Local breast cancer survivor goes from patient to advocate
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- A self-exam led to Brenda Matuszkiewicz's breast cancer diagnosis. Now, two years cancer free, she urges people to do their own exams, saying no one is exempt from breast cancer.
Sleeping on her left side was becoming painful, but she'd hurt her right shoulder before. It was January of 2024, and she had been shoveling, so she blamed that for her shoulder pain. Having done her yearly mammogram six months prior, she tried to ignore the thought of that lump being cancer.
"In June of 2023 I was ok," Matuszkiewicz said. "I was kind of shocked that something would have progressed so fast."
But the lump was cancer. Stage 3b, which signifies its spread to the chest wall. Within a month she was in chemo. She had to have a port to receive treatment, but her nurses and doctors explained exactly what they were doing at every step.
Brenda had an active lifestyle leading up to her diagnosis, working out frequently, advocating for children as a court appointed special advocate-or casa, and chasing after her young grandchildren. She was not going to let her diagnosis stop her.
"Every two weeks I went through chemotherapy and it lasted several months. I was going to work full-time, and I was trying to take care of my grandchildren. I was trying to make my life not change completely. I needed that for my mental health"
Thursdays were chemo, and Fridays were injections to replenish her white blood cells, which she says wiped her out, but by Monday she was always ready to work again. Holding no doubt that she'd survive this.
"The medical team was worried I wouldn't survive this. But I had family, I had friends, coworkers, my medical team, a church group that was praying for me; and I felt that."
The chemo shrunk her cancer after three months. She went through surgery and radiation and by September of 2024, her cancer journey was over.
Life looks different two years after cancer. Literally. Brenda's hair is straight instead of wavy; she visits her oncologist monthly and get more blood work, lab work, and general checks.
"I'm on a couple different medications. I will be concluding one of them in December of 2027. And the other is a five-year medication, so I won't be done with that one until 2029. It sounds like it's a long way away, but time flies."
Her message is to be aware of your body, how it feels, and the changes it goes through. But if you do get a cancer diagnosis, she says remember everyone's story is different, so rely on others for support, and commit to your treatment.