Odd Twing: Getting Pacemaker Leads Grandmother of Six To Breast Cancer Diagnosis

An Accidental Cancer Discovery

• A grandmother, 62, who underwent a pacemaker procedure, experienced pain in her breast after the procedure. Although doctors suspected she was dealing with post-surgery discomfort, scans revealed she had breast cancer. She underwent treatment and has since become an advocate for early detection.
• The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women begin screening for breast cancer at age 40. Women should talk with their doctor to learn about their cancer risk and assess when is a good time to start annual mammograms.
• A breast cancer diagnosis can spawn a flurry of emotions and impact your mental health. Research published in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences found that “35 to 40 percent of cancer patients have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder,” patients battling late-stage cancer tend to face even more significant mental health challenges.
• To help manage your mental health while coping with a diagnosis, some helpful tips include leaning on your support group, journaling, and/or seeking a mental health professional.

A 62-year-old grandmother is using her unusual cancer journey to create more awareness among women at risk of breast cancer. Tina Macri needed an emergency pacemaker, and after the procedure, she started experiencing unusual pain in her left breast. Though her doctors suspected it was normal post-surgery pain, the grandmother of six followed her instincts to get a second opinion, leading to a cancer diagnosis.

“It was the last thing I was expecting,” Macri told women’s lifestyle news outlet 9Honey. After Marci underwent the pacemaker insertion procedure, she dealt with pain in her breast. She assumed her discomfort was her pacemaker, so she went to the doctor for an answer. “They gave me lots of antibiotics, but the pain continued, so I got myself up to the emergency,” she said. She sought additional medical opinions, which prompted a CT scan to ensure nothing unusual was going on after receiving the pacemaker. To her and her doctor’s surprise, scans revealed that she had “tiny lesions” on her breasts. “The doctor called me in and said, ‘It’s come back that there’s some tiny lesions on your breast,” Marci said. She had to undergo additional testing, including a biopsy, and once her doctor phoned her with an official diagnosis of lobular breast cancer. Lobular breast cancer, which is the second most common breast cancer in the U.S., starts in the lobules, the milk-producing glands in your breast, and spreads to nearby breast tissue. Marci’s daughter took the doctor’s phone call, which confirmed the cancer diagnosis. When she told her mom, Tina said she started vomiting. “I couldn’t even begin to describe the feeling that was going through me,” Marci said. “This beast was living in me for maybe three years with no symptoms,” Marci added. The cancer had spread, although Marci didn’t reveal what stage her cancer was in upon diagnosis. She underwent six months of grueling chemotherapy followed by several rounds of radiation therapy. “We’re so isolated,” Marci said, referring to cancer patients traversing through the ups and downs of treatment. “Every cancer is different…but we all suffer the same way. Everybody suffers the same feelings of despair and isolation and being scared that you’re going to leave family behind,” Marci explained. Following her acceptance of the diagnosis, Marci has become a fervent advocate for early detection and cancer awareness, determined to diminish the likelihood of others being blindsided by cancer. “We need to be able to make some noise and let people know that it’s a sneaky cancer and it will hide if you don’t have a scan. I want to make women aware,” Marci said.

Expert Resources on Breast Cancer Screening

• 10 Percent of All Women Get Called Back For Further Testing After A Mammogram — Howard Stern’s Cat-rescuing Wife, Beth, Is One of Them
• 6 Common Excuses for Skipping a Mammogram That You Need to Stop Using!
• Bi-Annual Mammograms At Age 40 Now Recommended For Most Women, What The New Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Mean For You
• Free Mammograms And Increased Access To Cancer Screenings Focus Of New Bills Promoting Early Detection
• Mammograms Are Still the Best Tool for Detecting Breast Cancer — A Warning About Thermography

What to Know About Breast Cancer Screenings

Women who are at average risk for breast cancer and between the ages 40 and 74 are being advised to get mammograms every two years, according to new finalized recommendations by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and published in the Journal of The American Medical Association (JAMA). In addition to suggesting women start bi-annual screenings at age 40, the USPSTF says there is not enough evidence to determine the positives and negatives of mammography for women 75 years and older. Women should talk with their doctor to learn about their cancer risk and assess when a good time is to start annual mammograms. WATCH: When Should I Get a Mammogram? Mammograms are used to screen for breast cancer. Women who haven’t gone through menopause are encouraged to get a mammogram annually between the ages of 45 and 54. If you have experienced menopause, you can get a mammogram every two years. “We all agree regular screening mammography saves lives,” Dr. Connie Lehman, a professor at Harvard Medical School, told SurvivorNet. WATCH: 3D Mammograms explained. Suppose you fit into the high-risk category for breast cancer, meaning a close family relative has been diagnosed. People at higher risk may have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation or had radiation to the chest area when they were young. In cases like this, people in the high-risk category should begin annual mammograms at 30 years old.

Help Coping With a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

If you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis, your emotions are likely to run high, which is completely normal. Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik says emotions are often fluid when coping with a diagnosis. “The patient or person going through the stressful event should accept that emotions will be fluid. You may feel fine one day and then feel a massive wave of stress the next. It’s also important for those you look to for support, whether that’s a therapist, friends, and family, or both, to understand the fluidity of stress-related emotions,” Dr. Plutchik said. WATCH: How to cope with complex and changing emotions. If a stressful event affects how you think and feel, it may be time to seek mental health treatment. This could mean traditional talk therapy, medication, changing lifestyle habits (like exercise and diet), seeking a support group, or many other approaches. SurvivorNet experts suggest women needing a little extra help coping with a breast cancer diagnosis.

• Let your family and close friends know and let them help. So many cancer survivors tell us they want and need support but are often too preoccupied to make specific requests. Urge those close to you to jump in with whatever practical help they can offer.
• Keep a journal. It can be extremely cathartic to let those feelings loose on paper. Grab a pen and a nice journal and chronicle your thoughts throughout the day.
• Join a cancer support group. Groups in nearly every community offer opportunities to connect with others going through a similar journey. You’ll learn constructive insight from others who can tell you what to expect and how to stay strong on tough days.
• Consider seeing a therapist. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist so you can discuss your fears and concerns in a safe space. Often, vocalizing your thoughts and feelings rather than internalizing them can provide relief.