Keri Haberstroh's Breast Cancer Story, Chapter 3: More Chemo Following My Mastectomy

A reality-based comic strip chronicles the life of Keri and Doug Haberstroh, young newlyweds fighting breast cancer. Keri was only 25 when she was first diagnosed with invasive / infiltrating ductal carcinoma. In this third chapter, Keri starts a new chemotherapy regimen, after undergoing a mastectomy of her left breast. This second course of chemo treatment for her hormone receptor-negative cancer takes Keri from September to December 2005.

Meet Doug Haberstroh

Why I Am Telling Keri's Story

My name is Doug, and I am a breast cancer husband. I'm here to share the story of the love of my life. It was Keri's dream that her thoughts, ideas, and love be shared publicly, so others could learn from her experience.

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Chemotherapy, the Second Time Around

More Chemo
It's August 2005, and Keri is looking forward to almost being free of breast cancer. But, fate had other plans. Keri will start yet another course of chemotherapy (post-surgery) in September.
The Second Round of Chemo (Post-Surgery) Begins
Keri still remembers the drill: "First weigh in, then blood pressure, heart rate, and temp are taken, then onto the drugs." No panic attack this time!
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
Keri considers herself pretty lucky that she has avoided many side effects and done so well with chemo. The one that she cannot avoid is hair loss, which started yesterday.
Halfway through the Second Round of Chemo
Most of Keri's messages to date have been uplifting and positive, but at this time the burden of cancer, sickness, frustration, and just an overall "I want to be done" are starting to kick in.
An Insurance Glitch in the Middle of Reconstruction
Keri and Doug are discovering what a "mess" insurance can be, when Keri's plastic surgeon no longer accepts their insurance.
Three Down, One to Go!
One drug gives Keri a headache like a constant brain freeze, but it goes away within a couple of days. Nothing she can't handle. The hair loss is, of course, nothing new.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk
Keri was honored to speak at a local breast cancer walk, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.
One More Treatment Added to the Chemo Schedule
Keri's doctor wants to be extra aggressive with this round of chemo, since Keri does not have the option of follow-up hormone therapy, as Keri's cancer is hormone receptor negative.
The End of Round Two is Near
Yeah!!! Funny how Keri dreaded all her chemo appointments, but this one she is actually kind of excited about going to. Keri even thought about taking balloons in to help celebrate.

How We're Telling Keri's Story

See the Entire Story Told in Comic Strip Form
The comic strip captions are excerpts from emails Keri and Doug sent to loved ones during Keri's treatment. Doug is re-publishing those emails in his blog. Together, the comics and Doug's SharePosts tell Keri's story - from start to finish.

Keri's Breast Cancer Comics

Episode 6: More Chemo, Post-Surgery - Click the image to view the full version

Learn About Keri's Type of Cancer

Invasive/Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma
70% of women with breast cancer have a diagnosis of IDC. Start with a great FAQ from Expert Patient PJ Hamel.

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More Chemotherapy Comics

Episode 6: More Chemo
"It just really sucks." Keri learns that she has to go through four more chemotherapy sessions, after completing her mastectomy and starting reconstruction.
Episode 7: Three Chemo Sessions Down, One to Go!
Keri is learning that breast cancer will always be a part of who she is. That her "normal" is now a new "normal."
Episode 8: Keri's Speech at the Breast Cancer Walk
Keri tells a short version of her journey through chemo, hospital visits, surgery and more chemo. She did pretty well and only cried a little at the end.
Episode 9: The End of Chemo (Round 2) is In Sight
It's early December, and Keri is going to wait until the new year (2006) to have her final surgery.

Table of Contents: 6 Chapters

The Next Chapter: My New Breast

Breast Reconstruction with an Implant

The tissue expander is removed, a skin graft is taken to form a nipple, and an implant is placed in Keri's left breast.

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