When West Springfield resident Cynthia Sheridan Murphy was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (pdf) two summers ago at the age of 53, she told herself "I just needed to get through this."
Getting through the next 13 months involved a mastectomy, four rounds of chemotherapy over 12 weeks, six weeks of radiation therapy, a five-night hospital stay for breast reconstruction and then facing complications from lymphedema, a build up of circulating bodily fluid that sometimes results from treatment. This condition in her right arm delayed her return to work as a dental hygienist.
It is estimated that 10 to 20 percent of breast cancers are triple negative (pdf). Breast cancer that is negative for estrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptors does not yet have hormonal or targeted treatments. This can make the diagnosis of triple negative more challenging to treat, though survival rates for this form of breast cancer are said to be similar to other forms after five years with available treatments, and scientists are getting closer to understanding some of the genetics of the different types of triple negative.
Sheridan Murphy continues to be checked every three months.
During much of the last year, with her ready smile and stylish signature cowboy hat, she has been working as well on her journey of what she calls a "breast cancer survivor/thriver" to empower other women on their journeys against the disease, too.
Earlier detection and more treatment options mean that there are more women alive today in the United States who have had a diagnosis of breast cancer. It remains, however, a disease that starts at the cellular level (pdf) and for which there is no cure.
"I totally felt my body betrayed me. I also beat myself up emotionally about 'Did I cause this?' I ended up battling emotions like self-doubt, guilt, anxiety and fear," said Sheridan Murphy who five years ago had lumpectomies to remove two small tumors confined to the same breast without further treatment.
She said she never understood at the time that radiation as a follow up can significantly reduce the risk for the recurrence of cancer in the breast. One of her messages now to the newly diagnosed is to ask questions. Follow-up was a mammogram at six months and then yearly mammograms.
"I tell women to be their best self advocate. And during treatments, ask questions. Don't assume the doctors know all the answers," Sheridan Murphy said.
A former triathlete who did this year's Big 5K Road & Fun Run, Sheridan Murphy felt the presence of the stage 2 tumor whose cancer cells had spread to her lymph nodes between mammograms. The size, the fact that it had spread to the lymph nodes in the underarm were why she underwent a mastectomy to remove the tumor, chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells anywhere in the body and radiation to destroy any cancer cells in the breast.
"On a Sunday, after a morning run and an afternoon swim at friends, I had just gotten home and I felt a painful area when I hit my breast accidentally. My initial reaction was, 'What did I do today to cause my side to hurt.' When I felt the area, I felt a lump about the size of a golf ball," recalled Sheridan Murphy who is married and the mother of two grown children.
She said the initial treatment planned was "a mastectomy and 10 days later reconstruction."
"But my biopsy of the sentinel lymph node showed it had spread to my lymph nodes. Treatment was now chemotherapy followed by radiation, then reconstruction," she said.
Sheridan Murphy said she did not elected to have a double mastectomy as she was informed her risk was very low for developing cancer in the opposite breast.
"I am happy with my decisions and found my doctors very informative, so I did not see a reason to have a double," said Sheridan Murphy who said she was glad to be treated locally for her diagnosis of triple negative through the Baystate Regional Cancer Program.
Sheridan Murphy said she was "scared of everything," and very "emotional" during treatment, which was sometimes very painful, and felt "all alone" when it ended.
"I cried at the drop of a dime and anytime a doctor had to touch me. I think I was just so hypersensitive to touch," she said.
"My challenges were mainly emotional. I was trying to keep myself from admitting I was sick. I would blog, write, go to friends' houses, my kids' games and pretend I was fine. I could handle the surgeries, drugs, etc., but I hit rock bottom when treatments ended and I felt all alone. I was full of self-doubt, guilt, anxiety, fear and depression."
This is when, Sheridan Murphy said, "I took my schooling as an empowerment coach and put it into action. I hired a business coach and started focusing on helping others and my vision for my future."
Sheridan Murphy is a co-facilitator, along with Rays of Hope founder Lucia "Lucy" Giuggio Carvalho, of a breast cancer support group that meets the first Tuesday of the month, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Cancer House of Hope at 1999 Westfield St, West Springfield.
The group is part of Survivor Journeys, which is having its annual gala to support such resources Oct. 28 at Chez Josef in Agawam. The non-profit organization was founded by Dr. Jay Burton, an area physician and cancer survivor who also established the Primary Care Cancer Survivorship Program of Western New England at Springfield Medical Associates.
"A friend gave me Dr. Burton's card that she saw at an office. She knew my goal was to educate other women and empower them to take control of their health and to move beyond cancer to a more fulfilled life," said Sheridan Murphy of her involvement with Survivor Journeys.
"I believe there is a need for more support in emotional healing. The doctors do their job, but when it is done, you are left feeling all alone. Your physical scars heal but the emotional component is difficult to face alone. That is why I believe survivorship programs are necessary."
Sheridan Murphy did a silent video about her cancer journey to share as part of Motives Cosmetics Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. She later asked Connecticut singer-songwriter Debra Lynn Alt if she could add Alt's inspirational song "Each Moment We're Alive," based on the stories of other cancer survivors, to the video. The two women now work together on motivational projects. They are featured participants at an Oct. 29 fund-raiser in Connecticut for the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation.
This March, after additional reconstructive surgery, Sheridan Murphy was able to return to work as a dental hygienist one day per week.
"My life has changed tremendously. I have great value in each day. Tasks that were irritating now have value. I stopped taking on everything and schedule what I enjoy first in my calendar. I also vision the future more which is exciting," said Sheridan Murphy
She has her own business website that features the video with Alt's song.
Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and a Mediterranean style diet are thought to help boost the body's immune system against diseases like cancer.
Sheridan Murphy is a member of Paradise City Dragon Boat, a coed team of cancer survivors and supporters who paddle on the Connecticut River in Northampton. She said the experience as a member has become for her "not only physical activity, but also emotional since many are cancer survivors themselves."
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