Naturally Killing Cancer w/KeriAnn

Thursday 4.25.2024 : My Story

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My name is KeriAnn Slacum, I am 49 years old with 6 children ranging from 9 years old to 23 years old. I married my soul mate in 2017 Blaine Slacum after going through an abusive relationship for many years and finally saying enough is enough. I can say that I would never gotten through my first bout and most definitely wouldn't be getting through my second and hopefully final bout of cancer without him. At times he can be a bit overbearing but I know it comes from love so I thank you Blaine for always being there for not only me but our family, especially during the times I cannot.

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This is my 2nd and hopefully final bout of Cancer. In 2017 specifically on Jan.30, 2017, I received the worst news of my life at 49 years old, KeriAnn you tested positive for Breast Cancer and now we need to speak treatments. Having 6 kids all still in school and depending on me it was the worst news any mother/step-mother could get. After the results, I kicked into gear, found a breast surgeon, one of the best Dr. Lorraine Tafra (she has since now retired), found an Oncologist another best of their profession Dr. Carol Tweed, and, the most amazing trio in Plastic Surgery, Dr. Singh, Dr. Holton and their amazing Virigina Orlov, PA-C.

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All of those providers collaborated on my case (it helped that I was also employed with the hospital at which this was taking place). I started with having to do 8 rounds of chemo, with 4 rounds of one type of chemo (the name is escaping me but I will update you with it later). The second 4 rounds were to be with Paclitaxel, I had one dose and that was it we were going to surgery. Every round of the 5 infusions I received I was placed in the hospital anywhere from 5 - 7 days due to adverse reactions to the poison they put in my veins.

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Surgery was scheduled for May 23rd, I chose to get the DIEP Flap Surgery you can take a look by clicking on this link as to what the surgery entails DIEP Flap Surgery: Breast Reconstruction (breastcancer.org). On May 31, 2017, 8 days post-surgery (which took 14 hours) I met with Dr. Tafra and was placed in full remission, she got it all and I had a +PCR. The only thing left to do was to check in with my Oncologist, Dr. Tweed every 6 months for 2 years and then once a year thereafter. I did that after you reached your 5-year mark you no longer have to follow up annually, but I love my Oncologist and this was the only time (once a year) we would catch up and chat so I continued my annual visits all the way past year six which was last year 2023 when I got an all clear!

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In July 2023 just a month after getting the "all clear" from Dr. Tweed, I felt a mass in the same location as my tumor from back in 2017. I thought I was losing my mind I went to one of my best friend's office at work Patty Sherman and had her grope me behind closed doors to see if she felt what I felt and she did. I immediately sent my Oncologist a message and she had me in the office the next day and she felt it as well. Then the test started, PET Scan, Bone Density Scan, CT Scan, MRI Scan you name it I got it.

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On Aug. 21, 2024, I received the worst news of my life, cancer had metastasized to my bones all I could think of at that moment were my kids, my now 9-year-old growing up without a mother, not seeing my older daughters experience motherhood and enjoying my grandkids. Not seeing my 17-year-old son graduate high school and make his place in this crazy ass world we live in. I dropped to the floor in Patty's office and I couldn't breathe our other best friend Terri Pilli was called to the office and then they called my husband to rush to the hospital. Within an hour I was medicated and headed home to feel completely numb and prepare for my in-office appointment on the following day.

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Now let the treatments begin to see what I can do to combat this parasite running rampant in my body.