Share Your Story

Grandma Aggie

The day I found out I had Breast Cancer changed my life in many ways. When I sat at the kitchen table & told my Mom, she wanted to cry. Then my Dad came in. I made him sit down so I could tell him also. He listened & this far away look came on his face. The next thing that he said made me sit straight up in my chair. He told me that in 1941 he left college & came home & took care of his Mom, my Grandma Aggie who just had Breast Cancer Surgery. My grandma lived till June 1968. She died on her 45th wedding anniversary. I did not not about my Grandma till 2000. You see I grew up knowing Grandma but not what she had been through. When Dad told me this I looked at mom & asked her if she knew. They had been married over 50yrs at this time. Mom did not know about the Cancer but she did know she had some surgery. With the story of my Grandma, I fought Breast Cancer & won. Every time I wanted to fail I just to Grandma to give me a kick to get me started. If Grandma could do this in 1941 then I could do it in 2000. I did win & went on to fight thyroid cancer in June 2012. Ty Grandma for my fight.

Elizabeth Tidd
Tracy, CA

My beautiful Mam

This is my mam Linda and I wanted to share her picture and story with you. Mam was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2013 and underwent surgery in December. I'm glad to say that following the success of the operation Mam is now cancer free and on the road to recovery!! This picture was taken a few weeks ago when I took her for her wig fitting, we had such a laugh trying out new hair styles....and it was free :) so it just leaves me to say, stay strong Mam, we all all behind you 110% as you endure the coming months of treatment and we love you loads xx

Sian Draper
Merthyr Tydfil, United Kingdom

Our story

Mid last year our family received the unfortunate news of my beautiful Mother having breast cancer, it had to be one of the most emotional days of our lives. Luckily our family is strong and we dealt with it pretty good, we've stayed positive for a positive outcome. Mum has done all of her chemotherapy treatments and is now up to starting her treatment of radiation on Monday this will be on going for 6 weeks 5 days a week.

During the time while Mum was having chemo I became unwell, everyone thought maybe it was in sympathy for Mum. Unfortunately, after a series of doctors and hospital visits.. I was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma. So now the hard journey to get rid of the (as mum and I call it) 'devil' for one had become for both of us. I have to continue having chemotherapy 5 days a week every fortnight for up to 9 treatments in total. It does get kinda crazy while Mum is at the Royal Woman's for appointments - I'm over at the Royal Melbourne Hospital for appointments... It's the way it's become unfortunately.

Throughout my Mums treatment I nurtured her and watched over her on her bad days.
We got through them and I was proud of Mum. Now, Mum sees me through my treatments, has her Herceptin every three weeks, and sees me through my bad days. We don't know what the radiation will do to Mum, but I'm going to try to help her through it as much as I can and in the same time have my treatment.

This has been a big blow to us and our family but fortunately we have the support of friends and family which helps us through and encourages us to fight harder.

Laura
Melbourne, Australia

ready!!!

Hello! my name is Susana I'm 36 yrs old not officially diagnosed with cancer . I had an MRI do to pain on my left breast it started almost a year ago. Got "the Phone call" the day of my my oldest boy birthday, Feb 14, Valentine's Day, the result of my Mri is a 1cm nodule (that's the word the girl who call me used )and I will get my ultrasound Tuesday to see if it has fluid or is solid.For some reason I'm not too scared .About a week ago I found this Site and all your STORIES had being very inspirational and motivated. I don't Know what GOD has for me but whatever it is I'm READY, thank you for sharing your stories they HELP A LOT, GOD BLESS YOU EVERYBODY.

SUSANA
LEAGUE CITY, TX

Cora M.

When I was first diagnosed back in 2007. like everyone else when they hear those words, "you have breast cancer", I did not believe it. Was upset, but I had a lot of faith in my doctor. Hubby drove me home, still crying, went to bed. When I woke up, had a whole different outlook on how I would handle this. First called my doctors nurse, talked to her and asked her advice. She said if she was me she would take care of it. My whole attitude changed. Instead of upset, I became determined that I would beat this! Had a good attitude, told all my friends. Held my head up high. I decided on a mastectomy of my left breast. Have never looked back or wished I had made a different decision. I am alive and healthy, but, I never miss my yearly mammogram. Stay strong my friends, there are survivors from this!

Cora Moseley
Sulphur, LA

Proud to be a Survivor

Hello all, my name is Kristy and I am recently a survivor of breast cancer. My first encounter was almost four years ago when I was diagnosed with LCIS in my left breast. I had a lumpectomy to remove the cancer. Then this past fall I was diagnosed with DCIS in both breast. I opted for a double mastectomy to avoid having to do 6 weeks of radiation treatment. They were able to remove all the breast tissue. I am now in my fourth week of recovery and about to start the process of filling the expanders. Breast and ovarian cancer runs in my family so moving forward I will have genetic testing done which will determine whether I or when I should have my ovaries removed to prevent any cancer developing there. I have two amazing boys who keep the fight in me going strong. I am not working right now so I have decided to use the time to organize a breast cancer fundraiser that will be held in June. It is a great way to help me cope and give back to women out there who deserve to receive the great medical care that I have received allowing me a second chance to make a positive impact in society. I am grateful for the early detection of the cancer and look forward to becoming a part of breast cancer survivors everywhere.

kristy henkle
somerville, MA

Living with Breat Cancer

As a healthy 56 year old you can imagine the shock and sadness that comes with that kind of diagnosis, I added anxiety on top of anxiety during a time that should of been spent on accepting and dealing with my diagnosis this is what I have learned Personally.

Felt ashamed to talk about my diagnosis always felt people were starring at me, My spouse again never asked about my thoughts or feelings it was just his way of dealing with it, not for a minute did I think he didn't care it was just his way of dealing with it which made me feel even more that I had to stay the strong one, Same with my 3 daughters, instead of focusing on what I was feeling or what it was I truly needed they went back and forth about who I favored or who went with me to Dr appointment's , yes Tina was the one who was able to fit me into her schedule, most of the time, Maria my oldest out of consideration did not want to burden her for she has a full plate work,school, 5 children a Husband and a home to take of how would I or could of expected anymore then maybe just a phone call or a visit, and then there is my youngest Carla who just had a new baby 3 weeks after my diagnosis and a 2 year as well as a 7 year, again would never burden her with so much on her plate, so with this said, who was and wasn't involved in other things being planned by so my amazing people some of which I know and some of which I do not know....all created so much friction not only was it hurtful it was so very stressful, So with that I would just like to say that I do not expect anything from Daughters except the love and the support that I need during this Journey.....and Yes even though I may love you all in different ways I do love you with all my heart.

Angela DeMaio
Sellersville, PA

devastated

I was diagnosed in July of 2011 with 2 types of breast cancer. I was devastated. And felt all alone. I cried for days. My sister Cindy helped me gather info on the best treatment I could get. So I decided to get treatment for my cancer at Rush hospital in Chicago... Which was 2 hrs away. On my first visit I had a room full of doctors and one by one they explained what would happen.. First I was to have a mastectomy. I hit the floor. The words were bouncing in my head cancer mastectomy chemo radiation. I cried some more. And as I was crying the doctor that would over see my chemo came in the room there I was a mess crying uncontrollably. She said what's wrong. I said I have to have a mastectomy. She said well you ain't dead... And at that moment I thought thats right I not going to die. I am gonna fight this and I did. From then on I new I would beat this. But a week before my mastectomy surgery. I ended up in the hospial. I had to have an emergency hysterectomy. Well the next week I had my mastectomy and 9 out of 11 lymph nodes had cancer also. The doctor said if 2 more of those lymph nodes were cancerous you would have been inoperable. It was a long road. Three different chemo medicines every 3 weeks which took 4 hours to administer, then 35 radiation treatments. I finished treatment in May of 2012. Then one day I was going through my medical reports and right there it said stage 3b..See I never worried about it. I knew I would make it..I.Started reconstuction process in June 2013 and fianlly finished up in Feb. 2014.. I am grateful and blessed today. It has made me a stronger person. Thank you for letting me share.

Tammy DuPree

Tammy DuPree
loves park, IL

Loving a wife with cancer

I had an arranged marriage 2 years back. My husband has always been a ''keep feelings to himself'' kind of a guy. I migrated to USA in March of 2013. In May I noticed a hard lump in my left breast. I did not have any family history of breast cancer and also since I was 29 I did not take much notice of it. I finally went for a checkup in September and was horrified to learn I had an aggressive tumor which has already advanced to second stage. I had to endure 8 cycles of chemotherapy ,followed by surgery and radiation.
Coming back to the husband part. I had always wondered what love exactly is and in the last 6 months he has defined it for me. Love is not just chocolates ,teddies and cards. Love is waiting in front of MRI, ultrasound and mammogram department for hours. Love is leaving your new job for the inconvenience it might cause to your wife's regular visits to clinics. Love is giving your wife her first hair cut after chemo as she is too emotional about the hair fall. Love is telling your bald wife she looks beautiful and the wig suits her more than her real hair. Love is putting alarm on your own cell phone so as to give your wife her 4 am medicine. Love is keeping the house sparkling clean to avoid any complicating infections. Love is making her realize her hair and breasts are not her identity she is. Love is encouraging your wife to look beyond the cancer and plan for a future after it. Love is keeping her medical records in order and going through them in detail to have a better understanding for what they were up against. Love is enduring cancer every minute and every second with your partner and never letting go of the strength.
So now I know what Love is. I pray that every one facing this huge challenge gets the same love ,support and encouragement that I had.
Wish you all a very Happy Valentine's day.

Dolly Nagra
San Leandro, CA

The Cancer Family

My story begins on august 6,2010. My Daughter received a diagnosis of DCIS. That evening I discovered a lump in my right breast. I chose not to tell my Daughter or Husband until tests were completed. At that time I was supporting and physically caring for my husband who just survived Prostate Cancer and was fighting a rare terminal cancer, NSCSC. Now our 42 year old Daughter needed support, after surviving Cervical cancer 8 years earlier.
That autumn I was diagnosed with DCIS with lymph involvement on the right and LCIS on the left. After our Daughter's Double Mastectomy and Chemotherapy I began my journey. After a Modified Radical Mastectomy on the right and Simple Mastectomy on the left, I spent the next 8 weeks having reconstructive surgeries because my incisions failed. When everything healed I went thru 4 months of Chemo and 28 Radiation treatments. Our Daughter completed her treatments with flying colors. WE were so PROUD of her ! It wasn't easy because she was trying to work at the business she owned and care for our 2 Grandchildren, while going thru a Divorce.
My journey thru chemo was awful . I experienced every side effect of Chemo, while trying to care for my Husband, who was loosing his battle with his Cancer. On January 24, 2012 he lost his battle.
On September16,2013 my Daughter became a 42 month survivor. On November 5, I became a 40 month survivor. It has been a LONG hard road filled with much pain, illness, and sadness. I have a few more minor surgical procedures and it will be over for me. Support from ALL our friends, Family, extended Family,, and above ALL our ONCOLOGY TEAM got us thru . Wish my Husband could see HOW good we're doing......

Patricia (Patt ) Bush
East Hampton, CT