New Jersey Mom, Daughter Are Surviving Breast Cancer – Together
ORANGE, NJ — A mother and daughter from Essex County are sharing their experiences with breast cancer ahead of Mother’s Day in an attempt to spread hope – and awareness – to other families in New Jersey.For Merlise Diaz, 48, the experience with triple negative breast cancer was “surreal,” according to Hackensack Meridian Health, which provided medical treatment for the Orange resident and her daughter, Leslie Grullon, 32.The cancer came out of nowhere, Diaz recalled: she felt healthy otherwise, which a “normal” physical exam seemed to suggest in 2017. But then after seeing a chiropractor for stress tension – who recommended that she do stretches as therapy – Diaz made a discovery that was eventually diagnosed as cancer in January 2018. She began chemotherapy the following month, a process that continued for half a year.Diaz ultimately had a lumpectomy and then took a cancer pill for one year. Her side effects were “minimal” and partly managed through holistic programs such as Reiki, in addition to successful chemo treatments, Hackensack Meridian Health said.Despite the odds, Diaz felt lucky that her cancer was responding. All seemed well, especially after the genetic tests came back negative. However, the New Jersey mother’s world was about to be rocked yet again when her daughter, Leslie – who was only 29 at the time – began her own battle with cancer.While sweeping, Grullon got a sharp pain through her right shoulder to her left nipple, which is where the tumor was found. Diaz checked her out and felt the same lump – and they knew that more medical attention was urgently needed.After going for a diagnostic mammogram, Grullon was diagnosed with HER2-positive stage three breast cancer. Looking back, she realized the extreme cold sweats she was having were an early symptom. Before that, she felt a small lump, but dismissed it because of the genetic testing. Grullon also tested negative for genetic breast cancer.It was a puzzling situation for both mother and daughter. Both women wondered how they got breast cancer without confirmed family history and around the same time. They thought that the genetic testing results meant there wasn’t a hereditary trait to their disease. However, genetic testing, while beneficial in guiding cancer care, is still an evolving science and may not find every genetic link, according to Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH).Luckily, medical treatment is paying dividends for Diaz and Grullon, HMH spokespeople said:“Mother and daughter both received treatment at HMH and are patients of Dr. Graham. Diaz had surgery, what she calls ‘top shelf’ chemotherapy, and radiation. Grullon had AC (adriamycin and cyclophosphamide), a common chemotherapy regimen usually given for localized breast cancers. It is a combination of two chemotherapy medicines: Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). She did that treatment for four rounds and then did a second level for eight weeks of PERJETA (pertuzumab), a prescription medicine approved for use in combination with Herceptin (trastuzumab) and docetaxel in people who have HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to different parts of the body (metastatic). Grullon also had surgery, a double mastectomy. She had some benign fibroid findings in the right breast and the left breast was too small to save because of the tumor size. She had expanders put in to prepare her breast tissue for reconstructive surgery. She’s still wearing them a year and a half later because of an infection in her right breast that delayed the process. Grullon also had radiation treatment.”The experience has brought the already-close mother and daughter even closer together, which they say is a key part of their recoveries.Grullon said seeing her mother’s strength through her process – and seeing how treatment didn’t produce the side effects she imagined from the movies – gave her the confidence to meet her own breast cancer head on. Both women had knowledge about breast cancer the second time around, which made a huge difference. They knew what to do … who to see … what to expect.“Awareness” is key, Grullon said.The pair are encouraging other women to get tested, but also to perform regular self-exams. It’s also helpful to “know your body, share all symptoms with your doctor, and advocate for your health,” they say.What’s next for Diaz and Grullon? The two celebrated life with trips to the Mediterranean and Puerto Rico and plan another trip once Grullon’s journey is complete.BREAST CANCER FACTSHackensack Meridian Health shared the following information about the types of breast cancer that Diaz and Grullon experienced.HER2-positive Breast CancerHER2-positive breast cancer is a breast cancer that tests positive for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). This protein is known to promote the growth of cancer cells. In about one of every five breast cancers, the cancer cells have extra copies of the gene that makes the HER2 protein. HER2-positive breast cancers tend to be more aggressive than other types of breast cancer.Triple Negative Breast CancerTriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for about 10-15% of all breast cancers. The term triple-negative breast cancer refers to the fact that the cancer cells don’t have estrogen or progesterone receptors (ER or PR) and don’t make any or too much of the protein called HER2. (The cells test "negative" on all 3 tests.) These cancers tend to be more common in women younger than age 40, who are Black, or who have a BRCA1 mutation.TNBC differs from other types of invasive breast cancer in that it tends to grow and spread faster, has fewer treatment options, and tends to have a worse prognosis.Genetic TestingGenes carry genetic coding and just as with other information in genes, mutations can be passed on from a parent to a child (inherited). Inherited gene mutations may also be called germline mutations.For example, if a mother has a BRCA1 gene mutation, there’s a 50% chance her child will inherit the mutation and a 50% chance she won’t. The mother has two BRCA1 genes, one with a mutation and one with no mutation. The child gets one of your two BRCA1 genes from the mother and it’s random which copy. (The other BRCA1 gene from the father.)What You Should KnowIt’s important to know that genetic testing can be an important piece of the breast cancer puzzle. However, it cannot replace self-exams and routine screenings. Any time you notice a change in and around the breast tissue, it’s important to get it checked out right away.Send local news tips and correction requests to [email protected]. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.The article New Jersey Mom, Daughter Are Surviving Breast Cancer – Together appeared first on West Orange, NJ Patch.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings