Breast Cancer: Dagmar's Patient Story

What happened, in summary

Dagmar Schiffer was 51 when she found a lump in her breast in 2011. Because her mother had also had breast cancer, she quickly saw her gynecologist. Breast cancer was diagnosed, and Dagmar had breast-conserving surgery with removal of affected lymph nodes. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy followed. She found chemotherapy easier than expected and even chose to shave her hair before it fell out, partly to avoid the shock her mother had experienced. The visible hair loss also made it easier for others to understand that she was ill. Radiation was harder for her than chemotherapy. It left her very tired and mentally foggy during treatment, and she still felt marked fatigue afterward. Dagmar later continued antibody therapy and hormone therapy, with bone pain among the side effects. She also used naturopathic support during chemotherapy. Her husband had died suddenly before her cancer, and that earlier loss shaped how she saw the diagnosis. To her, breast cancer was serious but not an immediate emergency. She tried to keep everyday life going and trusted her gynecologist as her medical guide. Support from her sister, a friend who had already had breast cancer, and the idea of patient guides helped her move through each phase.