My name is Kiana Wooten. I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in October 2019 at the age of 34. Months prior to the diagnosis, I found a lump. I thought it was just a cyst, which was very normal for me during my monthly cycle. It did not hurt or anything, so I paid it no attention, and what a mistake that was! Fast forward 5 months, I noticed that I had pain when I would lift my left arm up and that my left breast felt very tender to the touch around the nipple area. Listening to my husband, I went to the doctor to get it checked out. Upon doing the breast examination, the doctor felt the lump and ordered me to get a mammogram. I called and set up the appointment for the following week. Once I went to get the mammogram, my anxiety started to kick in. They took me to the back to perform the mammogram. Afterwards, they informed me that they needed to do an ultrasound as well. When the ultrasound was over, the technician told me the radiologist would come to talk to me. I found this strange because I had never had a radiologist come talk to me after any imaging. The doctor looked over the slides and proceeded to tell me that he was 99% certain that the tumor they found was cancerous and that I would need to have a biopsy to see the type and stage. I was at a loss for words. After waiting 2 weeks for an appointment, I finally got the biopsy done. On October 1, 2019, I received a phone call letting me know that I indeed had breast cancer. Before any type of treatment was done, my oncologist thought it was a good idea to do genetic testing, since my older sister had breast cancer as well. Turns out, I had a mutated gene in my ATM RNA, which means there is a higher chance of developing other cancers as well as a 50% chance of my daughter also having the gene. My treatment consisted of chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy, as well as hormone therapy for the next 5 years. While getting the mastectomy, the doctors put in tissue expanders. A few weeks into the surgery, I developed a staph infection and had to be hospitalized. After a few more weeks, I developed a fever and had to go to the ER where they discovered I had sepsis and had to remove the expanders because my body was rejecting them. They immediately put in the implants. Well 2 months later, I developed a fever and went to the ER and it turns out I had sepsis AGAIN! So, they had to do another ER surgery to remove the implants. I DID NOT get implants again. I opted to be flat and I have never looked back since! It has been a little over 4 years since the original surgery and I am finding that more ailments are happening with my body. Like I traded one aliment for 5 others. I now have osteoporosis, eczema, POTS disease, cognitive issues, and alopecia. It is like a never-ending journey, but I came to fight and WIN! I am a breast cancer survivor and advocate. I have spent the past 5 years learning about different types of breast cancer and belong to various cancer organizations. I am a certified breast cancer advocate. I have traveled to Washington, D.C. to talk to Congress about cancer care and policies that need to be implemented and or changed. Cancer is always evolving and I am dedicated to being the change I wish to see in the world by using my voice and to help others on their journey. No one fights alone!
