Lori Marini's Breast Cancer Journey: From Diagnosis to Metastasis
When Lori Marini, a healthcare professional of 20 years, is diagnosed with breast cancer, she must choose between aggressive treatments, risking her mental and physical health, or risking her life by not doing anything at all.
You will learn:
1. What happened when Lori Marini missed her mammogram when she was 40.
2. Lori Marini's experience of a double mastectomy and the tissue expansion process.
3. How Lori Marini dealt with her metastatic cancer diagnosis and the treatments she is now undergoing.
Lori Marini is a breast cancer survivor who works as a healthcare professional and advocates for patient education. She underwent a double mastectomy, tissue expanders and is currently undergoing chemotherapy and ovarian suppression.
When Lori Marini, a healthcare professional of 20 years, is given a devastating diagnosis of breast cancer, she must choose between aggressive treatments, risking her mental and physical health, or risking her life by not doing anything at all.
"When I'm in a fight or flight, I turn to humor. And that's why I still laugh when I say this, because I didn't have the luxury of filtering for myself." - Lori Marini
Lori Marini is a breast cancer survivor who works as a healthcare professional and advocates for patient education. She underwent a double mastectomy, tissue expanders and is currently undergoing chemotherapy and ovarian suppression.
Lori Marini, a healthcare professional for over 20 years, missed her mammogram at 40, but her primary care physician told her she had four more years. After a dream of being riddled with cancer, she got a mammogram. After 65 images, they found four masses in her left breast. She had a double mastectomy with lymph node removal, tissue expanders and chemotherapy. Just shy of her five year mark, her CA 27 29 marker was elevated, and her Pet Scan showed bone involvement. She is now considered metastatic and back on chemotherapy and ovarian suppression. Despite the trauma, Lori has a healthy lifestyle, belief in the universe and doesn't want pity.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
1. What happened when Lori Marini missed her mammogram when she was 40?
2. What was Lori Marini's experience of a double mastectomy and the process of tissue expansion?
3. How has Lori Marini dealt with her metastatic cancer diagnosis and the treatments she is now undergoing?
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Lori Marini is a pathologist assistant. She's also a master life and wellness coach and breast cancer warrior. Lori supports others in overcoming their fear and following the signs to their destiny.
Lori Marini missed her screening mammogram when she was 40. On her baseline mammogram, they found four masses of pretty good size in her left breast. When she went in for an ultrasound, she discovered she was riddled with cancer.
My biopsies showed that I had invasive tumor with DCIS. My boss was actually a world renowned breast oncologist. I was in surgery for a double mastectomy within two weeks.
I had a bilateral mastectomy with lymph node removal. Did you opt for reconstruction? And what was the rest of your treatment plan?
I needed tissue expanders because they took all of my breast tissue out from my skin to just to my pectoralis muscles. It was a three month period, which they don't tell you, right? If you don't understand it, keep asking questions until you really get it and don't back down from it.
At the time, there was no cancer in my lymph nodes. Now I'm considered metastatic, even though I underwent drastic measures. I'm back on chemotherapy. I am also undergoing ovarian suppression.
"I feel absolutely amazing. I attribute that to having a healthy lifestyle," she says. She doesn't really talk about his illness with other people.
Because it's metastatic, you then had to do chemotherapy. Now with advance in medicine, there is a branch of drugs called immunotherapy. It's not everything you see in mainstream media.
The woman had a radical hysterectomy, so she woke up in menopause. They didn't do surgery because it was metastatic. It's definitely gotten better, but yeah, it's just so delightful.
I fell into pathology. I had graduated with a degree in biology, a minor in chemistry and math. I thought I was going to med school. But in the lab and at autopsy, there's just something that happens. I was really in awe of the human body.
I knew that being on the front line was no longer going to serve me in my healing journey. I pivoted, took my education and created a job in the biotech industry. This journey has taught me don't stop, don't settle. Keep going.
So do you like Florida? Surprisingly, I absolutely adore it. The people are kind. There is a southern hospitality here. The weather is great. And we're just really happy.
Cancer can show up seven to ten years after a traumatic life event. "My first worst moment was making myself wrong for not doing enough right," she says. But it's a different journey this time. She says there is a place for anger in any traumatic event.
This journey, for me has saved my life. It has given me the permission, it has hit me over the head to put myself first. The other is I have no tolerance for nonsense. That's a lesson everyone can learn, but especially women.
Is there one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning? I would probably allow more people to support me and let more people in.
If you can only change one thing about health care in the US, what would it be and why?
Lori Marini
Pathologist Assistant, Master Life and Wellness Coach, Breast Cancer Warrior.
Lori Marini is a Pathologist Assistant (tumor expert), Master Life and Wellness Coach, and Breast Cancer Warrior. Lori supports others in getting beyond their fear and following the signs to their destiny.