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I beat the chemo beast!!

As a newly single mom of two young boys, 9 & 7, and facing bitter divorce, I found a lump on my left breast on July 1, 2013. Understand, cancer was just something that was never gonna happen to me. I just knew this. I was shocked, numb, knew deep down right away it wasn't good. It was a gut intuition, not a negative nelly attitude. I laid it at the feet of God though. He is so much bigger than any of my ailments and I trusted all the peace he would give to me in choosing my doctors to care for me.

I soon realized who the REAL people were in my life. I also found a few friends simply loved me but emotionally for personally deep reasons could not handle this. I had to impart compassion and mercy and love on them. It's all good. My life daily still went on. You can not quit. NEVER EVER QUIT!!! Never give up! Cancer sucks but do not let it suck the life out of you. Take your downtime and let go of your pride.. Accept the copious amounts of help that will be offered. People need to bless you.. It's for them as well. It's THEIR calling from God.. Do not degrudge them this.

Yesterday was my last chemo. It was such an amazing day... I was on a eurphoric high! I felt beautiful and amazing. I was surrounded by love and support. My faith thankfully never failed, always strong. My advice, never ever go to any appts alone. Find SOMEONE.. There is too much info and too emotional a time. You forget stuff, important stuff. I would have been lost without my girlfriends always being their with me! Please I beg this of every one of you!!! Love you all and praying for you! Beat the beast! Never give up!

Amy-Brooke
Mays Landing, NJ

Kristey 's words

Three years ago I was told I had stage 2 breast cancer an three years later i am still fighting. I wish no one would ever have to go threw any of this ugly ugly world of cancer there is nothing pretty about cancer. I have had the worse experence with everything from surgery to doctors to nurses to family. My life will never ever be the same ever an as possitive as i like to be the worst always happens i wish there were happy ending to everything. When all this came about i was told that what could go wrong has gone wrong the surgery went wrong infection set in my first chemo i was there 12hrs an never got it cause the nurse broke my port had to get a new port with new infection. That surgery was not good i woke up on the table five times. Nightmare i have looked for sights on the web because i just didnt want to beleive i was the only one this has happen to an yet i sit here alone. I feel like everyone has given up on me an has gone on with there lives an im alone. I hate being so alone an yet everyday i cry an everyday i look for the good where is the good i have found friends and family are not there maybe in the begining but not in the end. Fact I have turned to God ive been reading the bible an i am now hopeing to find the reason why i have been chossen to go threw this. I need answers bad. Im sorry for every one who has this an is going threw this or who has lost loved ones to this i wish i was a bigger help.

Kristey
Chicago, IL

I will never give up the fight!

January 2013 I was hired as a trauma ICU nurse after graduating in December 2012. May of 2013 I felt a lump in my left breast. Had a biopsy done and it was in fact breast cancer. It was was a fast growing type of cancer. Once I met with my oncologist he had a CT done. When I got home from my CT I already had a call from the doctors office changing my time of my first chemo treatment. Knowing what I know because the time was changed to when the doctors were in, I didn't think it would be good news.. Well I was correct and even shocked my oncologist with my results. My cancer was stage IV that has matatisized to my liver with multiple lesions. So they added another chemo drug to the three I was suppose to get.

After 16 weeks of harsh chemo, I was able to get away with just a lumpectomy. They also had to take 7 lymph nodes. The spots in my liver have shrunk as well. Then I went through 6 weeks of radiation. Through all this I was more than determined to get back to work as a nurse. I will have to remain on 2 types of chemo every 3 weeks for the rest of my life.

In February I got the best news ever, I could go back to nursing! I bring new life into this world every day and it is so very rewarding.

I will never be cancer free, but with the advances in treatment I will be able to live a lot longer by getting my maintenance chemo and do what I love to do "be a nurse"!

Tracey
Bridgeville, PA

The Unexpected

In November of 2013 my life changed, I received the worst phone call of my life. I still remember those words "I'm sorry you have breast cancer". Confused and scared of course I was in shock but I was afraid of the next step. I had a double mastectomy in JANUARY of 2014 and because of two positive lymph nodes I had a lymph node dissection almost 3 weeks after my mastectomy. Those results were good all my 23 lymph nodes that were extracted were negative. Finally some good news. Currently I am undergoing Chemotherapy it wipes me out but I know that after this battle I can stand up and say proudly that I am a breast cancer SURVIVOR!

Rebecca Bellucco
Center Moriches, NY

breast cancer survivor, age 25

My name is Lisa, i was diagnosed with stage 2 aggressive ductile breast cancer in Sept of 2013 i was 24 yrs old. I have 2 children, a 5 yr old daughter and a 14 month old baby boy. I went through 8 chemo treatments. Finished my last treatment on my 25th birthday on Jan 9th. I recently, march 10th, had my first, of many, surgeries. I had a double mastectomy with reconstruction. I am a breast cancer survivor!

Lisa Gearhart
Rossville, GA

My brush with death

Was diagnosed with Breast Cancer last year, the diagnosis was done after the third operation and the forth operation was a full mastectomy to remove the Aggressive Sarcoma and the Malignant Tumor, Major and minor pectoral muscles and to scrape the sarcoma from the rib cage. It was the double cancer that actually save my life - because the cancers were fighting for dominance and made the breast swell. In the beginning the surgeon was trying to repair a hematoma not knowing that it was caused by the cancers. Everyone missed the vital clues of the fatty tissue mixed with the blood. I then had seven weeks of radiation and have now been declared clinically no re-occurrence of the cancers.

Bill Phillips
Roodepoort, South Africa

cancer won't win!!!

My name is Melina... I am 29 years old and I was diagnosed with breast cancer on January 23rd 2014. I believe this was one of the most devastating news I received in my life... As I was seating at the doctors office, I wanted to cry so much and ask why?! Why me... I am only 29... I decided to ask what's the purpose? What do you need to teach me God? It has been a long process and I am not even half way done yet, however I already see myself crossing the finish line and wining this ugly desease!!! I am a winner I know! Having the support of my family and friends has helped me overcome all kinds of battles, one of the hardest one having to cut my hair and later on shaving my head...
To all of you going through the same thing as I am, don't give up!!! GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH YOU YET!!! Trust him and have faith you are healed. Be strong, together we will find a cure!

Melina Fregoso
Fontana, CA

13 years!

Today marks 13 years that I took my mom to her last Chemo treatment for breast cancer. She has had a roller coaster of health issues since then, but she has been cancer free for all 13 of those years. She's a pediatric nurse and it's her job to take care of sick little ones. When it was our turn to take care of her, she had some adjusting to do. It was months of her getting sick after every treatment she had. I remember her hairdresser stayed late one night so she could shave my mom's head since all her hair was falling out. My mom cried and cried and cried. Now that seems like something so insignificant since she's here with us today. Not only is she an amazing mother, but she's also an amazing grandmother, sister, aunt, friend and all around great person! This is some of the pictures of the local breast cancer walks we have done together.

Shannon Thomas
Salisbury, MD

Baseball uncovered my breast cancer

Long story short. I was playing baseball with my two sons and missed catching the ball and it hit me in my right breast...it hurt but I didnt think much of it. Few weeks later I discovered a lump that felt about the size of a Liam bean. It didn't go away and a month later at my normal annual exam I asked my doctor about it. After a whirl wind of tests, biopsies and mammogram...I heard the words no one wants to hear...I had breast cancer. I had surgery and was diagnosed with stage 2a breast cancer. The strike from the ball caused a sack around the actual tumor...which was only 1cm...but the cancer was aggressive with a multiplication rate of 44...buy the time they did the surgery it had already moved to a lymph node. I have now completed 6 rounds of chemo and am almost done with radiation. Cancer hasn't slowed me down much...but it has opened my eyes as to how many people love me. I was very lucky to have been hit by that ball...my young breast tissue is dense....I would have never found it so early if it wasn't for passing ball with my boys...they are truly my saving grace.

Roberta Hatcher
French Creek, WV

What my mom has taught us

In 2004 my mom was diagnosed with cancer for a second (her first diagnosis was in 1996 which was breast cancer) right after my dad passed away. For 9 years she battled breast cancer mets that had spread to her lungs, spine, & brain. In those nine years myself and anyone else who knew my mom, saw determination and inspiration in her. She had often stated that she was not going to let cancer run her life and she was going to fight it till the end. In December 2013 she fell while taking out the trash and had to be hospitalized. I was able to be with her right away but my sisters had to come in from Georgia and Alabama (we live in Texas close to Houston) and my brother came back from his vacation.

My mom had developed osteomyelitis about a year ago in her spine and her doctors wanted to treat that before we proceeded with anything else. While she was in the hospital, my mom had an MRI done of her brain to see how her tumors were. It was then decided that there was nothing else the doctors could do for her. Her brain tumors continued to grow even after having a year of chemo treatments to shrink them.

While my mom was in the hospital I found a lump in my breast which was confirmed as stage 2a breast cancer. A week after I had my first treatment, my mother passed away on February 15, 2014. It is through her drive and determination that I know I will be able to beat my breast cancer. This will be a very difficult and trying journey for my family but we will get through this because of what she has taught us.

Cathy Fontenot
Alvin, TX