In honor of Sonja Lillvik
Sonja Lillvik had had fibroids in her breasts, but not one like this. She was on vacation in December 2005 when after a swim, she found the lump. Lillvik and her husband, Armando Lopez, live most of the year in Mexico, so she had a mammogram and then saw a Cancun oncologist who did a biopsy and recommended immediate surgery.
Lillvik decided to seek a second opinion in North Carolina, her home for part of the year. She had another mammogram and then a consult with Dr. David Ollila. Lillvik remembers getting the news. “He came in the room, put his hand on my shoulder and said that he had taken a look at the mammogram and thought it was likely a tumor. Despite the bad news, he was most comforting.” After more biopsies, the cancer diagnosis was confirmed.
“I always figured I might get melanoma or some other cancer, but not breast cancer,” says Lillvik. Because her tumor type was HER2, Lillvik decided to participate in a clinical trial for a then new HER2 drug. She put together a plan for herself.
“I knew that I wanted to be in good shape before I fell apart,” she jokes, “so I joined a gym.” She began chemotherapy in February 2006. She remembers that “the hardest part was the fatigue.” She then underwent lumpectomy and lymph node surgery. Next came radiation treatments. And for a full year she received specific antibody treatments for the HER2 cancer.
“The care I received at UNC was exceptional. Every time I came for an appointment, everyone was pleasant, from the receptionists to the infusion nurses. They never made me feel rushed.”
Lillvik went to Cornucopia House, a local cancer support center for patients, families and friends, for classes and services. There she found a flier for the new Get REAL & Heel program. “I had gained weight because of the steroids and still had fatigue from the therapies, so this program looked like just what I needed.”
Get REAL & HEEL, a unique program serving breast cancer patients, integrates individualized prescriptive exercise with recreational therapy to help manage cancer treatment related symptoms and increase chances of survivorship and quality of life.
“I wanted to feel better fast, and the GR&H staff make you go slowly to build your strength. The recreational therapy was effective. I meditate so the biofeedback to reduce stress was familiar and tremendously useful. The help I received, both mentally and physically from the GR&H faculty and staff during my recovery from breast cancer lingers as inspiration to this day—almost four years out!”
Her cancer experience caused Lillvik to evaluate her life, looking at what she was doing and developing strategies to help her be healthier and happier. “I had started writing a cookbook 15 years earlier, but shelved the project. I realized that finishing that book would bring more joy into my life, so I completed it, and The Painted Fish and Other Mayan Feasts was recently published.” Lillvik’s book combines her love of cooking and her interest in Mayan culture. For each book sold to a GR&H program participant (current and past), Lillvik will donate $5.00 to the program.
Her advice to newly diagnosed patients is, “Don’t ask why. There is no way you’ll ever know, so why go there?” She also recommends that patients seek and avail themselves of help from all the support organizations. She sums up her counsel: “Go for the positive.”