Edwards employee survives cancer, grad school

Published June 11, 2009
By Senior Airman Julius Delos Reyes
95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- While many people just try to make it to graduation when attending graduate school, Natasha Green was just trying to survive - literally.

Just three months after she began her master's degree, the human resource specialist with the 95th Force Support Squadron here was diagnosed with the early stages of breast cancer. She visited the doctor for a routine annual checkup, but the word "cancer" changed everything.

"You hear of people who have it, but you never think that you will be the one to get it," Mrs. Green said.

A biopsy of her breast tissue and a second doctor's opinion confirmed the diagnosis. It was then that the realization of what this meant dawned on her.

"It was a shock," Mrs. Green said. "It totally blew me out of the water. It was nothing you'd expect. I have no history of it in my family, and I never really thought much about it."

The shock reverberated throughout the Green household. Mrs. Green and her husband sat down with their two adult sons and told them about her condition and what she would be going through.

"It automatically became a family thing," said Kenneth Green, 95th Communications Group planning and implementation computer scientist. "We all have to go through it. We didn't want to keep our children in the dark."

From there, the whole family researched the Internet and medical books about breast cancer, surgical procedures and treatment. They witnessed what she went through. And they were always there.

Breast cancer is a type of disease in which abnormal cells in the breast divide without control and it can occur in both men and women. It commonly forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts and lobules.

"I couldn't really feel the lump when I was doing my (breast self-exam)," Mrs. Green said. "Fortunately, the mammogram caught it."

However, knowing was just half the battle as she had to undergo a series of examinations and treatments to eradicate the lump. Within two weeks of the diagnosis, the doctors scheduled her for surgery. In May 2007, she had a lumpectomy, a surgery that removes only the tumor and some surrounding tissue.

The surgery was followed by four rounds of chemotherapy. During the second round of chemotherapy, Mrs. Green lost her hair, one of the treatment's side effects. But in anticipation of the hair loss, she cut her hair shorter and began wearing a wig.

As part of Mrs. Green's chemotherapy, doctors installed a portacath beneath the skin to deliver medicine quickly and efficiently. She went to a cancer treatment facility every three weeks to receive her medicine.

"It doesn't really hit you until you go to cancer wards and see other people, even with children, who went through the ordeal," Mr. Green said. "Just to see that, it makes you look at your problem and say, 'I guess my problems aren't that bad.'"

Mrs. Green could have used cancer as an excuse. She could have waited until she was cancer free, or let her illness stress and slow her down. Instead, she continued both work and school.

"Cancer did affect my studies," Mrs. Green said. "Some people say you get 'chemo brain,' where it affects your brain and memory. I did forget things once in a while. It makes you tired. There were nights when I couldn't study because of fatigue and lack of concentration."

Mr. Green said his wife was determined to receive her degree and beat the "big C." In some instances, she would receive treatment, but still went to class. And she always signed up for the next term.

"She never stopped," he said. "She said cancer was not going to beat her."

After receiving the last drop of chemo in October 2007, she immediately underwent radiation therapy -- the use of high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It concentrates the radiation on the site where a tumor was removed. She went to the treatment facility approximately 30 times for radiation therapy. As part of the side effects, Mrs. Green experienced fatigue and burns on her skin. This prompted her to take a 10-day break just to recuperate from the burns.

"You change the way you look at things," Mr. Green said. "A long time ago, when you heard the word cancer, it was a death sentence. But now, with the way technology is and the different medications, it really worked out for her."

But through it all, they also had close friend, Pam Hudson, who went with them to the surgeries and treatments.

"It meant a lot and we thank her for being there," Mr. Green said.

Throughout the ordeal, the Greens were there for one another. Prior to Mrs. Green's diagnosis, Mr. Green had just begun taking the same classes as his wife. So, when Mrs. Green felt under the weather, he was there for her, jotting down notes and helping with schoolwork.

"We supported each other," Mr. Green said. "It worked out that I was in the same class and I was able to help her."

But his support extended beyond the classroom. Mr. Green was scheduled to march for his graduation last year, but he waited and chose instead to graduate with his wife. He wanted to put the academic regalia on her once she graduated.

"To see her go through that -- it was an inspiration to me and my kids," he said. "I am proud of her. She's amazing. It was a blessing for us. It's amazing."

On June 6, Mrs. Green received her diploma. It doesn't say "cancer survivor" and her transcript doesn't show an "A+" for bravery or resilience. But it's still a piece of paper she went through a lot to earn. And studying, coursework, not even cancer could stop her.

"I'm proud of my achievements. I never would have thought I'd receive my degree. I'm glad I'm graduating!" Mrs. Green said, raising her hands with a smile.

(For more information on breast cancer, visit the National Cancer Institute Web site at www.cancer.org.)

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