118: Valerie David survived Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma | Survived Breast Cancer | Letrozole | Vincristine

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First, Valerie David was diagnosed with Stage 3B Cell Diffuse Large Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.  After surviving that diagnosis, she was diagnosed with Stage 2 Invasive Lobular Carcinoma, a form of breast cancer.  She again achieved survivorship, only to be diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer.  Valerie managed to survive that as well, and inspired by her surviving a multi-layered cancer journey, she wrote and stars in an award-winning, one-woman play, “The Pink Hulk.”

 

Valerie’s cancer journey was preceded by her experiencing chest pains and severe fatigue.  She and some girlfriends went on a vacation to Niagara Falls, and Valerie ended up sleeping almost entirely throughout the trip.  She had the chest pains, forcing her to sleep on her side, accompanied by chronic cough.

 

Valerie saw an oncologist in 1999, who ordered a CT scan.  The scan showed a tumor in her chest, and after a needle biopsy, she learned she Stage 3B Cell Diffuse Large Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.  She was placed on a three-month chemotherapy regimen involving cytoxin, vincristine and adriamycin.  Valerie said she felt a great deal of chest pain, but believed that meant the chemotherapy was attacking the tumor.  It turned out she was correct because after the first dosage, a 9cm tumor was reduced to 4.5cm.

 

Valerie David’s family had a history of lymphoma diagnoses, and all who had it, survived.  That’s why she was optimistic she would survive, and after her chemo regimen, she did survive.  However, fifteen years later, she felt a lump in her armpit and went to a gynecologist, who sent Valerie to a cancer hospital.  Right away she sensed something serious was wrong, and sure enough, she was diagnosed with Stage 2 Invasive Lobular Carcinoma, a form of breast cancer. 

 

Many of the drugs prescribed for treatment of lymphoma are also prescribed in treatment of breast cancer.  While she could not take adriamycin, she was put on a limited dosage of cytoxin, and was prescribed docetaxel as well.  Eight months later, Valerie achieved survivorship in 2015.

 

Then in 2018, Valerie David again experience chest pains and says she knew cancer had returned.  She called her oncologist and told her, “I have cancer.”  My oncologist’s office originally thought Valerie had a pulled chest, but again Val’s instincts were correct.  She was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.  This cancer had bone metastases in her chest and ribcage, which explained the chest pains.

 

In her work, Valerie had worked on an ad campaign for a cancer drug, verzenio, and asked her oncologist if she could prescribe verzenio.  Months later, a scan came back revealing No Evidence of Disease, which Valerie calls the best day of her life. 

 

She still takes the drug letrozole, still has no evidence of disease, and says she can do all the things in life she wants to do.  Valerie has already beaten the three- to five-year life expectancy tied to the treatment she underwent for Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.

 

Valerie David is a native of Virginia Beach, Virginia, but she was drawn to New York City because of, its theater scene.  She parlayed her love for theater and what she experienced during her three times surviving cancer to write and star in her award-winning, one-woman play, “The Pink Hulk, One Woman’s Journey To Find The Superhero Within.”  It seeks to inform, inspire and entertain, with humor and transparency.  

 

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Valerie’s Address: https://[email protected]

 

Valerie’s Website: https://www.pinkhulkplay.com