My name is Claudia Farinola and I am a five-year breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with breast cancer as a single woman, age 43 just six months after my sister, Tina, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Tina discovered a lump during a routine self-breast examination. She immediately scheduled a mammogram. The results of the mammogram simply read, “The breasts are heterogeneously dense. This may lower the sensitivity of mammography. No dominant mass, distortion, or suspicious calcifications are identified. Routine follow-up mammogram in 1 year is recommended.” Tina insisted that there was a new mass in her right breast and demanded an ultrasound. The ultrasound proved that there was a 5 cm. mass. The mammogram had failed her due to heterogeneously dense breast not once but twice when her second opinion doctor ordered a repeat mammogram to be performed, rendering the same results, negative of any masses. The second ultrasound again confirmed the presence of the tumor and the biopsy showed cancer. Thanks to Tina’s due diligence, she was able to move forward with the proper course of action. My sister is now a six-year breast cancer survivor.

I felt it was my responsibility to also exercise due diligence based on Tina’s experience. I scheduled my mammogram. The results of my mammogram read exactly like Tina’s, “The breasts are heterogeneously dense. This may lower the sensitivity of mammography. No dominant mass, distortion, or suspicious calcifications are identified.” It was recommended that I have a routine follow-up mammogram in one year. Déjà vu! The results of my mammogram would not be acceptable for me either. I wanted an ultrasound as well. How accurate is a mammogram on dense breasts? Must not be if it missed a mass that measured over 5 cm., as in Tina’s case. I made a big stink and my doctor obliges me. She ordered another mammogram along with an ultrasound due to family history. Surprise, this time everything was different. Difficulties getting proper images during the mammogram, switching out equipment, multiple techs coming in trying to help with the images and then I moved into a room for the ultrasound. I knew there was something terribly wrong when two radiologists and another nurse came in. They found three masses in my left breast! Immediate biopsies were taken. It was confirmed three days later that I had breast cancer. WOW! Thank you God and thank you Tina for helping me find this cancer. What if I had accepted the first mammogram results? Due diligence paid off again.

FISH (Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization) proved that I was ER/PR (Estrogen Receptor/Progesterone Receptor) positive and HER-2/neu (Human Epidermal Growth Receptor 2 gene) positive. Treatments were as follows: unilateral mastectomy with delayed reconstructive surgery (two years later), four rounds of FAC, 12 rounds of Taxol, one full year of Herceptin and continued use of Tamoxifen.

I was one of those patients who suffered a side effect from my Herceptin infusions. I started to experience symptoms of congestive heart failure. I was immediately put under the dilligent care of my current cardiologist. My heart’s ejection fraction fell over 20 points. I was elevated to a Class III on the New York Heart Association Functional Classification scale. (Class III: Patients with cardiac disease resulting in marked limitation of physical activity. They are comfortable at rest. Less than ordinary activity causes fatigue, palpitation, dyspnea, or anginal pain.) Herceptin was discontinued for four months while I started on a heart beta-blocker, Coreq. Everything I was told going into my Herceptin infusions was that if any issues came up with your heart, it would only be transitory; the heart would heal itself after Herceptin was stopped. Since then, my cardiologist has decided to continue with the Coreq indefinitely. I continue to experience shortness of breath.

Many people ask me if I was tested for the BRCA gene mutation since my sister was also diagnosed with breast cancer. My sister was approved to take the genetic BRCA test. The results were negative for the gene mutation. Truthfully, we do not fit the profile for this particular gene. Only 5% - 10% of breast cancer is thought to be hereditary. With that said, I wanted this story of my journey with breast cancer to be one of awareness. Everyone must be his or her own advocate. Being my own advocate, I even demanded a different oncologist in the middle of my treatments due to some erroneous statements he had made and his cold bedside manner. He brought nothing to my oncology meetings and even confused me as an ER/PR negative patient when I was positive to both. It was inconceivable that this could even happen. I had to present my case to the Department of Breast Medical Oncology of my hospital and demanded that my oncologist be removed as my doctor. I then personally picked the brilliant oncologist who remains with me today. My oncologist is a wonderful doctor and she brings constant updated information to every one of our meetings. I look forward to every follow-up meeting with her.

Breast cancer made me a better and much stronger person. As I mentioned, I started my journey as a single woman. Two and a half years ago, I was introduced to a wonderful man at a dinner party and five months after that famous dinner, we would elope. Breast cancer taught me that life is meant to live for today because tomorrow is a privilege. I am living my life today with the love of my life and I am a breast cancer survivor. I have truly been blessed in so many ways.