In 2014, I was diagnosed with aggressive Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer—invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Within less than a year, I underwent four months of chemotherapy, received four blood transfusions, had surgery to remove a breast tumor and 19 lymph nodes, and completed 33 rounds of radiation.
Though the cancer began in my breast, it didn’t stay there. It invaded my chest wall and lymph nodes (which were surgically removed). My liver was extensively covered with tumors, making surgical removal impossible—and for stage 4 cases like mine, surgery is rarely an option anyway. After finishing chemo, my spine doctor discovered a dead tumor in my spine.
Here are the key numbers that describe the severity and aggressiveness of my cancer:
- SUV (Standardized Uptake Value): Measures how “active” or aggressive a tumor is. Anything above 2.5 is malignant; mine was 16.2.
- Ki-67 (Growth Rate): Indicates how fast the cancer cells are growing. Above 20% is high; mine was 60%.
- Grade: A score from 1 to 3 based on nuclear grade, tubule formation, and mitotic index. I had a Grade 3—the highest and most aggressive.
- Nuclear Grade: How abnormal the cancer cell nuclei look; mine was 3 (worst).
- Tubule Formation: Percentage of cells forming normal tubular structures; mine scored 3 (lowest formation).
- Mitotic Index: How quickly the cancer cells divide; mine was 3 (fastest rate).
Everyone’s cancer journey is unique—some have it easier, others harder. We don’t compare pain or struggle, because cancer is often the hardest battle anyone faces. But through it all, I’ve found unwavering hope and strength in God and His word.