'I will never forget the day I found my lump.'
Jade Powers, 42, of Macomb, was diagnosed with Stage IV invasive ductal carcinoma on March 22, 2022. The cancer, which is the most common type, started in the milk ducts and spread to surrounding tissue; and in Powers' case, it was very aggressive and fast-growing.
'I was not one to do regular self-exams and whenever I would think 'I should do a check,' it was always close to my menstrual cycle and I know this could cause your breasts to feel lumpier, or so I thought, I still honestly don't know if this is a myth. But for some reason, that day, as I prepared to get in the shower, I felt a small lump, about the size of half a pea,' she shared. 'Immediate panic filled my head as I frantically began my first breast exam, where I then discovered a marble-sized lump in my left under arm. Right away I started making phone call to my friends who had breast cancer, Torie, Alisa, Amanda. I had a village of women, who were all survivors at the time or in their current battle to help navigate the next steps.
'I was too young for a mammogram at just age 38, and the spot was in just an odd spot (right next to the nipple) even the doctor had trouble locating it, the lump under my arm was thought to be caused by my recent Covid vaccine,' she added.
'Everyone seems under the general consensuses that this questionable area was not concerning and to have it checked in six weeks. This was late January, by late March my tumor had grown from half the size of a pea to 5 cm.'
Powers continued to seek medical care, receiving her diagnosis twice, once when she went to Peoria for a mammogram and ultrasound for a diagnostic report. While she was there, the doctor looked at her and simply said, 'You have breast cancer.'
'That was it. I was ordered to come back for a biopsy for confirmation, but he said he had been doing this job for 30 years and he was certain it was cancer. I was so confident that it was nothing to worry about and I didn't want to waste anyone's time by asking them to come with me. And then I was sitting alone in Peoria, after just hearing the most devastating news. Then I had to drive home and I thought I had to paint on a happy face so my family wouldn't worry,' Powers said, describing the experience.
'The next few months were the most difficult, the waiting for treatment, the testing to determine the cancer's sub-type to determine what kind of treatment I could receive, then the dreaded scans to determine staging.
I also learned that I carried the genetic mutation of the BRCA2 gene, which can also cause ovarian and pancreatic cancers. A cancer diagnosis in of itself its heavy, then when you hear Stage IV, it's just debilitating.'
She pointed out it was the guiding light of her friends who had walked in her shoes that she was able to be positive, determined and hopeful. Powers could see these women living their lives and pushing through the hard days and she knew that mindset was going to be a determining factor.
'I did not have time to sit and pity myself. I had two young kids to take care of, who needed their mom (Braelyn, now 14, and Cam, now 8) and didn't need any extra worry added to their already worried minds,' Powers pointed out. 'But then the official phone call with my diagnosis came while I was at work at Spoon River College. My world crumbled, but I had a path carved out. My phone call came from my amazing nurse navigator, Nikki, who became so much more; she became my friend and sounding board. Nikki had already scheduled my first oncology appointment with the amazing Dr. Veeder, who comes to Macomb from Peoria (Illinois Cancer Care) twice a week.'
It was Dr. Veeder who reassured Powers that he was going to 'throw everything at this beast.' That mean Powers started with six rounds of TCHP (a combination chemotherapy regimen), but around the fifth dose, her body was no longer able to tolerate one of the medications in the combination.
Once the final round was complete, she continued on maintenance of Herceptin/ Perjeta for about a year, along with an oral chemo and a hormone blocker to block the estrogen in her body … then Powers discovered another breast lump in the same breast.
'It was decided that I'd have a partial mastectomy (large lumpectomy) to remove the tumor. My scans showed a complete response to treatment in my body, with the exception of the returning spot on the breast.
My body was clean, allowing the surgery to take place,' she explained. 'When you are a stage IV patient, doctors don't want to operate as patients have to be off treatment prior to, and following, surgery. The surgery was a success, and shortly after, I underwent an oophorectomy (ovary removal) to eliminate my chances of ovarian cancer due to the BRCA2 gene.'
Besides her care team and network of friends, Linda's Fund also provided support.
'This resource was amazing, and because you can use the funds for anything, it always came in just at emergency time,' she said. 'We needed to replace our water heater, another time it was our washer/dryer. It seemed a like things were needing replaced or fixed and Linda's Fund was an amazing, providing a bit of grace in a messy situation.'
Powers went along with her daily life, feeling like she was on the healing side of her battle. About a year out from her last surgery, another lump appeared in the same breast. Her treatment team agreed it was time for a new treatment and a bilateral mastectomy.
'I did not have the option for reconstruction, but honestly, I was so sick of my breasts trying to kill me, I was ready for them to be gone. My village stepped up like nothing I had ever imagined. From my initial findings, treatments, surgeries, help with my kids, travel to appointments, help with meals and simply listening and bringing joy to my life.
Help and support came from all corners and I will forever be grateful to each person and prayer,' she concluded.
'As of now, I continue to receive chemotherapy every 21 days and I continue with my anti-estrogen pills. Treatments are tough, but I am so grateful for my doctors, modern medicine and any amazing support system.'
About Jade Powers
Born and raised in Colchester, Powers moved to Macomb to attend Western where she majored in social work. She worked as a foster care and youth intervention specialist before moving on to her role at Spoon River College as a recruitment and dual credit advisor for 13 years. She is now on disability due to the side effects of her treatment. Jade and Justin Powers have been married since 2009 and are the parents of two children.
