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Doing it for him...

When I was 30 my mom died of breast cancer. I began the preventive mammograms. Every one came back OK until I was about to turn 40 yrs old. The mammogram showed a ductal cancer on my right breast. Thankfully it was not in my lymph nodes I had a lumpectomy and radiation. I went thru a divorce during my radiation. Things went well I loved my doctors and I got back together with a high school sweetheart. 3 years later we have a beautiful son. January 17, 2014, I have my mammogram and there is a globular spot on my left breast. Now I have a little boy almost 2 years old and I am about to have a double massectomy with reconstructive surgery on the left side breast. The right is not being reconstructed because of the damage the radiation caused. I am strong but scared. I need to do this now at 44 years old so I can live to see my boy grow up. I only want to be rid of this awful cancer. I hope things go well, not sure I need chemo or radiation yet. Please send good thoughts my way, I need any I can get.

Donna
Auburn, ME

It takes two.

Was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 had a lumpectomy. Went back six months everything fine. Then went back in 2013 had cancer in both breast had double mysectomy. You think that's the end of the story it's not. When I was diagnosed my husband was also diagnosed with prostrate cancer. We both battled together. That's why I say it takes two. Never try to shut your loved ones out they want to go threw this with you let them. Taking one day at a time but together.

Johnnie Knight
Atoka, OK

magical music came to me before diagnoses

22 years ago I battled breast cancer.But a bit of a miracle happened. I do not read music and right before my diagnoses I felt a strong urge to sit at a piano and started composing beautiful music. My husband came into the room and said .....is that u playing?????Well he bought me a piano and my talent grew. I was invited to start my first professional recording a Grammy award winners music studio. I was at that time playing a 1200 sound keyboard. He suggested after the recording was finished to send it to world leaders for breast cancer awarness. We sent the casette to world leaders and I recieved letters from Julliard school of music to President Clinton . Over 100 letters came to me. The cassete was entitled 'PINK RIBBONS SUITE.I became a bit of a celebrity.

DeAnna Jaeger Littler
San juan capistrano, CA

I AM A SURVIVOR

After being diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, I thought I had just been given a death sentence. So much goes through your mind. You think, I need to get my affairs in order. WELL, after mastectomy , removal of 23 lymph nodes ( 13 positive ) and months of chemo and radiation my survival rate was still only 10%....

My doctor was not ready to give up. On March 3 , 1993 we started a new journey. BONE MARROW transplant ! Without going through all details, I will make a long story short. After 22 years , I am still here to say MIRACLES do happen!!!

WILLIE W. BOURQUE
PORT BARRE,, LA

So Very Loved

In May of 2008 my life change dramatically I was a very healthy 51 wife, mama, and new Nana, and now an invasive breast cancer patient. I had always worked in health care so I knew the consequences but I was in complete denial. My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer at 51 but we had been estranged for years so I did not know her complete history, but she was actually the reason I had additional test that acknowledged the lump that had been there for three years on my mammograms. My husband was with me when I was diagnosed, but I really wanted to talk to my sister. My surgeon knew me from previous years of working in trauma care so he did my lumpectomy the next day. During my recovery I called my sister and rekindled a love only sisters could have when that special love is needed. During my treatment and for all of the years following my husband has been the most absolutely wonderful, loving and kind man God could give to any person. I responded very poorly to the Tamoxifen and required a hysterectomy in 2009, a knee replacement in 2011, and a hip replacement in 2013 and have now been diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis which started with my radiation treatment and is now effecting my entire body, but through it all my very loving husband has only become more and more affectionate and supporting, wonderful and loving. I am a Nana of two boys 7 and 3 another reason to keep on going and I work daily with children with cancers. Children are amazing, they don't know about death or are they afraid like an adult so they continue on just like it is just another day for them, and they have the most wonderful smiles. My sister and I are closer now than ever, she lost the love of life after a 16 year battle with cancer. I live everyday to the fullest and my husband and I don't miss an opportunity to tell each other we love you.

Kathy Goodman
Orlando, FL

My fight with Cancer the battle I did not Choose.

Hello all,
I did not have breast cancer but I am a 2 time Cancer Survivor. On February 2nd 2007 I had a full hysterectomy at the age of 37, due to Cervical & Uterine Cancer. At that time it was discovered the cancer had also spread to my ovaries & one of my lymph nodes so I underwent 6 weeks of aggressive Chemotherapy. I remained in remission until April of 2012 when the cancer reoccurred this time it was Vaginal Cancer, I underwent what my Oncologist called cell removal therapy this happened 4 times every 2 months. The cells continued to re grow & become more aggressive so again I underwent surgery 2 more times, once in November 2012 & again in January 2013. To date I am again in remission, I see my oncologist every 3 months for rechecks and I hold my breath until my results come back. I thank God everyday that I am a Cancer Survivor, I pray for everyone that has had to deal with this very ugly disease especially young women & children. I had Cancer but it never had me.
Best of luck to all whom face this disease & may you all win the fight against Cancer.

Angela Rodriguez
El Monte, CA

Donate my hair

I was going to donate my hair in December but it was 2 inches short so i told them shave my head and my mom said no. How many like does a women get if she shaves her head to donate her hair?

Shellie Targett
Pocatello, ID

My Journey

Hi, I'm Danielle and I am 24 years old. I was diagnosed on October 15th 2013 with stage 1 Triple Positive Breast Cancer. I will never forget that day and the words " You have breast cancer, I'm so sorry" I immediately thought and said that's impossible I'm only 23 and no cancer runs anywhere in my family. Well it's possible, luckily I do not carry any genes so I was fortunate to keep both my breasts and get by with two lumpectomies in December. Since then I have went through on cycle of chemo and that cycle proved to be anything but easy. I ended up getting hospitalized for a fever and extremely low white blood count. After a two day stay I was released and have been feeling great, I go back in on my 24th birthday on Tuesday for my second round of chemo and let me tell you I am dreading it! All together I will have 6 rounds of chemo spaced 3 weeks apart, a year of herceptin (that started when chemo did) 6 and a half weeks of daily radiation treatment and 5 years of Tomixfen. I have been blessed with such amazing doctors who are pulling out every step to make sure I will go on and live a long healthy cancer free life. Hopefully with a husband and kids in the future. My journey has been like many anything but easy. Especially being so young and battling it has proven time and time again challenging physically and mentally. I hope my story inspires!

Danielle Renee
Roseville, CA

My Familys Help

I am a second timer. Diagnosed the first time in 2011 and then again in September 2013. This time around has been so much harder. A bi-lateral mastectomy and placement of tissue expanders in November. It was a horrible recovery - bad reaction to pain meds. Without my family I don't know how I would have gotten through it. They did everything for me - my husband is awesome and my kids when they were home for Thanksgiving break did whatever was asked of them. The Chemo started - I've been hospitalized after each treatment with neutropenic fever. During my second time inpatient my husband was taking our daughter back to Denver for school and our son sat with me in the hospital everyday and then took care of me once I got home. This is a 24 year old young man - I can't imagine it was very fun, but he came every single day and watched TV with me in that boring hospital room. I've since had another surgery to remove the tissue expanders due to infection and my chemo is on hold for until mid-February. My family has been there to help everystep of the way - whether it be enemas (yuck!), washing my hair (what's left of it) or just sitting with me and keeping me company. My work family has been great too - bringing cards, gift cards for food, just coming to visit and catch me up on what's happening. I know that many people are having a much harder time than I am - but it's not easy and having so many people love and pray for you and be there for anything you need has been awesome. I am blessed!

Mary Dilworth
Overland Park, KS

My year of strength hope, determination and courage

It was December 19, 2012. My husband and I laid in bed watching t.v. An ordinary day like so many others. He was feeling silly and reached over and poked my right breast. It was in that random moment of goofiness that started with a smile, that my life would transform faster than my smile changed into a look of shock. "What was that? Its not...it can't be...I'm 41...this can't be happening to me". My holiday was consumed with doctors visits, several tests and a wealth of fear. On Dec 28th the doctor called. It was invasive lobular carcinoma. It was in that moment, when life as I knew it just ceased to exist. At least that's how it felt. On January 25th I had a bi-lateral mastectomy and reconstruction. In the weeks to follow I suffered from various infections which required additional surgeries. By mid-March, I had undergone additional failed surgeries and hospitalizations. We decided to stop the reconstruction efforts as I was delaying the dreaded chemotherapy. In April the chemotherapy began, Eight rounds, once every three weeks. Then radiation. It was the worst 6 months of my life. Hair loss, weight gain, depression, fatigue, financial struggles, loss of femininity, my identity. Each day was a struggle. I learned a lot about the people in my life. My career suffered, my marriage suffered, my sanity was tested every day. I'm still not sure where the strength came from. I didn't think I possessed it. I used my sense of humor as much as I could, when I could find it. My husband was my rock. My doctors were my heros. My boss and coworkers loyal and understanding. In November 2013, the doctor said the words I longed to hear. "You are cancer free and 95% cured. You did it!" We cried together. The first tears of joy of the countless tears shed over the past year. On Jan 25, 2014, on the one year anniversary of my mastectomy, I participated in the Race for the Cure representing survivors with pride. Thank you God....for reminding me who I am.

Kris Giordano
Jupiter, FL