Faith Barber, a JPS Health Network patient, has faced a fair share of adversity in her young life. At only eighteen years old, she was diagnosed with a prolactinoma. A prolactinoma is a noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland that often poses symptoms comparable to those of a woman who is pregnant.
Barber was able to manage her symptoms for a couple of years, but in 2021, she noticed a rapid decline in her health. A common symptom of prolactinoma is the production of breast milk, but Barber realized that her lactation mainly consisted of blood.
“I thought maybe my tumor was just acting up. It was hard to decide when to see a doctor at the time because I didn’t have health insurance. I couldn’t afford the care I needed, but it started to get worse,” Barber said.
For six months, Barber fought to have her symptoms listened to and assessed. She was often told that she was just symptomatic from the tumor or that she had developed a cyst – a common diagnosis in many young women.
“Trying to get someone to listen to me and take care of my health at the same time was scary. I was young and felt like that’s a big reason no one took me seriously,” Barber said. “Then, I came to JPS. I haven’t looked back since. My team here is great. They listened.”
Barber’s treatment began with biopsies and ultrasounds. At one of her appointments, Barber informed her team that breast cancer was an apparent diagnosis on her maternal side. She said this, combined with her intuition, really began to overwhelm her. Her healthcare team immediately jumped into action.
"I used to feel like my life was over since I couldn’t keep up with my friends. But slowly, I began to realize that life had just begun. It was so exciting. It’s still so exciting."
Barber underwent genetic testing to detect whether she had inherited a gene mutation that increases her likelihood of developing certain cancers. With the help of JPS staff, Barber found out that she was BRCA2 positive. At only 22 years old, Barber was diagnosed with an invasive and fast-progressing carcinoma, ductal breast cancer.
“I felt like I knew before they told me. Honestly, getting that diagnosis was a breath of fresh air. I had spent months stressing myself out, crying, and feeling like I was crazy. But hearing that there were finally answers meant I could move on,” Barber said.
Moving on for Barber meant making significant decisions in her treatment plan. Alongside the diagnosis, she was given multiple options, all of which felt incredibly overwhelming. Barber found it easy to rely on her care team in a time of confusion.
“All I could think about was mortality rates and having cancer. Deciding on top of that was confusing and frustrating. I was freaking out,” Barber said. “All I knew for certain was that I wanted to survive. Dr. Lingam created an environment where I felt safe trusting her, so I said, ‘I’m letting you take the reins.’ She allowed me to let go of all those daunting feelings. She was my voice of reason.”
Dr. Lingam carefully educated Barber on each treatment option. She walked next to her throughout her journey, prioritizing patience, empathy, and Barber’s mental well-being.
“Even though I had to make a choice relatively quickly when it came to receiving treatment, I felt educated and valued. I was still trying to process my diagnosis, manage my symptoms, and understand the role that genetics played in treatment options. My care team understood that,” Barber said. “Ultimately, I decided to eliminate the risk of the cancer coming back. I chose to have a double mastectomy with immediate reconstructive surgery.”
While recovering from her surgery, Barber still had to endure eight rounds of chemotherapy. The treatment she received is commonly called “Red Devil Chemo” due to its distinct color and drastic impact on the body. This type of chemotherapy is among the strongest treatments one can receive.
“It’s named that for a reason. I was supposed to be getting better, but this felt worse. Honestly, I felt like I was dying,” Barber said. “It was so bad that my brain suppresses much of my memory from that time.”
However, the treatment was necessary for Barber to enter remission fully. Once the chemotherapy was over, she could finally begin rebuilding her life. At this point, she had missed out on most of her twenties. She went through this time watching her friends enjoy being young and longing to one day have that.
“While I was going through treatment, I was facing a huge mental block. There were times when I thought I could do things that I couldn’t. It was discouraging, and I felt lonely,” said Barber. “After I entered remission, I didn’t know what to do with life because I had always been trying to survive it. All I ever knew was being sick, but now I was cancer-free.”
The first year of remission was filled with trials and errors for Barber. Even though she was cancer-free, she was still in recovery. There were days she felt sick and exhausted, but there were also many new opportunities for her to experience.
“I used to feel like my life was over since I couldn’t keep up with my friends. But slowly, I began to realize that life had just begun. It was so exciting. It’s still so exciting,” said Barber. “I’ve learned to appreciate things as small as going to get food with my friends because I hadn’t been able to do that before. In my mind, every opportunity I have now is a gift.”
Barber recently celebrated her two-year anniversary of being cancer-free. During this time, she has focused on shifting her attitude to embrace her story. She’s also surrounded herself with a supportive community that encourages her to chase her dreams. Barber has spent countless days at the ocean, enjoying all of life’s little moments.
“If I could write my story in one word, it would be willpower. It’s all about perspective. I will not let one obstacle defeat me,” said Barber. This attitude towards her diagnosis allows her to continually encourage others to use their voice. Barber is an advocate for breast cancer awareness in general, but especially for young women who may fear feeling unheard, similarly as she did.
“No matter what age you are, you are not invincible. The more we can spread awareness of cancer and genetic testing, the earlier we can diagnose, and people can begin their fight. Awareness and education are saving lives, and I want to be a part of that,” Barber said.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States. When detected early, the survivability rate significantly increases. If you or someone you know has shown symptoms of breast cancer, seek care now by contacting 817-702-8300.