Conquering cancer

by Ashley Morlote

      Nioby Castillo, a 22-year-old who graduated from Southeastern University in 2009, belongs to a rare group of women. But, she wishes she didn't.

      According to the American Cancer Society, 95 percent of breast cancer cases from 2002-06 occurred among women aged 40 or older. Of every 100,000 women aged 20-24, 1.4 were diagnosed with the disease.

      Castillo was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time at age 18.

      To celebrate breast cancer awareness month, she will participate in the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Walk in Fort Myers on Oct. 23.

      During her freshman year at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., she discovered a lump on her breast.

      “It was about a size of a little gumball,” Castillo said.

      The student clinic diagnosed her with a fibrous cyst, a lump common among women that goes away over time. 

      With no family history of breast cancer, Castillo didn't believe she could have the disease.

      “When you're 18, really, there's no health issues that come about,” she said.

      However, Castillo's mother had doubts about the original diagnosis, so Castillo went to her gynecologist when she went home to Fort Myers, Fla. for winter break. During this visit, the teen was diagnosed her with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

      According to the Mayo Clinic, DCIS is the earliest form of breast cancer that remains in the milk duct. This form of cancer is usually difficult to detect.

      Castillo was not worried about her diagnosis because DCIS it is noninvasive.

     That winter break she had a lumpectomy and the tumor was removed by a vacuum. With only a 1 in 500 chance of the tumor growing back, Castillo was assured not to worry.

      “They said it was never going to come back,” she said.

      The next year Castillo transferred to Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla. She joined the cheerleading squad, started dating a fellow student and led a healthy lifestyle. With the cancer behind her, everything seemed to be falling into place. 

      But in 2008, Castillo felt an intense pain in her breast. This time, Castillo was concerned. She asked her fellow cheerleaders to include her in their after practice prayer.

      “That time I was very fearful,” Castillo said.

      However, the pain went away and Castillo didn't take action until it occurred again in 2009 and she was diagnosed with DCIS for a second time.

    To eliminate any chance of reoccurrence, Castillo had a mastectomy within a week. Now, she has been cancer free for a year.

      As a survivor, Castillo believes it is important to support breast cancer research. 

     "It's good because things are always evolving," she said. "And no case is the same."