Sherry Hall drove tractor around her family farm in New York as a young whippersnapper. She grew up around horses and cows, and by the time she had children of her own, she’d even tried bull riding in a rodeo. As her daughter says, “Mom’s a cowgirl deep down in her soul.”
At 76 years old, Sherry’s country living continued. She managed her home, cows and 6 acres of irrigated land in Blackfoot by herself. She looked the epitome of health and strength, but then something strange seeped in.
“On my left breast, I had some seepage from my nipple that oozed out and left scabs. I knew that wasn’t normal. So, I tried all the horse medicines — bag balm and all sorts of salves, but it never went away. A month or two later I thought I’d better see what was going on,” Sherry said.
That’s when Sherry had the first mammogram of her life.
The initial doctor Sherry talked with about her mammogram results pointed out two suspicious spots within the breast and diagnosed her with Paget’s disease, a rare form of breast cancer that originates on the nipple. The doctor, based in Pocatello, seemed knowledgeable but Sherry didn’t appreciate his callous approach.
“He told me that if I didn’t do something before spring, it’d be too late. That was in November. His words scared me — was he saying I’d die by Spring? It was a terrible thing to say to someone just diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully, friends of mine recommended three doctors at the Cancer Center in Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. I’m so glad they did,” Sherry said.
After meeting Dr. Michael Lemon, surgeon, Dr. Daniel Miller, radiation oncologist, and Dr. Gary Cecchi, medical oncologist, Sherry knew she found the right physicians for her. They compassionately taught Sherry about her stage 2 breast cancer and Paget’s disease, and extended hope for a bright, full future.
“At my first appointment with Dr. Cecchi he said, ‘We are going to get this gone and you have a lot more living to do!’ That felt a lot better to me,” Sherry said. “My docs came up with a plan. They said, ‘We’re going to attack it, kill it and then take it out — and that’s what happened.’”
Chemotherapy came first in Sherry’s personalized treatment plan. For five months, Sherry endured a round of chemo every 21 days. As the process progressed, the side effects accumulated; taking a toll on the tough cowgirl.
“Everything I ate tasted like tin cans. I lost 34 lbs. throughout the ordeal. I lost my hair, had terrible pain in my legs and enough diarrhea that I felt like I couldn’t leave the house. It was horrible. Halfway through, I got really, really down. I was tired of it, and I felt like giving up,” Sherry said.
When Sherry found herself the lowest point in her cancer journey, heaven sent the encouragement she needed.
“That day when I wanted to give up, I looked through the window to my backyard and in flew a pure white dove. I sat very still and watched it. I know doves are a symbol of peace, but I looked it up and learned they also represent a message from someone in heaven who is watching over you and worried about you. Maybe it was my mom or dad. The dove only stayed for a few minutes, but it gave me enough strength to say, ‘Buck up, girl. You can do this,” Sherry said.
With renewed determination, Sherry completed her chemotherapy. Heaven surely cheered her on, as did her many friends and family, and the doctors and nurses at the Cancer Center.
“Oh, they were fantastic! They’d tell me I was a rock star and that I was one tough little lady, and they seemed like they really cared. It wasn’t just a job for them. They were there for me,” Sherry said.
After chemo obliterated the cancerous cells in Sherry’s breast and cured the Paget’s disease, Dr. Lemon performed a lumpectomy to surgically remove the two areas of affected breast tissue and a lymph node.
With the cancer destroyed and removed, Sherry has one last step to finish in her treatment plan. Every 21 days for one year she will receive targeted therapy medicines. The medications aim to block future cancerous cell growth. Sherry recently began this treatment and, thankfully, hasn’t experienced any side effects thus far.
“It’s amazing. I’m still trying to get my strength back from the chemo, but I’m feeling better,” Sherry said. “Through this experience I guess I learned I’m kind of a tough person. I also learned how important it is to pick good doctors and then trust them. If I could share a message with other women battling breast cancer right now it would be: Don’t give up; keep the faith.”
Sherry’s daughter Rebecca served as a live-in supporter during her mother’s cancer journey. She witnessed the high and low points, and as a result, she stands in awe of her mother’s strength. Plus, the experience left a personal impact on her opinion of preventative screenings.
“It’s changed my thought process,” Rebecca said. “I’m a strong believer in natural medicine — in herbs and curing things organically — but this has opened my eyes to what I’ve always heard about: early detection. I had kept hearing that throughout the years, and now I’m a firm believer. Who knows what would have happened if Mom hadn’t found this in the early stages when it was small and treatable. Early detection is something I can’t say enough of now.”