Stephanie Cobb's Battle Session

Stephanie Cobb

Stage 1 grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma with multifocal lymphovascular invasion (Breast cancer)
Age 36 at diagnosis

My name is Stephanie Cobb and I am blessed with an amazing husband Tommy and 4 wonderful kids; two boys Carson 13, Connor 12 and two girls Addi 10 and Brantley 2.  We are like any other family. We stay busy with homework, multiple sports, and taking care of a toddler. We were always on the go. Until one night in December of 2013 while lying in bed watching TV, I went to scratch my chest and noticed a hard knot in my breast. I had lumpy breast any way so I decided to just wait a few weeks to see if it would go away.  A few weeks went by and it was still there.  I would say that it felt like a hard marble. Deep down I knew something was not right.  I finally listened to my husband, mother, and friend and called the doctor.  I had an appointment the next day, and the doctor said he thought it was a cyst but sent me for a mammogram just to be sure. I had to wait to make sure the pictures came out fine, and they came in to tell me that I needed to have an ultrasound to check the area better. Since my family history was a strong one with my great aunt, aunt, and mother all having breast cancer, they sent me to have a needle biopsy on January 8, 2014.  After along week, I met with my surgeon January 15, 2014. I was told I had Stage 1 grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma with multifocal lymphovascular invasion (Breast cancer).  

From that moment on, I do not really remember anything else he said. I was in total shock. I just kept looking at my husband thinking this has to be a dream. I then had to go meet with my oncologist.  Since my cancer growth cell was very high at 93% and having to have the BRCA test done, they wanted me to start chemo before any surgeries.  I was scheduled to have a contrast MRI Nuclear test for them to see my lymph nodes and to have some removed and my port put in on January 23, 2014. I got the results that 2 out of 3 nodes were positive but had not spread out of the sentinel breast area. That was good news. The next week January 31,2014 I started chemotherapy. My chemo was a total of 8 treatments every 2 weeks. The first 4 treatments were Adraimycin/ Cytoxan.  The last 4 treatments were Taxol. Chemo was not fun with all the crazy side effects. Losing my hair was one of the hardest things for me. I worried about how my kids would feel about seeing me without any hair. My 2 year old was the one who had the most trouble with it. I got my friend who is my hair stylist to cut my hair short.  I thought it would help with the transition for when my hair fell out. When I got home my daughter (2 year old) would just cry and would not come to me.  Of course, I cried later when I was by myself thinking oh wow this is going to be so hard. A few days later she got better, and when it fell out, I do not think she even noticed. My older kids would keep telling me how beautiful I was, and my husband always made me feel beautiful.  The other nasty side effect I experienced with chemo would be the really bad nausea.When I say nausea, it was like one I had never experienced,not even with pregnancy or a virus.  I was very tired with watery eyes, runny nose; sores in my throat and mouth,nails were in very bad shape, very dry skin, heartburn, and very bad headaches with blurry vision. Those are just to name a few. There were a lot more. I had to go the day after chemo to get the neulasta shot to improve my white blood cell count. I did not like to get that shot. The shot would always make me feel very bad like I had the flu. My body would ache really badly and I was pretty much in the bed all day the day after I had it.  The weeks that I would have chemo would be very long. Monday blood work, Tues my oncologist appointment, Wednesday chemo, Thursday neulasta shot. Fridays were always my worst day. I would always feel my best the week I would have chemo.  It was always so hard to go back, but God gave me such strength that I never knew I had. It is such a wonderful comfort knowing how awesome our God is and is always there for you to get you through the toughest times.  I had such wonderful “ Chemo Chicks” taking care of me.  I consider each one of them dear friends of mine.  My last treatment was May 7, 2014. That was such a wonderful day. My family and friends came up there to be with me and watch me ring that bell. That was the best sound and feeling in the world. I had done it. No more chemo!!

May 21,2014 I had to go have another MRI done. May 30,2014 I went to meet with my plastic surgeon, and June 2nd I met with my surgeon.  With a lot of thought and with talking with my doctors, I decided to have a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. I did not want to take any chance of the cancer returning. June 12th I went in for surgery and stayed in the hospital for 2 days.  The following week I started my weekly visits to have my expanders filled. Having the expanders filled was very uncomfortable. To me, it felt like my chest was about to cave in. It hurt all the way to my back sometimes. My chest would feel very tight, and coughing and sneezing was a bit uncomfortable. I am now at my waiting time for my next surgery. I will have my expanders removed and implants put in. I am going to have a hysterectomy next. This year’s journey for me has been one of the worst but best times in my life. Having cancer has made me realize that we are not promised tomorrow. Live each day like it is your last one.  I am cancer free right now and my mass had 100% response to the chemo. The chemo was terrible, but it saved my life.I am so thankful for that. I could not have got through this without God, my husband, my parents, family, friends, and community. I could not have been able to get through this extremely hard time with out my mother. She took time out of her life to move in with us during my weeks of chemo to help with my children and all the things that come along with it. My mother is such an amazing woman, and I thank God she is my mother everyday. Also, I must thank my mentor and friend Dr. Angela Powell who went above and beyond for my family and me.  I am a Breast Cancer Survivor, and I am so blessed for that.

For more information on the Bald Is Beautiful Campaign please contact Lyn Taylor of Lyn Taylor Photography of Mobile, Alabama