# @elilillyco on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CkYJhJkOsYI
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/64294505-elilillyco-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/1d89e02bcc.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-10-31T12:00:39.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Eli Lilly and Company (@elilillyco) — https://gondola.cc/elilillyco

## Caption

#WeAreLilly - 35,000 global employees #PoweredbyPurpose 

"'Do I have cancer?' I asked the nurse, 'yes, we think you do.'
 
I noticed her demeanor, so I had to ask her. The nurse and radiologist had their own breast cancer battles — they had been in my shoes.

With a history of "lumpy breasts,” ultrasounds and mammograms were routine. I wasn't concerned, so I went alone. When I left, my legs were like Jell-O. 

In March 2020 I was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma. My tumor was hormone positive or ER/PR-positive HER 2 negative.

My diagnosis came during COVID, so my battle was lonely despite a strong support system. My husband could only attend one appointment with me. Friends and family wanted to come over and help, but I needed to stay well to avoid complications.

An Oncotype DX test — a tumor sample — determines the likelihood of cancer recurrence and treatment course based on that number. My score was 9 — I was low risk. I had radiation, and based on my breast surgeon's recommendations, I opted for a single mastectomy. The differences between both breasts are overwhelming and make me self-conscious.

A DIEP flap procedure using my abdominal tissue and fat recreated a breast through a multi-stage process. A post-op expander stretches the skin, but because of COVID, mine stayed in too long. My body started to reject it and developed an infection.

Before joining Lilly in 2002, I was a neurosurgery nurse — a rewarding yet challenging environment. My nursing background pushed me to learn everything about my breast cancer type.

Some diseases and medications affect women of color differently, so I needed to understand what to expect. While many people shared their journey on YouTube, I didn't find anyone who looked like me or had the same diagnosis. So, guess who started a YouTube channel? Me.

It's essential for people going through cancer to understand their lives may be different for quite some time. If my purpose is to help someone get through this phase of their life until they can stand up on their own, then so be it. Because I am a survivor, being that calm in the storm is my new purpose."

Christa Wilson 
Consultant, Quality Auditor - Global Qua

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- **Likes:** 139
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- **Comments:** 44

## Tags

poweredbypurpose, wearelilly

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