see better and diagnosed me at stage 1.
Where it all began
What started all of this for me was two months prior in April 2023 I decided to get new bras because my weight went up and my bras were fitting tighter. One of my new bras was white and two days after wearing it I noticed something crusty that looked like blood. It wasn’t blood, it was discharge that was coming out of my right breast. So that same week I went to urgent care, and I had a physical exam on my breast, and nothing was found. I was told to schedule an appointment with my primary care provider for the next day just to be 100% everything was good. I saw my primary care provider the next day and she didn’t find anything either.
She did however schedule for me to have a mammogram in May 2023 just to be safe. I had the mammogram and the technician said if nothing was suspicious then all was good but if something looks suspicious, then I would need an ultrasound. The ultrasound was suspicious as well. All that testing was on May 12, 2023, and since the ultrasound came up suspicious, I was scheduled for a biopsy four days later. Around May 17th, I got the call about my diagnosis. A few days later I met with the surgical oncologist followed by a few days later meeting with the plastic surgeon.
Ascension moves fast because I saw the plastic surgeon twice and the surgical oncologist once before my 12-hour surgery a month later. The days and months became foggy and depressing. Everything happened so fast.
Why I am grateful for genetic testing
Ascension gave me all the support that I needed and more. I was offered genetic testing and on the day of my surgery I got the results back. I came back positive for PTEN and POLE mutations. That basically means I am at high risk for other cancers and chronic illnesses. Some of those cancers are breast cancer and thyroid cancer. I had breast cancer and thankfully no thyroid cancer, but I did have to have a thyroidectomy (removal of my thyroid). I am epileptic, which is a part of PTEN, and I am autistic which is also a part of PTEN.
“Up until that point I honestly thought that the diagnosis of breast cancer was the worst thing that had ever happened,” shared Gladys Rivera, Melissa's mother. “I quickly realized that it actually saved her life. If her doctor had not moved quickly on this and done the genetic testing we would never have known that she needs to be closely monitored.”
The importance of unwavering support
I don’t know how I could have gone through it all without my family and my high-risk nurse practitioner. My mom is amazing to have stopped her daily life in Las Vegas to live out here in Milwaukee with me this past year to help me with everything. She continues to be with me at doctor’s appointments and is always by my side for emotional support.
After everything I have been through in my whole life, I am overall grateful because all I must do now for my breast cancer is take medication for five years. I am also grateful because since I am high risk, I get to see the doctors I need to see every year for checkups.
Some tips that I can give to people newly diagnosed with cancer are to take things one day at a time. It can get very lonely at times so make sure you are around your loved ones. Also, I would recommend joining support groups. It helped me to be around people who understand what I went through. We have all gotten the call about our diagnoses, so it is nice to be around people who you can talk to.
With this big change in my life, I know now not to take life for granted. Life can change in a second, which is why I have more of an appreciation for life now. My recent appreciation is also a reason why I volunteer more. I am loving the fact that I can give back any way that I can.
I am thankful for the white bra I purchased, and I am thankful for my mother requesting me to go to urgent care. I am thankful for Ascension and how fast they worked in helping me.
Today, Melissa regularly participates in Ascension Wisconsin Foundation Cancer Survivorship programs including A Time to Heal program and the Healthy Eating Active Living program. Thanks to donor generosity of Ascension Wisconsin Foundation, cancer survivors like Melissa can receive the support and wellness care they need.