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My story of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

Right after New Years I went to the emergency room with a terrible pain in my stomach. After tests I had a large ovarian tumor. I had to have surgery to remove the basketball size tumor plus a hysterectomy. After the pathology report there was no cancer. I was so lucky. My daughter then said go and have a mammogram. I did of course I was called back for a 2nd mammogram then an Ultrasound I had a birad score of 5,which is 95 per cent chance of cancer. I was truely in shock after all I had just been through ! I was diagnosed with Invasive ductal carcinoma. The good news was that I caught it early. I had a great surgeon who recommended a Lumpectomy followed by radiation. The surgery is completed and I'm now going though radiation treatments. If I wouldn't of had the Ovarian tumor I probably wouldn't have had the mammogram that saved my life.

Anonymous
Windsor Heights, IA

I fought like a girl....and won!

Hi! I'm a 41 year old school nurse from New Jersey. I've been married to my best friend and biggest supporter for 18 years and we have 2 beautiful children: a 21 year old son and a 17 year old daughter.

On October 3, 2013 I received the most difficult telephone call of my life. I was told that I have "Invasive Ductal Carcinoma", my world changed forever. I've been a nurse for 13 years and had no understanding of what the doctor was saying to me. The next few weeks were a world wind of tests, surgeries and many many doctors and opinions. I began chemotherapy on December 6, 2013, was going to have 8 treatments which would take 16 weeks.

On March 14, 2014, I had my final treatment! I'm done, so I thought. While I tested negative for the BRCA I/II I have decided to have a bilateral mastectomy at the end of June.

While going through treatment my family and friends made sure I was taken care of. They cooked for me, cleaned, took me for coffee and sent many cards and texts along with gifts in the mail. I felt the love every day. Every time I felt down, someone would contact me and make me smile.

I am frustrated and tired but the worst is behind me. A group of family and friends and I have began creating pillows and seat belt covers for people with breast cancer to use while going through surgery and treatment. These items are given out by a local surgeon during consultation. I look forward to getting my life back to normal but in the meantime I am trying to pay it forward.

Just remember you are not alone! Lean on those who love you, they will help make the difference!

Karen
South Brunswick, NJ

My First and Last Love

In 2010 I remarried my first husband after being divorced for 40 years.We married in July on the same day we did it the first time.We were so happy it was like a second chance we never thought we would have.In Oct I was diagnosed with breast cancer.My husband was so supportive and heped me through the misery of chemo treatments and was so patient with me and loving.I fought hard and came through surgery and treatments and was pronounced cancer free.We were both very gratefull and looked foreward to growing old together .Then in March of 2012 we were hit by a bombshell.My beloved Kenny was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer .He became very ill very fast and passed away that June.I am still in a state of shock and cant believe our time together was so cut short by cancer.I will always be gratefull for the time that we did have together.We must all do everything we can to support cancer research and pray for a cure .Be kind to eachother and never take your loved ones for granted.

pam woods
ottawa, KS

Life is BEAUTIFUL (Survivor from stage 4 ,that was 33 yrs ago 69th b'day tomorrow

I was terminal in 1982 as my Breast Cancer from 1981 metastasized to my lungs. Double mastectomies one in 1981 and then in 1982 and aggressive chemo for 11 months, I will be 69 yrs old the 29th .Still grateful 24/7 to be with my now adult sons and 6 gorgeous grandchildren ages 4-21. My beautiful Mom died when I was 7 in 1952 when the "C" word was forbidden. My mom left 3 girls 2,7(me) and 11. My boys were 7,14 and 15. I was determined to stay with them and fought like a MOM!!!. And did not tell many not even my youngest son till he was 13. Had POSITIVE thoughts only!!! My family makes me ashamed to talk about it,they see it as bragging.and it was a long time ago. But I spread the word now and have spoken to groups of chemo patients and know my purpose was to help them SMILE. All Dr's. at Sloan Kettering and Fox Chase in Philly said I am a Miracle and should tell my story to give hope to others.This shy little girl is not shy anymore,stomp the monster out!!!!
Live love laugh!And spread awareness ! Every 13 min we lose a lovely lady to this dreaded disease:(

Roz Pindyck
monroe, NJ

My Last Radiation - Stage 4 cancer - IBD

One the day of the Boston Marathon Bombing I had a mammogram/sonogram and was told it was fine, but my breast had become deformed. I knew it could be breast cancer, my mother and her sister died of breast cancer. My tests were fine, my breast was enlarged and swollen, with no lump. The surgeon told me I might have IBD, Inflammatory Breast Disease. I was elated, It is very rare, only 3% of cancer are IBD, it is more prevalent in obese women, and is estrogen related. But my breast was identical to the diagram on the American Breast Cancer website. I was referred to a surgeon, he told me it was treatable. I had a biopsy, which came back revealing I had IBD on the outside of my breast, but a low grade of breast cancer on the inside, with cells were barely moving. I went to the oncologist and had a PET scan, with chemo on May 30, 2013, for 3 months, with another 6 weeks of a stronger dose. After the chemo was over, I had a PET scan and the oncologist was elated. I was cancer free! I continued the Herceptin and 3 weeks later after my last chemo I had a masectomy. My lymph nodes were not involved, the surgery was easy and 3 weeks later I started radiation. I developed an infection, the radiation was difficult, it took me 5 months instead of 7 weeks! I finished radiation 2 weeks ago, am having Herceptin until August 4, My breast area is slowly healing but it is going to take some time. My last radiation was big because of the infection. Just wanted to share.

Barbara Kissel
Cortland, NY

My story

My name is Alexandria I am 30 years old and a mother of 2 beautiful children. I was diagnosed with stage 2b/3 breast cancer on April 16, 2014. I was having pain in my right breast after my son was born. I didn't think anything of it bc of my age. A couple of weeks later my boyfriend found the lump. And from there my journey has begun. I will be starting chemo treatments soon followed by a masectomy of my right breast and radiation. As a mother my only option is to be strong for my kids. They are my inspiration. Life is too precious and short to dwell on this. I'm living life and fighting to be better.

Alexandria
East Providence, RI

Stage 4 Breast Cancer Survivor

In 2004, 1 month before my 35th birthday, I found a lump in my left breast! After tests and biopsy I was told that I had BC and I had positive nodes! My world was turned upside down! I had young children to take care of! After speaking to my doctors, I went aggressive and have a double mastectomy.
The day after my surgery, we were still receiving test results from scans. My whole life changed! 8 liver mets also! I was given 2 weeks to heal and start visits with my plastic surgeon to start have reconstruction. So we started the tissue expander process and started injecting saline into my expanders to stretch the skin for implants!
Two weeks post op I had a liver biopsy! Most painful thing I have ever experienced! I cried the whole day! I could not get control of my emotions! I started chemo a couple of weeks later! Had chemo on Friday, Felt fine for 2 days then it hit! An illness like I had never experienced! Saw doc on Monday and gave me meds for my nausea! It worked! It was wonderful!
Within 2 weeks I was running a high fever and felt horrible! Went to ER and I had a staph infection in my left breast! They had to operate again and remove expanders! I spent 2 weeks in the hospital on the strongest antibiotics ever! After recovery I began chemo again for 6 months and Herceptin weekly! I'm her2neu + also! At last remission!
Made it 5 years and reoccurred in 2010. Took chemo pill that time! Worked again! 4 years later I am still in remission and receiving Herceptin for the rest of my life! My children are now grown! My biggest fear was that my children would grow up without a mother! All of my prayers have been answered and I continue to thrive and have become a grandmother! November I will be a 10 year 2 time stage 4 SURVIVOR! Thankyou to God and the love of my wonderful family and friends!

Stacey
Gautier, MS

Fighting like a girl can be a good thing

I was diagnosed with stage 3 triple negative breast cancer on January 25th 2010, when I was 23 years old. I had been married for only 8 months. I found the lump while breast feeding my four month old daughter. I was trying to get more milk out when I found it. I took it to my doctor but at this age no one expected it to be cancer just a blocked milk duct. However, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer years earlier when I was 17. My mother pushed and my family doctor agreed that they needed to do an ultrasound. From there I had biopsy and then the diagnoses. I had a lumpectomy and then six rounds of chemotherapy and 30 straight rounds of radiation. I had to stop breast feeding my baby girl but she is reason I fought so hard to be here now. Chemo is really hard but when you have family like I do and your little girl is waiting at home for you, you fight harder.

Its been almost four years since chemo ended and I turned 28 last week. I now have a son who is two and I am finally starting my career in teaching. Four weeks ago I underwent a bilateral mastectomy to make sure this never comes back. It has given me piece of mind and although I may never be able to have another child or if I do, never be able to breast feed, but at least I know I have a more then decent chance of the breast cancer ever returning. As if to make everything more worth it I received the pathology report yesterday and was told the cancer was starting to return. I had gotten rid of it and I will hopefully never see it again. I try every day to live well but I am raising my daughter to be a strong woman and if anything ever does not go her way then I know she has the tools to fight like a girl and stand up to anything in her path.

Alicia Tait
Mississauga, Canada

Those three words....

I was told this past March that I have breast cancer... The scariest two words in my life... I opted for a bilateral mastectomy and underwent that surgery 2 weeks ago.
I do not regret my decision for one second. Even though recovery has been difficult, I have a one and five year old that need me... I have a loving husband who has stood by my side and been my rock thru all of this...
Words cannot express how much I love my family & without their support, I would not have the strength to get thru all of this... My journey is not over yet... I still have to have my reconstruction surgery as well as possible radiation come July...I have read all of these amazing stories on this website and I want to commend each and every one of you that have battled and continue to battle this terrible disease.
All of you inspire me and I am grateful for each and every one of your stories of survival.
It has taken me awhile to post my story, because I still feel as though I have not suffered enough to call myself a cancer survivor... My cancer was detected very early. I feel guilty. I am sure many will read this and think I am crazy... Rest assured, I am not... I pray for a cure and support each and every one of you who are traveling the same road...May faith guide you and may love surround you...in my eyes you are all super heroes....

Trisha A.
Chelmsford, MA

My Story

I never imagined in my worst dreams that this could happen to me!

October was here and I called to schedule a mammogram and they asked me my age, I said 39
The lady said you are not old enough to get one without a doctor’s order. She said let me send you to the doctor’s office ask for and order then we can schedule and so I did.
After a mammogram they did the ultrasound and the tech was talking while she was doing it and then all of the sudden she stopped and said so do you have any history of cancer, I said no she said I’ll be back and I began to get nervous. The Dr. came in and said well the mass that we saw needed a biopsy did I have time to do it now I said yes. They finished and I left confused, lost, and my daughter called me on the phone and I could not say anything to her yet so I held in my cry.

I had a bilateral mastectomy and two lymph nodes contained CANcer!! When I woke up I remember asking” did they get it”, I saw my baby sister and I kept asking and she wouldn’t answer she began to cry and called my husband over.

I was diagnosed with Stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and my treatment plan was : 4x every other week chemo, 12x once a week chemo, 5-6 weeks radiation, and hormone pill for 5 years or more. This would reduce my risk of the cancer returning to 15%.(needle in a hay stack)but I just could not see this just yet.
I want to encourage everyone I can to get checked out earlier than age 40. I have started a foundation Sisters Saving Sisters to help bring awareness and help someone that may be facing financial hardship while battling CANcer!! This journey has not been easy, I have shared every moment in hopes that someone would hear or see. But to GOD BE THE GLORY I MADE IT AND THIS IS MY STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Andrea Murphy (Sisters Saving Sisters)
Lenexa, KS