Thursday, December 13, 2018
Kim Putek, 32, refuses to let breast cancer steal any more time from her family this Christmas. She has already spent too many days, weeks and months battling the disease.
She could have opted for another series of surgeries to reconstruct her breasts. But, that would have forced her to forego holiday hugs from her daughter, Mackenzie, 4, and son, Jacob, 2. The wounds and scars from reconstruction would be too raw.
“When I’m too sick to give my kids snuggles and hugs, I’ll never get that time back. My goal is to recover as quickly as possible,” Kim said. “My high-spirited girl Mackenzie knows I’m sick. Jacob, my rough-and-tumble little guy, is too young to form a memory of me being sick.”
Instead of spending the holidays healing from reconstruction, Kim visited a Christmas tree farm with her family and found the perfect holiday tree. And, the New Boston family plans to host a Christmas Eve potluck party for 40 relatives.
Kim is in her second round of chemotherapy at Beaumont Medical Center, Brownstown for invasive ductal carcinoma — breast cancer.
Kim and her husband Chet have been sweethearts since attending Lincoln Park High School. “He is beyond awesome. I call him my rock. He excels at caregiving and parenting. Also, I’m so grateful to our family and friends. Because of their loving assistance, I’m not stressed about our finances, making dinner or child care,” she said.
Kim, who works as a mammography technologist at the Breast Care Center at Beaumont Hospital, Wayne, initially did not say a word to anyone - except Chet -about the lump she found in her left breast in June.
“Oh, God, please don’t let this be cancer. Maybe I’m overreacting.”
A week later, she told her boss, who followed Beaumont’s process of immediately scheduling diagnostic tests. In one day, Kim had a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy from her workplace family, led by diagnostic radiologist Sophia Roumanis, M.D.
Two days later, Dr. Roumanis sat down with Kim to discuss the biopsy results. Kim said, “Even though they have these conversations all the time with our patients, telling me that I had breast cancer was hard on them, as well as me.”
Dr. Roumanis explained Kim had stage 1 cancer. The news was not a total surprise. Kim had planned for this moment. She knew her family had a history of breast cancer. She knew she wanted the same breast surgeon who performed her grandmother’s lumpectomy — Majd Aburabia, M.D. And, she knew she wanted a double mastectomy to reduce her future breast cancer risk.
Reconstruction is not for everyone
Kim also knew she wanted to go flat. She decided to forgo reconstruction because she did not want to extend her recovery.
Reconstruction requires multiple procedures, medical visits and, of course, time away from family.
Kim respects Dr. Aburabia for giving her the outcome she wanted. Her double mastectomy was done in mid-July, and with no reconstruction, Dr. Aburabia gave her a smooth chest.
Dr. Aburabia said, “The decisions to remove both breasts and to reconstruct, or not, are very personal. Mrs. Putek’s decisions were exactly right for her. Careful listening is an important part of my job as a breast surgeon. For each patient, there is only the way that is best for her, her preferences and her healing.”
Getting real with chemo
Following surgery, Beaumont medical oncologist Faisal Musa, M.D. prescribed two rounds of chemotherapy to ensure breast cancer cells in Kim’s body are destroyed. During the first round, Kim cut her long brown hair short. When her hair began falling out, instead of crying, she called herself “Patches O’Houlihan” after a favorite movie character.
“Chet and I involved our kids in helping to shave my head. We had a blast!” she said.
Chemo affects Kim’s sense of taste. “Most food just tastes bland. Spicy foods are intensely hot. I crave salty foods because it’s the only thing that tastes normal right now. Gaining weight from overeating at the holidays won’t be a problem this year,” she mused.
Kim said, “Having breast cancer at a young age is strange for lots of reasons. For example, I don’t have any friends my age who can relate to my hot flashes and night sweats, which are side effects from taking Tamoxifen.”
Kim found support by joining a Facebook group for young women with breast cancer. Reading members’ posts helped her feel less isolated. Because her work family is also so supportive, Kim continues to work throughout treatment.
“After my final day of chemo on Valentine’s Day next year, I hope to pick up my whole life where I left off last June and spend more time with my family. I want to play softball and soccer again,” Kim said. “I expect life will be a little different, but whatever it turns out being, it’ll be OK.”
Kim’s advice to other young women
- Pay attention to what’s happening with your body, especially after pregnancy.
- If you notice any change, don’t be afraid to tell your doctor.
- State clearly what you want checked out.
- Take charge of your health.