Editor's Note: In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Sounders FC and the American Cancer Society released a 2016 calendar featuring Sounders players and Seattle-area breast cancer survivors. The calendar is currently available at all Sounders FC Pro Shop locations, and all proceeds will be donated to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Seattle, the local affiliate of the American Cancer Society. SoundersFC.com asked the survivors featured in the calendar to submit their stories, and the fourth in this series was provided by Marlyn Kraft (above, far right, with other survivors and Nelson Valdez). Here's the first in the series, here's the second in the series and here's the third.
In June of 2008, I found a very small lump below my right armpit. I immediately had a doctor look at it, but he suggested it was probably just a cyst. Several months later it had grown larger, so I saw the doctor again but I had to force him to schedule an ultrasound. During my ultrasound, I knew it was serious when the supervisor asked to step in and take over.
Buy the calendar nowI was scheduled for a biopsy, and on Jan. 20, 2009 I was diagnosed as having Invasive Breast Cancer (1.4 cm) plus a smaller Ductal Carcinoma In Situ tumor. My wife took my diagnosis to a breast cancer surgeon she works with, and the doctor said, “That has to come out, and it needs to be done right away.” In less than two days I had a mastectomy! My cancer was ER positive, PR positive, HER-2 negative Stage ll A. I had 3 out 13 lymph nodes positive.
In February, I started chemo with four sessions of Andriamycin/Cytoxan(AC), and then I was supposed to have 12 sessions of Taxol, but had to stop after only 6 sessions as I got neuropathy in my feet. The chemo caused me to lose all hair on my body and caused severe mouth sores and large lesions all over my arms. I also developed lymphedema in my right arm and had to visit the ER twice for infection in my arm. Next, I had 30 radiation treatments and then in November had a lumpectomy on my left breast for a lump that turned out to be benign.
In December, I started on Tamoxifen (hormone treatment) until the following May when I had to stop because it caused blood clots in right leg. I then started on Warfarin to thin my blood and changed to Arimidex for hormone treatments. I stayed on it for 11 months until I switched to Lupron shots instead of the Arimidex.
In March of 2011, I was diagnosed with Stage lll prostate cancer and had radical prostatectomy surgery. About a year later, I went back on Tamoxifen but continued on Warfarin at same time to help prevent further clots. I finally was able to stop the Warfarin and Tamoxifen this past July and I am now finally off all cancer medications.
I still have problems with lymphedema in my right arm, but it is mostly under control. I also still have neuropathy in both my feet and unfortunately that has gotten worse, and I also have continual skin problems from the chemo and radiation treatments.
But all indications at this time show that I am now cancer free!
Three years ago, I started volunteering as a Reach to Recovery volunteer for American Cancer Society to counsel other men with breast cancer. Then two years ago after I retired, I started also volunteering as a Road to Recovery driver taking patients to their cancer appointments. I am now a volunteer driver for both King and Pierce counties. I participate in Relay for Life every year and also in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Life Is Good!
