Breast cancer’s met its match in Lizette Höll
She advocates tirelessly for women to have regular screening to ensure early diagnosis if something is wrong.
Lizette Höll, is a teacher and resident rock star at Roosevelt High School. Apart from being an incredibly kind and motivating educator, she is also a cancer survivor.
Diagnosed with triple-positive breast cancer, she embarked on an 18-month-long journey to save her life. Treatment included a bilateral mastectomy, a difficult surgery to undergo and then moved swiftly into a harsh medicated war against the disease. She was unable to have reconstructive surgery because her cancer had penetrated so deeply into her tissue.
Her biggest takeaway from this experience is the determination to encourage more women to have regular screenings with their doctors. “Women must make check-ups a priority. It is absolutely vital to be able to catch any problems early as this makes all the difference in the outcome of any diagnosis.”
Triple-positive breast cancer is a type of breast cancer that tests positive for high levels of HER2 protein and oestrogen and progesterone receptors.
Her aggressive cancer was treated even more hostilely with four ‘red devil’ chemotherapy treatments. The formidable drug Doxorubicin was given every three weeks for four sessions which helped kill her cancer but in turn, made Höll incredibly ill.
She lost all of her hair but none of her beauty. She had to cut down on teaching, a job that not only brings her joy but reduced the time she had with her learners. “I became a teacher because I was literally born one. I believe it’s a calling. I’m there to be a positive force in the lives of the many teenagers I teach. If at the end of each day, I make one student smile and feel better about themselves, I have succeeded in my mission for that day.”
She then embarked on a 12-week cycle of Taxol chemotherapy which again stole energy, well-being and strength. Despite this, she taught diligently each week from Monday to Wednesday. Thursdays were spent in the hospital receiving the lifesaving drug which depleted her strength which she slowly rebuilt in order to step into the classroom the following Monday.
Her last course of cancer-busting elixir was a 17-week cycle of Herceptin, a hormone treatment that she had every 21 days.
Apart from advocating tirelessly for women to be screened regularly, she had this to say for those still battling the disease. “Learn how to deal with stress, work on your relationships and grow your support systems and networks. If it wasn’t for my incredible school, colleagues and friends I would not have survived this cancer.”
She completed this gruelling journey in January and has lost none of her sparkle or positive outlook.
Höll is also back to teaching full time and her love for her profession is clear when engaging any of her pupils.
“It is pretty tough to pick up the pieces after 18 months of being ‘sick’ and my biggest wish is to get back the energy I had before my diagnosis. I’m taking it day by day and am so hopeful about my future.”
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