Rallying for Heather

A former Newport Harbor High School cheerleading coach is fighting for her life after being diagnosed with breast cancer in February. The cancer has spread to her lungs and neck, and she is now hoping to stave it off through chemotherapy.

Heather Beyer, 26, an Anaheim Angels Strike Force Girl a couple of summers ago, found a lump in her breast in October.

She went to urgent care, where doctors told her that she had nothing to worry about — that most likely her hormones were acting up — she said.

Drink less caffeine, they said.

The most important thing, she said they told her, is that breast cancer doesn’t run in the family.

But when the lump grew to the size of a golf ball and Beyer couldn’t sleep because she was in such pain, she went back to the same urgent care in January for a biopsy.

On Feb. 25, the cancerous results came back, she said, adding she knew the news was bad because doctors told her to bring somebody with her.

She brought her husband of one year, Nate, 26, an Orange County sheriff’s deputy, and her parents.

These days, Heather Beyer’s pushing on and trying to defeat the doctors’ grim prognosis, namely that she has only “months” to live if the cancer turns out to be of the small-cell nature.

“I started chemo a week ago, and it’s been rough,” she said. “It’s a lot more taxing on the body than I expected. I expected to be more functional at a much quicker rate. But I’m exhausted all the time. I can’t really stand ever. I constantly feel like I’m going to get sick, but I never get sick. The medications have come a long way, so I’m not as sick as I probably should be, but it’s still a bummer.”

Beyer said there were never any signs or symptoms that she might have cancer aside from that small lump, which she found in the top inside corner of her left breast.

But since the ordeal, she said she’s learned a great deal.

“Don’t ever be satisfied with the first answer,” said Beyer, an Aliso Viejo resident and graduate of Woodbridge High School in Irvine. “If you notice that something’s wrong with you, then there could be something wrong with you. You’re the best determiner of your body. Remember that.”

Dr. Leonard Sender, medical director of the Cancer Institute at CHOC Children’s Hospital, said he’s determined to change the way cancer is treated and detected among youth and young adults in the United States.

“One of the ways we can do this is to encourage medical professionals ... to stop and consider cancer in this age group,” he said.

Beyer’s close friend, Breean Carter, 28, falls into that age group. She met Beyer six years ago while the two of them were cheerleading coaches at Newport Harbor High.

Now, not a day goes by that Carter doesn’t keep in touch with Beyer and vice-versa.

“She just texted me the other day and asked if I’d go to church with her on Sunday,” Carter said. “I’m hopeful. I believe in miracles. She’s a very important person in my life.”

Both women are also looking forward to the May 15 and 16 Relay for Life, which is sponsored by the American Cancer Society, on Newport Harbor High’s track.

For 24 hours, starting at 10 a.m., 26 teams plan to walk and run around the track to raise money for the American Cancer Society, which in turn will help patients “fight the disease with all their might,” said Ginger Carter, a close friend of Heather’s and Breean’s mother.

“Heather is our friend, and we’re going to raise money for her,” Ginger Carter said, adding that Beyer’s team, hopefully, will comprise 100 walkers.

The Carter family has created a team for Beyer.

It’s called the Fun Bags. The goal is to raise $10,000 for the American Cancer Society.

“We only have two months to meet our goal,” Breean Carter said. “We will be battling for our goal while Heather battles for her life. But more important, Heather will know she is not alone.”

Those who wish to sponsor walkers at the event can sign up at tinyurl.com/heatherbeyer.

Or visit relayforlife.org/newportbeachca.