{"id":27188,"date":"2021-06-23T20:07:31","date_gmt":"2021-06-23T20:07:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cmshub.wpengine.com\/?p=347722"},"modified":"2024-11-03T15:14:52","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T15:14:52","slug":"police-officer-has-bulletproof-vest-to-thank-for-helping-her-discover-her-breast-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/police-officer-has-bulletproof-vest-to-thank-for-helping-her-discover-her-breast-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"Police Officer Has Bulletproof Vest to Thank for Helping Her Discover Her Breast Cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It\u2019s not surprising to learn that a bulletproof vest saved an officer\u2019s life, but, in this case, the way this particular vest saved this particular officer is something worth taking note of.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Erin Bustos<\/a>, a police officer in Meridian, Idaho, first noticed something was amiss while wearing a department-issued bulletproof vest. She was constantly having pain in the right side of her chest and armpit while wearing it, so she decided to go and get checked out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Erin underwent an ultrasound, a mammogram, and biopsies in an attempt to figure out what was going on in her breast. That\u2019s when she got the shocking news, shortly before her 30th birthday, that she had an aggressive form of stage II grade III invasive ductal carcinoma in situ.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: Adobe Stock\/Dolores Harvey<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Erin has no family history of breast cancer, and she was young and healthy, so the news came as quite a shock.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy world has turned over. It\u2019s as if I\u2019ve lost all the power I thought I had while lying at the table,\u201d says Erin.<\/span><\/p>\n

The breast cancer had already spread from Erin\u2019s breast to her lymph nodes<\/a>. She would need chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, and possible radiation in order to ensure the cancer was completely gone. Fortunately, though, it was detected before it spread even further, thanks to Erin\u2019s bulletproof vest.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: Facebook\/Nampa Police Department<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before starting chemotherapy, Erin had her eggs harvested for IVF<\/a> so that she\u2019d be able to have children with her husband after treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI started IVF the day after I first met the surgeon. The next day. I knew that chemotherapy killed a lot, but I didn\u2019t know it would kill your eggs,\u201d says Erin.<\/span><\/p>\n

Erin also went through genetic testing to help her make decisions regarding her cancer treatment and future screening. She learned that she has the CHEK2 gene<\/a> mutation, which increases her risk of developing breast and colon cancers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had the opportunity to test the embryos, so finding the news was actually very helpful,\u201d says Erin.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: Facebook\/Nampa Police Department<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Luckily, Erin has had the support of her friends, family, and community throughout the journey. The Meridian Police Department<\/a> even issued limited edition pink patches<\/a>, selling for $10 each, to help raise money for Erin\u2019s medical expenses. Any funds raised above and beyond her medical needs will be donated to breast cancer research.<\/span><\/p>\n

As she continues to go through cancer treatment, Erin hopes she can encourage other young women to do regular self-checks.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t fortunate to be in this situation. Nobody wants cancer, but if that can do something positive, why not?\u201d says Erin. \u201cI have a platform, there\u2019s a voice, there\u2019s a story, and as much as my story is painful to me, it can still help make someone else\u2019s story a little easier later.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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