Breast Cancer Champions

Erika Jones Akers
Breast Cancer Survivor

“I was parlayed with fear, anger and resentment,” Erika Jones Akers said. “I was 35, a mother of three, and I was just diagnosed with breast cancer. I didn’t even know I was a risk at such a young age.”

Since becoming a nurse in her mid-20s, Erika religiously did monthly breast self exams, never missed her yearly physicals with her primary care physician and gynecologist and adopted lifestyle changes for the betterment of her health.

But on April 15, 2008, the unthinkable happened.

Erika was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at the age of 35. A severe cause of the hives prompted both her physician and gynecologist to send her through a series of testing to determine the cause of her breakout which left her short of breath and her skin covered with swollen, painful red wheals.

The tests results were inclusive and showed the Maryland native to be in good health. “My gynecologist just finished reviewing my test results with me and concluded that my hives probably were a reaction to stress or an insect bite. Just as I was about to exit his office, he said ‘Erika, wait one moment. I want to give you a referral for a mammogram’.” Erika’s doctor informed her that African American women were more lately to receive a late diagnosis of breast cancer and die as a result so he thought it was a good idea for Black women her age to get their first mammogram at 35.

Erika left her doctor’s office feeling confident that her hives were a result of stress for she was in the midst of a divorce and working as a nurse in the pediatric intensive care unit at the University of Maryland in Baltimore City. Besides she was healthy, never experienced breast pain or found a lump during her monthly breast self exams and there was no family history of the cancer, so she was positive that a diagnosed of breast cancer was highly unlikely.

“When I receive these type of referrals, I usually throw them in the back of my car, forget about them and remember weeks before my next doctor’s appointment that I should finally schedule the exam so my doctor won’t be annoyed with me. But, this time, I got back to work and called for an appointment right away.”

Luckily, the radiology department where she worked had an appointment for the next afternoon. The next day, Erika received her first mammogram and was told by the radiologist that she more than likely had nothing to worry about because of her age. Two weeks later, she received a letter in the mail that more tests were needed, and one week later she was scheduled to receive a second digital mammogram. A week after her second mammogram, she was referred to a breast specialist at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, Maryland, who requested an ultrasound for her.

“At this point, I was panicking and in denial because everyone just kept saying ‘don’t worry; it’s probably nothing. We just want to be certain.’ The radiologist who performed the ultrasound just kept going over the same spot over and over and over again. I was getting annoyed and asked her to stop. She said ‘I need to get the doctor.”

Hearing those words confirmed it for Erika – something was wrong, and it was time to be concerned. “I was alone, scared and crying uncontrollably. I didn’t think to ask anyone to come with me to the appointment because who would have thought I would have breast cancer.”

Within seconds of seeing the ultrasound images on the monitor, the specialist knew that Erika had stage one breast cancer and a biopsy needed to be scheduled right away. The biopsy showed it was an aggressive form of cancer called triple negative. “I thought I’m going to die and who would take care of my children.”

The diagnosis would change Erika and her family lives forever. Nine months of tests and treatment were in store for her – MRIs, Cat Scans and CP Scans; a  lumpectomy; weeks of Adriamycin, Cytoxan, Taxol chemotherapy (considered to be some of the strongest chemotherapy drugs on the market); and 33 weeks of radiation.

Today, Erika is cancer-free and meets every three months with a medical team consisting of a breast health specialist, medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist and receives a mammogram every six months. The magic number for Erika is five – for a woman diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, five years cancer-free is considered as being “out of the woods.”

For Erika it’s been two and a half years cancer-free, and she’s optimistic that she will reach the five-year mark.

“I’m an advocate for my health now. I don’t let any doctor tell me that it’s going to be okay. If something doesn’t feel right, I demand an examination and testing. Even if everything feels right, I don’t miss my annuals physicals, and I gather as much information as I can about what can affect my health as an African American woman.”

Erika offers this advice to all women, “Get to know your breast – feel them, look at them and touch them. Be an advocate for your help – seek information, be persistent with your health care providers and ask questions.”

And, if you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, “Empower yourself with information. I don’t really advocate searching for information on the internet. Seek information from a breast health specialist, breast cancer organizations and the Black Women’s Health Imperative. Join a support group. You are not alone and should not be alone. Become an expert. Know your pathology report like the back of your hand because your cancer is unique to you. Cancer is not one-size-fits-all. If you don’t have health insurance, don’t let that be a deterrent to getting screening and treatment. There are programs available with free and low-cost options”

Erika Jones Akers is a breast cancer survivor, and she wants you to be on too!