A Journey: Surviving Breast Cancer

Texas County Memorial Hospital and its dedicated staff were honored to participate in the unfortunate diagnosis, the ongoing successful treatment, and the continued support of a breast cancer survivor’s journey who has truly become one of their own. April Crites, RN and Quality Assurance Director at TCMH, began this journey as she also began her journey in the medical field as a nurse.

“I made an appointment to see my primary care physician, William Wright, MD, at the TCMH Houston Clinic after discovering a round lump during a routine monthly home self-breast exam,” shared Crites. “Dr. Wright had delivered my daughters in the Obstetrics Department at TCMH just 4 and 6 years earlier, so I felt comfortable discussing the breast lump I had noticed.

“If I could recommend one thing, I would say listen to your body when it tells you something is different or wrong. Initially, I thought I was being overly cautious, even silly, especially as a new nurse.

“I also recommend doing monthly self-breast exams after your cycle to familiarize yourself with healthy breast tissue so that you recognize changes. It was something I was taught as an adolescent that I have carried into adulthood, and it may have enabled me to catch my cancer before it progressed beyond my lymph nodes.

“Statistics say about 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime, so it’s not time wasted.”

April was then directed to the TCMH hospital’s radiology department for an outpatient mammogram to investigate the lump further.

“The TCMH Radiology staff was very professional, and they were great at putting me at ease in an uncomfortable situation,” she continued. “Then I had an ultrasound.

Later, I received a phone call from my doctor’s office notifying me that my doctor wanted me to follow up with a facility specializing in breast health, who confirmed Dr. Wright’s suspicions.”

The testing continued with an ultrasound-guided biopsy and lymph node biopsy to gather further information.

“I met with a surgeon, oncologist, and radiologist while having more tests done to determine how invasive the cancer was before I began chemotherapy infusions,” Crites recounted.

“After chemo cycles, I would return home and then typically go to TCMH 48 hours later for an outpatient injection to boost my white blood cells. I appreciated not having to drive back to my specialist’s office over 90 miles away.

“If I needed extra labs between treatments, I was also able to follow up closer to home at the TCMH lab. They were fantastic with my lab draws. The lab would send my results to my oncologist, radiologist, and surgeon – depending on what was needed at the time.

“We also found during chemo I had to take Cipro 7 to 14 days after chemo to avoid being hospitalized for a side effect that caused fluid volume depletion, so I would get that from the TCMH pharmacy.”

It’s also important to maintain a relationship with your primary care provider, who can help you manage your overall health and medical needs. A specialist, such as an oncologist, is not experienced nor often comfortable providing general care. When dealing with a life-altering medical condition, general care may be neglected or forgotten.

After April’s breast cancer treatment slowed down to a daily maintenance pill, she began working in the Medical-Surgical department as a Registered Nurse at TCMH. She maintained this position for four years before splitting her schedule between ICU and Med-Surgical for another year. She then transferred to TCMH’s Home Health of the Ozarks, where she remained for five years.

April is now the Quality Assurance Director at TCMH.

“I associate TCMH with many major milestones in my life,” April emphasized. “Having children, their well-child visits, my cancer journey, Jeff, my husband, and then my daughter’s type one diabetes health journeys. Dr. Benoist helped with getting Sophia to Children’s Hospital in St. Louis in time to avoid diabetic ketoacidosis, getting her leveled out on a treatment regimen, and providing us all with education.”

Now, both daughters plan on following in their mother’s footsteps in healthcare.

Olivia, now 19, is currently in the RN program at MSU-WP. Sophia, 17, a senior, participates in the local high school’s Health Science program. Last year, she received her CNA license in Health Science 1 and is currently taking Health Science 2 to attain her phlebotomy certification.

If you would like more information about scheduling a 3D Mammogram at TCMH, please call (417) 967-1276.

For additional information about primary care physicians at TCMH, in Houston, call (417) 967-5435; in Cabool, call (417) 962-3015; in Licking, call (573) 674-3011; in Mountain Grove, call (417) 926-1770.

April Crites kept her smile while undergoing breast cancer treatment.