October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign dedicated to raising awareness about breast cancer and its impact on individuals and communities. October 13th is nationally recognized as Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Today we’re taking this opportunity to share a survivor story from one of our incredible EMTs, Patti Kostrubiak. Please enjoy this story of hope and resilience in her own words.
“At the age of 39, I was super Mom going at Mach 1 every day. I had no risk factors and no family history. June 30th, 2004 my world was turned upside down in the blink of an eye when I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. The shock was overwhelming, I felt perfectly healthy. The hardest part was telling my children, Erin and Sean, who were 14 and 10 at the time. I wanted to grow old with my husband, John, and see my children grow up. That’s when my cancer journey began.
I met with the surgeon and opted for surgery 2 weeks later. There was lymph node involvement. I then met with my Oncologist who told me my prognosis was “not the greatest” and that a team of doctors would meet and design a treatment plan just for me. It would include 6 months of chemotherapy and 33 rounds of radiation.
I was also told there was a new immunotherapy drug they were testing, called Herceptin, that was in the early stages of the trial with overwhelmingly positive results for my particular type of cancer. I went for a second opinion at Fox Chase Cancer Center and they agreed with my treatment plan at Grand View Hospital.
I opted to have my treatments at Grand View, 5 minutes from my home. Within a few weeks of diagnosis, I started chemo. This is what I feared the most. The first three months would be two potent chemotherapy drugs. Terrified, I had my first chemo treatment. My oncologist and oncology nurse told me that they would get me through this. I took every positive thing that was said to me and ran with it. I never listened to anyone’s horror stories.
Exactly three weeks to the day of beginning chemo my hair started falling out. I shaved my head, put my wig on, and carried on. My wig looked just like my own hair and no one knew it wasn’t. During chemo, I was tired but always went in for my treatments with a smile and upbeat attitude because I was doing everything I could to beat this monster. My motto was, “One day at a time, one treatment at a time.” I didn’t want my life interrupted. I just wanted to have enough energy to pick my children up from school every day.
I was on medical leave from VMSC for approximately 6 months due to the chemotherapy. It was extremely difficult for me to be the patient instead of administering the care. I had another 12 weeks of chemotherapy with another drug that targeted my lymph node system, which wasn’t as potent as the first round. The oncology nurses were amazing and always encouraging. They became like family to me.
During this time I was accepted into the trial for Herceptin. I was selected to be observed but not to receive the drug itself, which was fine with me. Herceptin, along with the chemo drugs, could significantly damage my heart, so I was okay with just being observed.
Finally, chemo was done. One huge hurdle was out of the way. Next came radiation. I was told it would take longer to walk into the hospital and change than for the actual treatment. I was permanently “tattooed” with the radiation markers. I went back to work during radiation, getting to the hospital by 6 a.m. for treatment and then to work by 7:30 am. I did this for 33 days.
A couple of months later I was watching the news at work when I heard that Herceptin was being taken out of its trial phase, 2 years into the 5-year study, and being made part of standard care due to overwhelmingly positive results. This drug would take my chances of reoccurrence from well over 50% down to 21%. I made a phone call to my oncologist who had also just found out about it. A few days later, I was told that since I was part of the trial study I was going to be one of the first cancer patients to receive Herceptin as part of standard care at Grand View, and the drug company would cover the cost of the treatment. This treatment would be once a week for 52 weeks. One day at a time, one treatment at a time. Approximately a year and a half later, I rang the bell.
During my journey, I wanted people to hear my story and I wanted to give back to everyone who helped me through this. I became a member of the PA Breast Cancer Coalition and spoke as a survivor at their traveling photo exhibit, 67 Women from 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania. I became a Voice of Hope with the American Cancer Society, speaking at local events. I also formed the team Firefighters for a Cure in the Relay for Life, raising close to $25,000 for cancer research.
Growing up I always wanted to be a firefighter like my dad. Unsure if I had the strength or the stamina, I wanted to fulfill the dream I had always had. Two years after surviving breast cancer, I obtained my IFSAC and Pro Board as a certified firefighter alongside my daughter, Erin.
This year I celebrate 20 years as a cancer survivor. Attitude means everything. One day at a time, one treatment at a time. Each new day brings HOPE that one day we will find a cure.”
