Brenda Carvallo discovered breast cancer early

The Diagnosis

I have always been diligent about my screenings because I have a family history of cancer. I lost my only sister to lung cancer, my big brother to pancreatic cancer and my dad to colon cancer. My

cancer was discovered during my annual ultrasound. It was

stage 1 ductal carcinoma. Because some abnormal cells were previously found in my other breast, I opted for a bilateral mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy.

Sharing the News

My husband, Johnny, was with me at the hospital for the

biopsy. We have a daughter, Olivia, who is a student at FSU. The minute she hears cancer, she thinks worst-case scenario. She has seen too many people die of cancer. I had to reassure her.

Getting Treatment

I participated in Lynn Cancer Institute’s Multimodality Clinic via Zoom because we were out of town. I met with the oncologist, the surgeon, the geneticist, the radiologist, the social worker. It was

comforting knowing I had a team. And even though this

tumor was small, the team really listened and respected my choice to have a bilateral

mastectomy. I did not need chemo first, and my surgery was on Nov. 6, 2020. I spent one night in the hospital and then a couple of weeks on the recliner in my house. I began taking walks, and as soon as I was cleared, I began teaching exercise classes again. I will be on an estrogen suppressor pill for about five years.

How I Got Through

I had some minor axillary cording from the lymph node removal and went to a physical therapist at Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s rehabilitation program. Ruth’s hands and her heart were healing. I’ve also started attending a breast cancer support group. I had resisted because I felt I didn’t belong there. Other

women were fighting much worse cancers. I became emotional and had to leave the first virtual meeting. But I tried again, and it became

empowering.

What I Learned

God places people in the right place at the right time. If my team ever questions their purpose in life, I will be the first one to tell them they are in the right place. There are people and programs that can help you. That’s what the hospital is there for.