Heidi Kruse never made a secret of having breast cancer. “I always dealt openly with my illness and never hid anything,” says the northern Horn. “Before the chemotherapy could fail, I shaved it myself and ran around with a bald head. It was my own, individual way to meet the cancer.”
How Heidi Kruse discovered her breast cancer
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The northern Horn still remembers that it was in April 2023 when she felt a knot while taking a cream after showering. “But at the time I did not give any space to the thought of cancer,” she admits in retrospect.
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Only when she could feel a knot the repeated time did she make an appointment with her gynecologist in early June. “He then also recognized a job at the ultrasound, but suspected a cyst there and prescribed a hormone ointment,” says the 47-year-old.
Mammography after enlargement of the node
However, she shook a check date at the end of June: the knot had increased from originally 1.5 to two centimeters. At Heidi Kruse, the alarm bells rang, it insisted on a mammography: “Especially as my mother was breast cancer patient.”
On the same day,she got an appointment in the Breast Center of the Euregio Clinic.Dr. Michael Püsken, chief physician of radiology, wanted to be able to assess the mammography exactly which type of disease – cyst or tumor – was.
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Facing a Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Diagnosis at the Euregio Clinic
The result arrived the following Monday. Heidi Kruse vividly recalls: “I was managing a teacher training session when I excused myself at 11 a.m. and went to the Euregio-Klinik. Dr. Püsken sensitively informed me that I had triple-negative breast cancer – a form with no receptors for estrogen,progesterone,or her2.”
dr. Markus Jansen, chief physician of the clinic for gynecology and obstetrics and the breast center, explains: “The triple-negative form is the most unfavorable cancer variant. Without receptors, medication cannot effectively target the cancer cells as they have nowhere to dock.”
“Initially, I remained calm with the diagnosis,” kruse describes her emotional state. “but when I learned that chemotherapy was unavoidable, everything changed.” She remembers july 5th clearly – being summoned to Markus Jansen’s office at noon. “I had just handed out certificates to my students at the secondary school in uelsen that morning, then drove to the clinic…”
Heidi Kruse’s Journey: From Cancer Diagnosis to Full-Time Return to Work
Heidi Kruse, a pedagogue at a high school, openly shares her experience battling cancer, emphasizing the importance of a positive attitude and physical activity throughout her treatment. Her story highlights the challenges and triumphs of navigating a cancer diagnosis and returning to a normal life.
In 2023, Heidi Kruse received a cancer diagnosis that initially shook her family. She underwent therapy, initially responding well, with the tumor shrinking to 9 millimeters. Treatment continued with further sessions before a change in medication.Kruse actively incorporated movement into her routine, cycling to each therapy session, believing it was “key to a good healing course.” She acknowledges the emotional toll, admitting, “The diagnosis initially pulled the ground away from the entire family under my feet.”
the treatment impacted her cognitive function, causing concentration problems and a feeling of “cotton wool in my head.” despite these challenges, Kruse persevered. She completed her last chemotherapy session on January 8, 2024. A subsequent scan revealed the tumor had completely disappeared. On January 30, 2024, she underwent breast-conserving surgery followed by radiation therapy. The family celebrated the completion of her radiation treatment in a café.Kruse began reintegrating into her job at the high school in autumn 2024 and has since returned to full-time work.
Reflecting on the two-year journey,Kruse acknowledges the initial fear of death and the difficult side effects of treatment. She credits a break taken in mallorca with helping her maintain a positive mindset during a particularly challenging time. she found strength in openly discussing her cancer with others, stating, “This way, others were able to go with my medical history.” However, she also emphasizes the importance of individual coping mechanisms, noting, “Everyone has to individually develop a feeling for themselves what is good for him or her.”
This story underscores the importance of holistic well-being – physical activity, mental fortitude, and open communication – in facing a cancer diagnosis and achieving a positive outcome.