My name is Christina Phipps Crum. I am a Navy wife, a yoga instructor, a daughter of a breast cancer survivor and I, myself, am a breast cancer survivor. I don't let breast cancer define me - but, it has been a part of my life for a long time now - especially in the past 3 and ½ years. It doesn't get me down - it is just a battle that I deal with and that battle is made easier being surrounded by my family and friends and having yoga such a big part of my life.

I was diagnosed in December of 2005. I found a lump a month after my annual mammogram - which I had been having since I was 25 due to my family history (my mother and grandmother). I went in to see my nurse practicioner - pretty sure it was nothing. But, thank goodness, she sent me on to get an ultrasound just in case. After the ultrasound, I was scheduled for a core biopsy - but, still I wasn't worried. The biopsy was a rude awakening and an end to my medical/physical innocence as I knew it. I was a healthy, fit, 40-year-old who ate right - most of the time - and even taught yoga!! I had never been in the hospital - never even had an IV!! That was soon to change.

The biopsy showed "cancer cells." That is what I said for the first two months. "They found cancer cells in my test." I couldn't say "I have cancer" out loud to myself or anyone else. The next month was an out of body experience for my husband and me. And, understandably - my parents and sister took it really hard. We couldn't believe this was happening - and three days before Christmas! I made an appointment with an oncologist - but, they couldn't see me until January - so, although I was a bit (a lot!) panicky - I decided to enjoy the holidays and just go with it!

We learned that I had IDC and was triple negative - which really meant nothing to me at the time - except for the fact that I didn't have to take Tamoxifen - which sounded like a good deal to me. I started researching on the internet and through books like crazy and becoming my own advocate. I had to know everything there was to know and I am still like that three years later.

My yoga students were among the first to hear of my news and became an amazing sounding board and support system for me. I was completely astounded at the love and light that surrounded me during this dark time and the light brightened my life and set the stage to fight this battle with everything I had!!

I had a mastectomy in January of 2006 and my lump had doubled in size in less than a month - and another lump had appeared. It was then that I realized the aggressiveness of Triple Negative. I had reconstruction (expander) at the same time - and was down longer than I expected. But, I was back to teaching (not doing) my yoga classes by the next week.

I started chemo in February and did the normal regimen AC+T. I know it wasn't easy - but, again - it was fighting the cancer so, chemo was my friend. I never stopped yoga - in fact - it gave me my strength right back - the practice and the support from my students.

When I finished in May - I felt so empowered and knew I had beat this disease and was on my way - a stronger "changed" woman! It was at this time that I decided I wanted to give back to my breast cancer community in some way - and the best way I knew how was through yoga. I started offering a free yoga for breast cancer survivors class once a month to help bring peace and relaxation to those going through treatment and to bring the valuable stretching to those who have tightness after surgery and radiation. It was a great gift that I was honored to share.

I was clear for a year - but, almost exactly a year after I completed chemo - my PET scan showed a recurrence in the lymph nodes on the same side. My husband had been underway (out to sea with the Navy) at the time and thankfully was able to come back for my surgery (and my birthday!) I had an axillary dissection and then radiation. I started teaching water aerobics right at the end of my radiation treatments. Then I was on to chemo again.

This chemo was great (Gemzar) - hardly any side effects and I was able to keep up with my yoga and water aerobics schedule. But, I started to have pain in my chest and shoulder area (the same areas that were radiated). This pain increased with severity quickly and at the same time I started noticing lymphedema. I figured out two months later that I was having a reaction to the gemzar (hail to the internet) and my radiation - what I had was called "radiation recall." So, my doctor and I agreed I should stop the gemzar and my chest and shoulder started improving. But, it took a long time to get my mobility back - and I still suffer from some weakness, lack of mobility and lymphedema to this day. This bout was the worst of my journey so far - mainly because although I was able to teach yoga - I wasn't able to DO yoga like I was used to. But, it slowly came back.

I was all good through Christmas of that year and then my next PET scan in February of 2008 showed recurrence in the lymph nodes again and this time in the lungs. It was time to try a different chemo - and to get a Port. I had avoided that my first two times around - but, I had no veins left and it was time. I started Avastin and Abraxane in March of 2008. Avastin had just been approved and we were all very excited! This chemo worked out great for me. I went every week - but, the small dose allowed me to have few side effects, keep up my busy schedule - and keep my hair!! I had a couple of clear PET scans that showed it was working - and I was thrilled. I even went on an amazing Mediterranean cruise during all of this - fabulous!!

After two clear scans, I stopped the chemo in August and had a nice break. My hair fell out soon after I stopped the chemo (weird) but, I didn't mind!! I was well!! This was it - third time was the charm!!!

In October, my scans were clear again - woohoo!! But, at the end of October, I started noticing that I couldn't type and I couldn't carry stuff in my right hand. It was subtle in coming - and really weird! I finally called my oncologist about it and they sent me off for an MRI of the brain. I thought it was a cervical injury or something, but, found out the next morning that it was a brain tumor. My breast cancer had metasticized to my brain.

Again, I had to contact my husband who was underway on a ship and tell him the news. His Captain sent him right home to be with me during my gamma knife surgery. My mom was able to come over too. Another scan showed that I had one big tumor and three little ones. It was an amazing and fairly easy procedure and showed great results. 5 months later the tumors are all but gone!

We thought we would go into the holidays with that great news! But, again, right before Christmas, the PET scan showed another recurrence in the lymph nodes in the chest wall. I made an appointment to start back on chemo on December 29th.

So, here we are in April of 2009. I am still doing my weekly chemo treatments and my last PET scan showed some areas resolved - but, not all. I just had another PET scan this week - so, I hope it will show great results! I am teaching 11 yoga classes a week - and in May will start back teaching Water Aerobics - so, I will be up to 14 classes a week. It feels great - and I am so happy to be strong through all of this.

Yoga has helped me to deal with this inside my heart and mind and outside with my body. I really feel as if I was brought to yoga to help me through this journey. It has been incredible. And, again, I am so touched by my friends and family who have supported me! We are all ready for me to beat this once and for all. I know there are new chemos to try and there are new trials going on all the time. That is why I am so grateful to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation for bringing awareness and funding research to find a cure for US! We are all in this together and together we can all take a long, deep breath and win this fight!!

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