Be Your Own Hero + Biggest Advocate - Rachel Knop
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This article was written in October 2023 for the Ladies Night Out event.
I had discovered a lump in my left breast in April 2019, but I didn’t think it was anything serious. I had a yearly appointment with my OB/GYN scheduled for May and planned to mention it to her then. Being 38 years old with no family history of cancer, I never in my wildest dreams thought this little lump was going to change my life and my family’s life forever. After an exam from my OB, she sent me in for my first ever mammogram, followed by an ultrasound that revealed two spots to biopsy, one in the breast and one in the lymph node in the armpit. After the biopsy, I was sent home to await the results, which felt like took an eternity. On June 3, 2019, I received the devastating news that no one ever wants to hear, “You have cancer.” The diagnosis was Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, and it changed my life forever.
The events that followed were a series of appointments with doctors, lab tests, CT scans, an MRI, and genetic testing, leading up to an August 21 surgery date for a double mastectomy followed by reconstructive surgery the next day. I was in surgery for approximately 13 hours between the two days and stayed in the hospital for seven days.
During the initial surgery, lymph nodes were removed, and one tested positive for cancer. The tumor analysis put me at high risk for metastases, so I began targeted radiation and chemotherapy treatments that lasted through February 2020. The chemo treatments were not too bad, and I could go back to work after a rough couple of days. Most of the side effects had medications to help with them, but I struggled with bone pain the most.
Fast forward to December 2022, and I was experiencing pain like never before. I was told it was my sciatica, given a cortisone injection, and started on steroids. I saw two orthopedic surgeons, my OB/GYN, and all my current at the time cancer related physicians and they all told me the pain was nothing and it was related to the surgeries and medications I had endured over my journey. However, I knew something was wrong and I was frustrated I couldn’t get anyone to listen to me that it wasn’t just ‘bone pain’. We went to our third daughter’s basketball game in Treynor on January 3, 2023, and I could hardly sit on the bleachers, so I told my husband that we needed to go to the Emergency Department. After a CT scan, the
nurse practitioner came in with tears in her eyes and delivered the news that the cancer had returned and spread to my ribs, shoulder, spine, pelvis, and hip bones. My heart sank, again, and I knew I had to go back into fight mode.
My goal now is to educate both women and men about the importance of early detection and the significance of advocating for your health. It’s crucial to listen to your body, understand your body, and conduct thorough research. Don’t ignore your intuition - if something feels off, speak up. Coping with cancer is an immense challenge; physically, mentally, and spiritually. However, my journey has taught me to cultivate more empathy towards others, recognize my inner strength, and practice self-love more than ever before. I’m fortunate to have an incredible support system consisting of my loved ones who have been with me every step of the way.
I don’t know when I will leave this earth, or if it will be from cancer, but I do know that the time I have left here will be spent using my story to help others become their own hero and biggest advocate for their health.
