Jeanette Friesen was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in 2005, and is celebrating being a 20-year cancer survivor! “The path from then until now has not been a straight road, but rather a circuitous journey,” Friesen said. She shares he ups and downs of her story below:
“My cancer journey began on Father’s Day when I found a hard lump in my breast. Having a history of numerous cancers in my family, including breast cancer, my first assumption was that it was malignant. A needle biopsy proved that to be true. After a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy, the pathology report indicated stage 2 (one axillary node did contain cancer cells), grade 3, triple negative breast cancer. At the time I did not realize that this was not the best news because this type of breast cancer does not have a targeted treatment.”
"Thinking back that far to my first oncology appointment with Dr. Copur, several things still stand out in my mind. First, I was fearful of my cancer diagnosis. I had lost an aunt to breast cancer and was familiar with the risks of the disease. Second, at that point I didn’t know much about Dr. Copur and wondered if this man was going to get me through this journey I was embarking on. I didn’t know then that I had been introduced to a knowledgeable, compassionate and committed doctor.”
“I went on to go through the standard ACT (adriamycin, Cytoxan and taxol) chemotherapy regime followed by 35 rounds of radiation treatments. The hardest part, for me, was losing my hair. It wasn’t that I was vain about my looks, but rather that every time I saw myself in the mirror I was reminded that I had cancer. Even on the days when I was feeling great physically, I still looked like a cancer patient. I struggled with that identity.”
“I also found that, spiritually, I was not prepared for cancer. I’m thinking many cancer patients, like myself need to face the possibility of death. It takes many prayer warriors to boost the faith of a cancer patient. If that is the role you find yourself in, know that you are an important member of the cancer team!”
“After my treatment, Dr. Copur wanted to make sure he was not missing any new treatment opportunity. He emailed two colleagues, one at the National Institute of Cancer and the other from England, and included me on the mailing. I was surprised that within less than 24 hours they both had responded. That let me know that Dr. Copur was a well-connected and respected professional in the oncology world. I was really beginning to trust this guy!”
“As I mentioned earlier, there is no additional treatment for a TNBC patient following chemotherapy. Three years passed with no recurrence and Dr. Copur was hopeful we had gotten it. But at the five-year mark, the cancer decided to show up, this time in my axilla. I had a needle biopsy the Monday before our son’s wedding in October 2010. The plan was that I would call my doctor on Sunday evening, after the festivities were over, to get the results. I didn’t want anything to distract me from enjoying the celebration. Sadly, the cancer recurrence was revealed during that phone call. The clinic had used the time to get an appointment with Dr. Copur set up, and, in no time, we were back to fighting mode.”
“This second time around I again had surgery, chemotherapy (carboplatin and Gemzar), and more radiation. One of the great things about Dr. Copur is his research involvement. He got me enrolled in a trial for iniparib, a drug that was supposed to lower the body’s natural DNA repair mechanism. Since chemo works by breaking DNA strands, the body actually works against it. Being able to lower this tendency would boost the efficacy of the chemo. In the end, the trial was not successful, but I was glad for the opportunity to support TNBC research. As the decision was being made to discontinue the chemo/iniparib treatment, I remember Dr. Copur commenting about the difference between the science and art of medicine. I trusted that he had the knowledge to make such a decision in my treatment plan.”
“This second battle with cancer took on another significant dimension when our new daughter-in-law was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma five weeks after their wedding. We both received our treatments at the same center and when they coincided we were given the large corner space that could accommodate two chemo recliners. I’m glad I could support this young couple through this difficult challenge. I am so thankful for God’s mercy in bringing her safely through her bout with cancer. Fifteen years later, she has remained cancer-free and they have two beautiful children.”
“In 2017, seven years after my recurrence, I began experiencing nerve pain in my right arm and hand. After exploring carpal tunnel injury and a pinched nerve in my neck, the neurologist suggested it may be ulnar nerve damage from the previous radiation treatments. An investigative PET scan uncovered a second recurrence near the brachial plexus, deep in my axilla. By this time I knew the track record of TNBC – a higher chance of recurrences and a lower survival rate. Dr. Copur still let me hang on to the belief that both of these recurrences were local and that I had not progressed to Stage 4 cancer. This was what I clung to as I started chemo again. This time I received eribulin. Because of the tumor’s location, surgery was not an option. And there was still yet more radiation.”
“Once more, Dr. Copur’s quest for any new treatment options led him to pembrolizamaub (Keytruda). At the time, it was not approved for breast cancer. But, I discovered that Nebraska has a law that says insurance must pay for any drug used to treat cancer, even if it is used off-label (differently than the label says). In the end, Dr. Copur was able to get the drug for me through his connections and the Merck Patient Assistance Program. I was on pembrolizamaub for two years. It was during this time that I became a part of the Morrison Cancer Center’s family. All of the staff was so caring, knowledgeable, and skilled. I appreciated their role in my cancer journey.”
“It was hard to end treatment, especially after two recurrences, and I asked Dr. Copur about any new trial outcomes. He again turned to a colleague, this time from M.D. Anderson in Houston. We were told to look into a recent trial that lowered the copper levels in TNBC patients in order to prevent tumor growth. This led me to a two-year experiment taking ammonium tetrathiomolybdate, a copper chelator. Due to problems obtaining the drug, I stopped its use. This was another example of Dr. Copur’s willingness to think outside of the box to fight for his patients’ health.”
“Now, marking my 20-year survivorship, Dr. Copur has used the other C-word. Not cancer, but CURE! Actually, I don’t need to hear the word ‘cure;’ I am content to be cancer-free. I thank Dr. Copur, for being there for me throughout this journey. I was blessed to be introduced to him back in 2005! He has cared for me, reached out for me, fought for me, laughed with me. He is not just my oncologist, but also my friend.”
