Katherine England: “You Are Your Own Best Advocate!”

“You have to know your body, and you are your own best advocate. Don’t sit on the sidelines and let anyone or anything dictate how you will live your life. I did not miss one day of work from my illness. Yes, there were days that I really felt like garbage. But I refused to sit in a corner rubbing my eyes complaining, ‘Boo hoo, I have cancer.’ I told people I was DIAGNOSED with cancer; I refused to say I HAVE cancer.”

First of all, here’s a question for you. How often do you feel your own breasts? Maybe the last time was when you tried on a new bra or that swimsuit that you’ve been holding off wearing, or in the shower after a workout and you scrubbed away the athletic perspiration.

Katherine England is just like all of us. She didn’t even think about doing a breast self-exam until she, in December 2011, was watching TV and a commercial for breast self-exams came on. It reminded her she had not done one in a while.

“I first checked my right breast and all felt normal. Then, while checking the left one, I found a lump. I made an appointment with my OBGYN, who then referred me for mammograms and ultrasound,” she explained. “Upon getting these results I saw Dr. Singh, who recommended a biopsy, and we did one. The pathology came back benign. I was very relieved.”

Life changed in that moment, as can happen to a person who is living life fully and energetically. Katherine noticed that during the next year the lump kept growing. She met with Dr. Singh once more, and it was felt this increase was most probably scar tissue from the biopsy and could be removed. “I scheduled the surgery, but my out-of-pocket cost was far greater than the balance in my checking account. Knowing it was benign, I canceled the surgery. Over the next year I continued to monitor the lump area, and noticed it continued to grow, but became extremely alarmed when the tissue around the lump began to change in consistency,” she noted. “I rescheduled an appointment with Dr. Singh and he conducted another biopsy. This was November 1, 2013. I went for my ‘check-up’ for the incision site on my way to work. I was not expecting a full appointment NOR the results of the tests.”

Before we delve deeper into this woman’s harrowing experience, it should be noted we are not talking about a weak, non-fighter. Katherine is a third generation police officer with the Fort Pierce Police Department. She grew up in Fort Pierce and graduated from Fort Pierce Central in 1987. She briefly attended college and worked at several local businesses until February 1991 when she became employed as a police officer with the City of Fort Pierce. Her grandfather and father retired as captains. “I started my career as a road patrol officer and then became a detective, sergeant and eventually a lieutenant. I was the first female to be a member of the SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team for the FPPD and was also the team sniper,” she smiled. “I have worked in many capacities within the agency.”

She went to college at Indian River State College while working full time with the FPPD, attaining her associate’s degree in criminal justice. She then attended Nova Southeastern University and earned a bachelor’s degree in business, subsequently earning her master’s degree in political science from Troy State University.

Yet with this abundance of moxie and stamina, her appointment with Dr. Singh dissolved her at first. “I knew it was a different this appointment just by the tone in the air,” Katherine continued. “Dr. Singh walked in and had his head hung low. He told me he would have bet me a million dollars that the lump was benign. It was at that time, November 6, 2013 at 3:00 p.m., I was first told I have breast cancer. I was shocked, and the rush of emotions was not welcome, as I was in full uniform and had an entire shift of personnel to manage and lead. Dr. Singh wanted me to sit so he could share more with me. I stood up and told him I could not do this right now, and asked him to stand up. Dr. Singh is a very proper doctor and did as I asked; he was completely shocked when I reached out, hugged him and told him, ‘Just don’t let me die or I will haunt you.’ Dr. Singh chuckled and said he wouldn’t.”

She went through the agonizing moments of telling her husband, Rodney, a sergeant with her agency, and mother and family. She continued her schedule of work through it all, which was a saving grace as she did not want to wallow in her fear. Surgery was scheduled for a partial mastectomy for two days before Thanksgiving. With friends and family in attendance, all went well. Consultation with Dr. Crook, who would be the radiological oncologist, and her own OBGYN was done and both recommended she undergo chemotherapy.

“I knew I should do it, but I didn’t want to face the side effects, especially the loss of my hair. I had very long blonde hair. Later that night I asked myself if I was willing to die for my hair!” she related. “This was clearly not a factor, so I scheduled the surgery for the port placement to help with the chemo.”

She took her first round of chemo on her son’s birthday, December 17, 2013. That was a Tuesday, and she cut off her hair on Friday and donated it to Locks of Love. On New Year’s Eve, she got in the shower to ready herself for a New Year’s Eve party. “This is when my hair decided to fall out. With giant clumps of hair leaping off of my head, I screamed for my husband and had a little meltdown. It only lasted a few minutes and I was on to the next thing. I knew it was coming but sure wasn’t prepared for the reality of it happening; now it had. I just told myself, ‘Okay, that hurdle is crossed next!’ I told my husband to get ready and he said we were no longer going to the party. I told him absolutely not; I was not going to let this disease run my life and dictate what I did. I wrapped my head in a scarf and off we went,” Katherine said. “When we got home I got out the clippers and shaved the rest off with the help of my husband.”

Everyone on her shift was extremely supportive, and Katherine wore her bald head proudly. A detective suggested they all shave their heads in support, and that idea grew; then came the surprise of having a police car striped with pink insignias and breast cancer ribbons. Several personnel, including the chief of police, shaved their heads in solidarity. “The chief shaved his head in a fundraising effort in which a little more than $1,000 was raised, and he gave this money to cancer charities,” she related.

Her chemo was completed this past February, and radiation finished in March. Since completing both treatments she has scanned another time, and so far all looks clear. What’s more, her hair is growing back, and, she reflected, “other than a much darker color, it seems to be the same as before.”

Katherine credits her parents, who will celebrate their 49th wedding anniversary this month, with her strong integrity. Her father was a career fire fighter with St. Lucie County and was a fully sworn law enforcement officer but did not work in that capacity full time. Her mother was a stay-at-home mom until she and her brother went to school. She then worked for local businesses. Both are now retired. “I was not a fan of school, and I believe it was because of how hard I struggled with the learning. I took tap, toe, ballet, jazz and acrobatics beginning at the age of three and switched to competitive gymnastics at the age of ten,” she discussed. “I was a cheerleader in high school and attribute my love of that as the motivating factor for me to get decent grades. That, and just the desire to get out of school!”

Her stepson, Alek, whom she has loved and cared for since he was two years old, is almost 13 and begins seventh grade in the fall. She and Rodney actually met in 1994, dated, and remained close friends, and the relationship was rekindled in 2004. “We have been together more than ten years, and were married November 13, 2010. “I made him chase me for a while,” she smiled. The family lives in Fort Pierce, and Katherine enjoys scuba diving, riding horses, motorcycles, singing in the praise band at her church, and going on cruises. Her motorcycle’s paint theme is Breast Cancer Awareness, which she had done, ironically, back in 2008.

Katherine’s advice for women who have been diagnosed is to keep your state of mind positive. She truly feels that is more than half the battle. “If you mentally succumb to cancer then it may just win. If you get it in your mind that you will not let ‘it’ win, then cancer will not rule you. Don’t wait for the doctor to call and set appointments or for them to ‘get back with you.’ Be proactive. When you call and they cannot see you until three or four weeks later, make it a priority to be seen ASAP. People cancel all the time. Fight for your treatments, your care and your life.”

Of finding her breast cancer, she confirmed, “You have to know your body, and you are your own best advocate. Don’t sit on the sidelines and let anyone or anything dictate how you will live your life. I did not miss one day of work from my illness. Yes, there were days that I really felt like garbage. But I refused to sit in a corner rubbing my eyes complaining, ‘Boo hoo, I have cancer.’ I told people I was DIAGNOSED with cancer; I refused to say I HAVE cancer. I told people it was not mine and I was giving it back!”