Share Your Story

18 Year Survivor

I was living with my Aunt Louisa who was a second Mom to me. My family gave me a 30th Birthday Party early and I had received many gift cards. On a Monday night I went shopping with my Aunt Louisa. We went to Lane Bryant. I went in the dressing room to try on bras and looked down and saw a spot of blood coming from my nipple. I called my Aunt Louisa in the dressing room she said get dressed I am going to call the Doctor. I went to the Doctor he did not feel any lumps or anything but recommended I go for a Mammography . On my actual 30th Birthday I went for my first Mammogram . I knew deep down inside something was wrong. They told me the Doctor would get the results so I went home. I went home and later on after we had my birthday cake my sister and Aunt told me that the Doctor had called and I needed to go to a Breast Surgeon for a Biopsy. On February 16, 1996 I had my Surgical Biopsy and was in recovery when the Doctor told me and my family that I had Breast Cancer and that I would have to have a Mastectomy. After many opinions I had a Modified Radical Mastectomy with Reconstruction of a Saline implant. 1996 was the worst year of my life. I thought I was going to die and never get married and have a future. Well in 2002 I started dating a wonderful man who did not care that I had Breast Cancer and we feel in love and got married in October 2005. In life you have your ups and downs but we can and must never give up. Always look at the bright side of things. We are fighters and Survivors. We wanted to have a Baby so I did treatments and after doing the treatments they discovered that I had pre-cancer of the uterus and I had to have a hysterectomy. Thank God again that it was pre-cancer. .

Theresa Frank
LINDENHURST, NY

GOD'S MIRICLE

I was diagnised with Stage 3 breast cancer on Feburayr 6th, 2006. I could not believe this. I had lost my mom to breast cancer in 2001. I had two lumpectomies,chemo and radiation. Lost all my hair and was sick on many occasions. I want to thank my 3 sons, sister and brother in-law and many friends who helped me out during this most difficult time, BUT MUST OF ALL TO MY LORD AND SAVIOUR he kept me going through the must difficult times.
I want to say to those of you that are going thru this don't give up and be strong no matter what. ONE DAY AT A TIME - I don't know if many of you know the FOOT PRINTS IN THE SANDS POEM- but the must important line is "MY PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS CHILD, I LOVE YOU AND I WOUKD NEVER LEAVE YOU.
DURING YOUR TIMES OF TRIAL AND SUFFERING,WHEN YOU SEE ONLY ONE SET OF FOOTPRINTS,IT WAS THEN THAT I CARRIED YOU.

Angie Torres
West Haven, CT

My Sweet Momma

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 37 she fought the battle for a year then it came back in multiple places. I will never forget that awful day I lost my mother but she was ready to meet Jesus in heaven we wasn't ready for her to leave us but we didn't want her suffering. I miss her so very much but I know she fought as hard and as long as she could for us and I will always love her for that! I saw her go through so much with her treatments chemo and radiation she was so sick going through those but she still was so tough through it all. I think one of the hardest parts foe her was loosing her hair she loved so much I would watch her as it fell out in handfuls just look so sad I wish I could have done something foe her but I was Only 11 and was 13 when she died so all I could do was pray for her! But to that was enough she was so tender to us. All that said I will always love and remember her forever till I sew her again in heaven I know she looks over me and my 3 daughters!

Kerri Smith
Hendersonville, NC

Two Time Survivor

My story starts back in 1988. I was a freshman at the U of MN when my symptoms of "mono" started worsening into shortness of breath and itching in my joints. I'd scratch until I drew blood, I couldn't sleep unless I was upright because I felt like I was suffocating. By Christmas I'd had enough. I had a lump in my neck and demanded a biopsy. I was diagnosed with Stage 2b Hodgkins Lymphoma. What followed that diagnosis was five months of radiation therapy to my chest. Knowing that I was going to be high risk for breast cancer the rest of my life I had mammograms starting at age 30. All was good until 2011, that's when I switched doctors. By this time I was no longer following with an oncologist yearly since mine had moved on. She wanted me to go see an oncologist to make sure she hadn't missed anything. My mammogram was negative no signs of cancer. The oncologist suggested a breast MRI just to be safe because of the high doses of radiation. My MRI wasn't too concerning but there were areas that warrented further investigation. I had a MRI guided biopsy which showed hyperplasia. A further biopsy showed DCIS. They couldn't guarantee that the scatter seen on MRI wasn't cancer so I had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction by DIEP flap on Oct 3 2011. Both breasts were full of cancer all in the earliest stage possible. I've had no further treatment other than the surgery. I count myself very lucky...I've survived cancer twice. I feel mammography is a very useful tool, however, in my case a breast MRI was much more useful.

Heidi Christensen
ironton, MN

second time around

I was diagnosed with stage 1 invasive b/c at 35 years young, i thought i would never get threw it and i did. I am now fighting a recurrence of invasive breast cancer again, 16 years later. I was completely in shock, none of this is easy and it really can take a toll on you agressive chemo, bilateral massectomy, constant Dr visits, and then the hardest part of it all is dealing with your possible mortality, I was so petrified for years of a recurrence it actually took up alot of my thinking yet if i could go back i would erase those thoughts of fear and if i knew what i know now it would be that i am not in control of what may happen with b/c we have no power over this disease and i would have every time erased the fear replaced it with living fully in the moments, but you see i did get a Second Chance i am living everyday with a full perspective on life and laughing as often as i like (without that fear of recurrence) i am living my life fully and not afraid to take steps on forgetting i am a breast cancer patient, I am a survivor and i can be happy and enjoy all of lifes offerings without the worry of tomorrow. I am not worried I am living. BTW that picture is me with a wig, i am having fun with wigs all different kinds, It was quite a challenge to loose my hair but i turned that into fun too. I Thank my family and friends for being by my side during this, I love them all. During my struggle I have witnessed the kindest hearts in people all over. Thank You

Lisa Ferraro' Medici
Bayville, NY

Caregivers are Awesome!

I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 42. My husband and daughter were the most awesome caregivers anyone could ask for during such a difficult time. Everyone that I had ever known with cancer had passed away, so I was scared. My daughter was only 15 years old. She was always a mature young lady, but she grew up very quickly. She always made sure I was as comfortable as I could be. She took such good care of me and is still my biggest supporter. When things looked rough she was my rock. I had trouble focusing during my chemo treatments and I was a big reader, so my husband got me some audio books. My daughter would get them ready for me and while I lay in bed listening to the books, she would lay beside me for support.
I used to have pity parties when I would go to the oncologist for my chemo treatments, asking "why me?", because we had no family history. But during one visit a lady walked in with her 15 year old daughter, who was the one with cancer. Watching that sweet young lady have to go through chemo, made me realize that I needed to ask "why not me?" instead. I thanked God for giving me cancer and not my sweet daughter. From that day forward I became stronger and stronger, praying for continued strength.
While going through chemo and radiation I was so sick. I used to tell my husband and daughter not to expect me to ever go through this again, if the cancer came back. After all treatments were done and I have recovered, being cancer free for almost 12 years now, I have told them I would do it again and again, if necessary because now I not only want to be here for my husband and daughter, but now my grandsons, too! Loving life everyday!

Cheryl Guenthner
Shepherdsville, KY

Stage3 Triple Positive Breast Cancer

I had suspicions that something was wrong because my left breast looked Fuller&last year(2012) I had sharp pain in it but it came& gone, I was more tired. I ignored these symptoms as I was a Nurse working night shift& raising 5 kids so figured my body was just wore out& I was only 32! So Jan. of 2013 I found a rash, lump, dimpling&called the Obgyn after the hospital told me it was Dermatitis& they felt no lump! My ObGYN sent me for a mammo& of course came out with Triple Positive IDC & Stage 3. I had Chemo first& still currently on herceptin treatments, I had left mastectomy done on 12/19/13 which showed a 7.5 cm tumor yet&3 lymph nodes positive out of 19 he took! I underwent PT for lymphyedema! Starting Radiation on 2/12/14& Total hysterectomy 4/7/14& waiting to get Right mastectomy & Tram Flap done!! My kids are 14, 10,7,8&5!!! This has been sooo frightening & scary! I just try to think positive but hard! Its a long road, I go to treatments, surgeries& all myself because of lack of support, but its all good. God gives this to its strongest soldiers& I'm fighting for my kids!! I pray& hope I'm a long term survivor with no recurrence.

Ginger
Lehighton, PA

Cancer - A Family Affair

After taking care of my mother for almost a year through her treatment for Lymphoma, I thought for a moment that life would get back to “normal” when her treatment was complete and we learned her PET scan was clear. It was the best news I had heard in as long as I could remember but it barely lasted through the week…

I had been so run down and tired for so long that it had become the norm. I had seen a doctor a few weeks prior and had a mammogram but, being in my thirties, none of the doctors were terribly concerned. I had a lump under my arm that I had discovered during a self-breast exam but my doctors attributed it to chronic fatigue and so on but we went ahead with the testing for good measure. I don’t think anyone ever thought a week after my mother completed her treatment I would be getting a cancer diagnosis of my own.

Within a few months I had a total, bilateral mastectomy and began reconstruction. I was terrified but, the moment my head stopped spinning, I starting thinking of ways I could help others. I started training for a marathon and donated all the money I collected to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society eight months after my mastectomy. I became active in the American Cancer Society and I began donating my time to organizations I believe in.

Cancer could have broken me if I let it but helping others helped me. There were days it would have been much easier to feel sorry for myself but giving back made me grateful for every moment and it made me feel hopeful that I may be able to provide that hope for someone else.

SidneyAnne Stone
New York, NY

IT TOOK US 32 YEARS TO CATCH EACH OTHER

It took Gary 32 years to catch me but catch me he did! And I let him catch me!!!

We met as teenagers, and he was friends with my going-steady boyfriend, who later became my husband. Gary was best man at that wedding. We stayed in contact all the years after my divorces through Christmas cards as we each raised our families.

After two divorces and dating, one October I prayed that God would lead me to the right man for me. That December, Gary and I again communicated through our Christmas cards; but my annual letter prompted him to call me. You see, we courted across the country (I lived in SC and he in NV) through letters and phone calls and reignited our friendship, which quickly turned into falling in love. After not even one date, we married six months later and have been married 19 years.

When we said the vows “for better or worse,” we meant that. My 65th birthday present to myself was my 9-month overdue mammogram. Days later I knew that I had breast cancer.

Gary was my ears when I was too overwhelmed to hear any more about my breast cancer. He understood my strong faith and helped God support me when the road was too rough to travel. He continues to be my box of memories when I can’t remember something. He goes to my treating facility with me at least twice a month (where he does not like to be), so that I can give out gift bags to other women in treatment for cancer. He misses meals and time with me so that I can administer a charity I founded, i.e., The Sparkle Caps Project. He is my rock and my love. My love for him is so much deeper than it was 19 years ago. I absolutely adore him.

God answered my prayer all those years ago when He sent Gary to me.

Susan "Victorious" Heimbigner
Sumter, SC

My journey

My journey actually started September 12, 2012. I went to the gynecologist for routine wellness check. During the exam she did the manual breast check and did not mention if she felt anything odd. During the consultation she asked if I had ever had a mammogram. My answer was no, but wanted to start due to family history.
About a week and half later I had a mammogram appointment. Just another routine procedure, so I thought. The technician did my right breast, then my left. After the procedure, she wanted to do the right breast again. She did not feel comfortable with what she saw and wanted to make sure it was not a mistake she made.
On Friday, the imaging center called and said that I needed to go to the doctor for an ultra sound because they found a something. I did not have a good feeling.
The ultrasound was physically painless, but the emotions were starting to inflame. When the doctor said he didn’t like what he saw and wanted to do a biopsy, I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be great news.
The biopsy day was nerve wracking. The procedure was uncomfortable, but not unbearable. At least the first go around. After viewing the images he wanted to do it again. Really?!?! So back on the table I went. The second biopsy hurt.
The results were back. On September 28, 2012 I went for the consultation. The doctor confirmed what I already knew. It was breast cancer. Here we go…….
The series of doctor visits and tests began (everything from genetic testing to blood work). Finally, the day of the surgery was November 26, 2012. After test results and consultations, I chose to have a lumpectomy. They got the lump out and took out seven lymph nodes. Crappy cancer was in one lymph node.
Oh yeah, then after the surgery, MORE test to see if I needed chemo (Oncotype DX). Finally the results concluded that I did.
Chemo was completed in June 2013 and radiation completed August 2013.
October 2013 mammogram confirmed....NO CANCER!!!!!

Jill Hopkins Maggirwar
Cleveland, TN