Fitz and Vikki at a race in Detroit
As a Medical Assistant residing in Holt, Michigan, Vikki Mikko considered herself to be in the best shape of her life at the age of 48. She was strength training, practicing yoga, and was in love with trail running. She frequently participated in trail half marathons and even completed a 50K trail ultramarathon in July 2020. However, just two months after the completion of that race, her health would take a turn for the worst.
In September 2020, Victoria received news that she was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Stage 1A grade 2 triple positive and Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS), more commonly referred to as Stage 1 and Stage 0 breast cancer, respectfully. At these stages, the tumor is usually “small, invasive, and has not spread to the lymph nodes” (“Breast Cancer,” n.d.). While the cancer is highly treatable at these stages, treatments can include chemotherapy and multiple surgeries (“Stages 0 & 1,” n.d.). Victoria’s treatment was no different, as she received a double mastectomy and TCH chemotherapy.
Despite her decline in health and rigorous treatments, Victoria made it her goal to continue to get outside and run four days a week while taking long walks on the other three. Without exercising during treatment, Victoria thought that her experience and energy would have been far worse, believing that she would have rarely left her bed. “This is exactly what my kids thought would happen at my diagnosis,” Victoria states. She was even surprised to see that she could live her life as normally as possible while undergoing chemo. “I sometimes felt that my family forgot I was going through treatment.”
Throughout her entire process with breast cancer, Victoria made it her mission to document her experiences. “I wanted to raise awareness to get screened … I had so many women message me saying they scheduled their mammogram because of me, and I also got messages from friends saying ‘I have someone I care about that was just diagnosed, and I told them about your journey, do you mind talking to them?’ I absolutely love that I can show newly diagnosed people that it’s not a death sentence, you don’t have to stay in bed all day, and you can still live your life and enjoy it with friends and family. You just may look different with a bald head instead.” In addition to the support she has received and offered online, her family and friends stood firmly beside her during every step of the journey. Most notably, they showed tremendous support by organizing an honorary 5K run called the Bye Bye Boobie Run before her mastectomy.
As of April 2023, Victoria has been cancer free for more than two years and has seen her life return to some sense of normalcy. Though she struggled to accept her hair loss and its initial regrowth, she now loves the shorter style she currently has. Victoria’s energy and strength have also returned, as seen by the 50K trail run she conquered in October 2022. While these two returning factors have been major positives, the sense of normalcy that has returned with her family is a biggie, disclosing, “I do feel my adult children don’t treat me like fragile glass anymore. They see I have not changed. I’m still strong and still the same mom they have always had.” On a final note, Victoria offers this piece of advice to all who may be facing a similar situation to hers, “exercise is key!”
Photos used with permission of Victoria Mikko
References
Breast Cancer: Stages. (n.d.). American Society of Clinical Oncology. Retrieved on November 15, 2022, from https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/breast-cancer/stages#:~:text=Stage%20IA%3A%20The%20tumor%20is,than%202%20mm%20in%20size.
Stages 0 & 1 Breast Cancer Overview. (n.d.). National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. Retrieved on November 15, 2022, from https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-stage-0-and-stage-1
