Last May, I found out about a woman named Tracie Stricherz on social media. Her cousin, who happens to be a friend of mine, had posted about how this young woman’s life had changed in a matter of minutes after her doctor diagnosed her with an aggressive form of breast cancer.
Stricherz launched Treasure Your Chest, a personal blog on Facebook, that chronicles her battle with the disease and to keep friends and family in the know. Recently, I connected with her and asked if I could feature her on my blog. Her response was a resounding ‘yes.’
“If my story can help just one person to get in and get their mammogram then I feel I have accomplished something,” she added.
On May 11, 2018, Tracie visited her doctor for a routine physical. While there, the doctor asked when she had had her last mammogram.
“I told her it had been a while,” responded Stricherz.
The doctor scheduled a mammogram the same day.
“She didn’t feel anything. I hadn’t walked into the office complaining of anything either. In fact, I never did self-exams because I worried that I might find something troublesome. Oh, the irony!”
Tracie agreed to have the mammogram done since she was already in the office and they had time to see her.
Four days later, Stricherz received a letter stating that she needed to contact her doctor immediately. The mammogram had picked up on an abnormality that needed to be investigated further.
“I actually had to go back to the clinic on May 17 to have a large skin tag removed from my armpit. While I was there, my doctor informed me that she was certain there was nothing to worry about. However, it was necessary to have the radiologist see me.”
The radiologist, too, told her that there was no cause for concern. However, he looked perturbed when the mass refused to collapse during the biopsy.
“I was suddenly really worried,” recalled Tracie. “The mass was located very deep in my breast against my chest wall. There was no way anyone would’ve felt it during a routine self-exam.”
After the biopsy, Stricherz took off to attend her nephew’s graduation. The entire family had gathered for the celebration. For a while, it seemed, the discomfort of the biopsy had receded completely from memory. Unfortunately, aggravating news awaited upon her return.
“On May 21st, my life changed forever,” stated Tracie, fighting back tears. “I was at work when I received news that I had breast cancer. When I got off the phone, I shared the news with my coworkers and left for the day… I called Joe, my partner, and asked him to meet me at home right away. I didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t sure how I was going to tell my girls or the rest of my family.”
Stricherz had genetic testing done in May and had tested negative for the breast cancer gene. Naturally, she was shocked.
The next couple of weeks were a blur. Tracie was told that she was battling Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). Her cancer was already at an advanced stage 3.
“I had no hormone receptors which doctors target to treat cancer,” she shared. “Nothing was stopping the spread of this very aggressive cancer.”
Stricherz’s doctors ordered a series of tests. One of them revealed a mass each on her left lung and ovary, as well as her liver. They also found tumors in the lymph nodes under her right arm, which is also the location of her breast tumor.
“On June 7, I started my first round of chemotherapy called Adriamycin & Cytoxin. I had four rounds of this. I went in every other week for treatment. This was the chemo that made me lose my hair.”
After she completed the rounds, she commenced her first round of Taxol.
“That was a very brutal experience. I had muscle and body aches so bad that I ended up in the Emergency Room. The highest dose of morphine would help curb my pain for twenty minutes maximum. It was the most crippling pain I have ever experienced.”
Tracie decided she couldn’t handle Taxol so her doctor introduced Taxatere.
“That, too, was brutal… but not as bad,” revealed Tracie. “I did end up with mouth sores so bad that I couldn’t even swallow water. My tongue hung out of my mouth because it was so swollen.”
The doctor reduced the chemo dose by ten percent which eased the side effects slightly.
“I seriously thought, back in September, that I was going to die as a result of chemotherapy, not cancer. But I persisted and finished my last dose of chemo on September 27.”
The chemo caused the mass on her breast as well as the ovary to resolve. The lymph node tumors had resolved as well. When they were tested during surgery, there were no new cancer cells in her breast or lymph nodes.
“The spot on my liver is called a Hemangioma which is not cancer. The spot on my lung is just scar tissue from an infection I may have had as a child. Doctors will keep an eye on it, though.”
In early October, Tracie was told that her ovaries and fallopian tubes needed removal. She’s had multiple cysts in the past. Currently, there’s a mass on her ovaries that have doctors perturbed. The surgery is scheduled for November 30.
Tracie also had a double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery performed a couple of weeks ago. In December, she will begin radiation treatments.
“If I would’ve waited until I could feel the tumor in my breast, it would’ve been too late. The location of the tumor was impossible to feel. I’d say that two or three years would’ve passed before the lump surfaced enough to be touched. With this type of aggressive cancer, it would’ve likely spread throughout my body. It would’ve been too late!”
The initial prognosis was not good. Triple negative breast cancer is very aggressive. The doctors had given Tracie a survival rate of 20-30% which, obviously, was cause for concern. However, chemotherapy has helped bump that rate up.
“Chemo has been brutal on me but it has done its job,” stated Tracie. “My pathology report from my mastectomy was all clear of any cancer cells. The doctors have now given me a 99% survival rating. So, I can actually beat the odds if I continue treatment.”
Despite the promising outlook, Tracie finds herself struggling with an obvious side-effect of treatment.
“I hate that I’ve lost my hair and eyelashes,” she shared. “I was always one who loved to dress up and look pretty. My best features have always been my hair and my eyes. So, when I look in the mirror, now, I feel very ugly. I know everyone tells me I’m beautiful inside and out but it’s just a part of the depression that comes along with cancer and the treatment.”
Tracie is also uncomfortable with the weight gain as a result of the medications she has to take.
“The steroids and medications have caused me to put on weight. I was really hoping that I would at least lose some weight with the disease… but no such luck.”
As a woman, it is easy for me to understand her dilemma. Most of us wish to look and feel our best. The exterior does tend to affect the way we feel on the inside despite the reassurances of others. However, here’s a very courageous woman who has fought and is continuing to fight a very fierce battle. There are bound to be scars left behind as a result. My hope is that she will pull through and will find the strength to look after herself because the reality is that her courage makes her beautiful. Her resilience gives her grace. And her perseverance gives her a glow no amount of makeup could ever deliver.
Tracie Stricherz is also blessed to have a close-knit circle of family and friends to support her every step of the way.
“My family and friends have been amazing,” she gushed. “I have an older sister and two younger brothers. Between my mom, my sister, my younger brother and my sister-in-law, I always had someone next to me as I underwent chemo and surgery. I was never alone.
“Joe has also supported me from day one. Three years ago, I moved away from my family and friends after living in the same county for thirty-eight years. I wanted to start a new life with Joe and my daughters. But moving three hours away has not broken my bond with my family and my dearest friends.”
News of her cancer has been heavy for them, however.
“My best friend struggled to come to terms with it. She had lost a loved one not long before I told her about my diagnosis so it was difficult.”
Nevertheless, they’ve managed to pull together and are showing as much resilience as Stricherz. In fact, they are planning a benefit in support of Tracie which will take place coming Saturday, November 10, in Watertown, South Dakota.
“I kept telling my brother and sister that I did not want this benefit. I am one who feels there are others out there who need more help. My sister was at my house, one weekend, for my chemo treatment and we were looking at some of the medical bills that were coming in…”
Tracie has not been able to work much due to the side effects of chemo as well as healing from a double mastectomy.
“My sister said to me, ‘are you ready to stop being stubborn and let us have a benefit for you?’” smiled Stricherz.
Tracie finally agreed, albeit with hesitation.
The benefit will take place at the Kampeska Hall in Watertown at 5 p.m. There will be a free will donation as well as an auction.
“My advice to everyone is… do not wait until you feel something. Make your health a priority. You deserve to take care of yourself. Just schedule a routine mammogram. It could save your life!”
To follow Tracie’s journey, please like her page, Treasure Your Chest
Futhi says
So true, Its time i make my health a priority. Thank you for sharing
Seema Khan says
Thank you for your comment. We tend to put our health on the backburner. It doesn’t take much time to get checked out.