Perseverance Story: Erin Rogers

Photo courtesy of Heather Eveland Photography.

Over the course of four weeks, members of the community will be sharing their story.  These stories are about individuals and their experience with cancer. They are the reason the Lowell community comes together for the Pink Arrow Football Game.  Each story is written by the person you will read about or by someone on their behalf. We thank them for sharing their story and courage.

Photo courtesy of Heather Eveland and is used with permission.   Heather donates her time to get to know those she is photographing and capture an image to be used with each story.  You can visit her photography website and Facebook page for more information about her work.  

Heather is also the volunteer coordinator for Pink Arrow events.  If you are interested in helping out at Community Day (Thursday, Aug. 16) or game day (Thursday, Aug. 30) please contact her by calling 616-291-8907 or send an email to [email protected].  Heather will let you or your group know what help is needed to determine the best fit.  

The following is Erin Roger’s story of her breast cancer journey written by Amanda Schrauben.

As the school year was starting in 2016, Erin Rogers was finding out she would have to start chemotherapy treatment, followed by radiation.  Erin was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, which is the most common form of breast cancer. Although 80% of breast cancer comes in this form, it’s highly treatable.  Invasive ductal carcinoma begins in the milk ducts and invades breast tissue. Erin would be fortunate enough to go through treatment without many side effects, however her story isn’t any less important.  

Erin’s diagnosis would come just weeks after celebrating her oldest daughter’s 2016 graduation from Lowell High School.  However, there was suspicion which began six months prior. In December 2015 something showed up during a routine mammogram.  It was determined the best way to proceed was to wait six months and check again.

It would be at that sixth month recheck a cancer diagnosis would be given, although nothing had changed between the two images.  Erin recalls having the feeling of knowing something was wrong back in December. She didn’t question waiting another six months until another mammogram, trusting her care to that of her doctor.  She didn’t go with her gut feeling. She didn’t seek another opinion or push for a follow up sooner than six months.

July 2016 would begin a life-changing time for her entire family.  Erin received the call confirming her diagnosis while she was out driving.  She took the call from a nurse who told her she had Stage 1b cancer. After calling her husband to tell him the news, she didn’t feel like going straight home.  She found herself stopping by to see her friend and hair dresser. Her friend was working on someone who was a two-time cancer survivor. The two women talked. The conversation would be one Erin needed to hear.  Someone she didn’t know, but who had survived cancer twice, would tell her it would be okay. Someone who knew what it was like to hear a cancer diagnosis would offer support.

After the visit she went home.  She sat down with her husband and their two girls and told them the news.  “I told them I would fight hard and our faith and strength as a family would get us through this. We hugged each other and cried.” she says, recalling the conversation.  

Photo courtesy of Heather Eveland Photography.

Once diagnosed, there would be visits with numerous doctors who would determine a course of action.  On August 23 Erin would have a lumpectomy and biopsy performed. The biopsy would reveal lymph nodes were also affected and removed.  This prompted a change in diagnosis to Stage 2b and treatment, which would require chemotherapy and radiation. After her port became infected, a delay in starting chemotherapy would result in a September start to chemo.  During this time Erin would wonder whether delay would change her condition.

Erin’s first day of treatment was the day of the Pink Arrow game in 2016.  She made it to the stadium just in time to walk in during the parade of cancer patients and survivors.  “I was overcome by emotion as I walked into the stadium and the sea of pink. I realized how special my community was.” she says.  

Corynn, who recently graduated from high school would decide to delay going to college to stay home with her family.  Erin’s husband of 21 years, Mike, who works in manufacturing at Amway, would be by her side during and after surgery and throughout treatment.  Their younger daughter, Tara, would begin high school as her mom started chemotherapy. The four of them were in this together.

Corynn would be the caregiver as she cooked, cleaned, and helped around the house.  Tara would provide emotional support, often in the form of humor, which is one way Erin would be able to get through diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and even now as she’s cancer-free.  

Chemotherapy would continue for four weeks, every other week.  Doxyrubicin, also referred to as the Red Devil, was prescribed followed by 16 weeks of Taxol and six weeks of everyday radiation.  Mike would be by her side during the 4-5 hours she would be at the hospital receiving treatments. The two would talk with other patients, Mike providing some comic relief, in some instances over whether Michigan State or University of Michigan was the better school.  

By mid-October Erin’s hair would be gone.  But the final removal of her hair would come on her terms.  Mike would shaved her head as she held hands with daughters Corynn and Tara.  The loss of hair was emotional, but Erin joked that she looked more like her husband, who was already partially bald.  Mike would lovingly refer to her as Uncle Fester. Erin didn’t enjoy wearing a wig and would go without around the house and sometimes while out in public.  She continued to work only missing treatment days. During her 22 weeks of treatment, she missed a mere 15 days on the job.

She’s not without side effects from treatment.  Erin says the “chemo brain” people talk about is real.  Sometimes things would be in her head but not want to come out.  She experienced a change in the way things tasted as well as a loss of appetite, and her finger and toenails are not as they once were.  Radiation made her skin sensitive. Now that her hair has returned post treatment, Erin jokes about having naturally straight hair, no hair, and now naturally curly hair all in one lifetime.  

Participation with Crowns of Courage would be life-changing.  Last fall, Erin was part of Crowns of Courage, an ArtPrize submission in which women dealing with cancer, who had lost their hair, were given a few hours of special treatment, including a henna art crown by artist Amanda Gilbert.  Those crowned would show courage. They were asked to stand tall and strong and be happy and proud of who they are, showing courage regardless of a lack of hair. These women were encouraged to take back who they are no matter what they look like while being a role model for those going through a similar experience.  Photos of the women who participated in this project are being displayed permanently at the Lemmen-Holten Cancer Pavilion.

Erin would meet other women through Crowns of Courage and elsewhere, forming a bond.  They would understand to a great extent what others were going through even if a cancer diagnosis and treatment were not the same.  The group would have space in an online group to gather offering and receiving support.

Erin hopes to continue this giving back to others going through cancer in as many ways as she can.  She wants others to not look at cancer patients differently just because they don’t have hair, can’t remember things like they used to, or are even having a bad day.  She hopes those who know someone going through cancer treatment will offer to help, even if it’s as simple as letting the person know they are being thought of. She says it’s okay if you don’t know what to say and okay if you admit you don’t know what to say, but encourages others to just keep saying something.  She also hopes those dealing with cancer aren’t afraid to ask for help. She says it doesn’t make you weak. It’s okay to struggle and need help from others.

Last fall, when Erin started her treatment a stranger, who has become a friend, started a meal train which provided food for the family during the months of October and November.  Her brother-in-law and his wife had a fish free and cornhole tournament to help raise some extra money. It was through the help of strangers, friends, and family that the Rogers family was able to focus on Erin and her treatment.  Erin says, “Thanks to all of them for their kindness will never be forgotten.”

Photo courtesy of Heather Eveland Photography.

Thanking Pink Arrow for help during a time of need, Erin says the gift she received was used to help pay for accumulating bills.  Humor and faith are what Erin credits getting herself and her family through her diagnosis and treatment. She continues to be checked to ensure the cancer does not return.  Soon she will go back to yearly mammograms, however she will remain on anti-cancer medication for 10 years.

Erin also had genetic testing done to ensure her daughters do not have to worry about her type of cancer being passed down genetically.  Erin, Mike, Corynn, and Tara survived cancer as a family. They worked together, fought, and won.

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