Share Your Story

My hope tattoo

This tattoo is in support of my wife. I got it after her second diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer. It is funny, as a husband to someone who is going through treatment, you get so preoccupied making sure your wife is ok, that as a support to her, you become selfless. I never worried about taking care of me but she continued to worry about me. My friends and family would ask how my wife was doing. Then they would ask how I was doing, I did not know. I did not care. My wife is my world. I said through sickness and health, unfortunately this was a test to our marriage.
It is so easy to be weak and find the easy way out. Try being strong for a person who is stronger than you for dealing with lumpectomy, then chemo, and that neulasta shot. Then a double mastectomy. Then more chemo and more neulasta. You really find out who you are when the person you love is sick almost everyday and still continues to smile, and work and keep faith in God, even on her worst days. People say I am strong for being a good husband. I was just trying to keep up with my better half. Being a husband is seeing your wife through all this and holding her close, making her smile and being there through better or worse. It is not easy, being a man is doing what is right, staying steadfast when everything around you seems to be crumbling down, you stand up asking for more for the both of you.
My tattoo has a big story behind it, hopefully it will help inspire others. I love you Lisa.

Ruben
Burlington, NC

Young women are at risk too.

At 25 I found a lump that was very painful. I went to my doctor with it but because of my age and the fact that I didn't have insurance, after seeing it my doctor told me to just stop drinking coffe and start taking vitamin E. I did both of those things and in 3 months the lump had more than doubled in size. It felt like someone was burning me with a cigar. When I went to another doctor for a second oppinion she looked very concerned. After pulling many strings, Little Red Door paid for me to have a mammogram. They found that there was a blood source going to the lump and scheduled me to have a lumpectomy. The nurse told me not to worry because breast cancer lumps usually don't hurt, plus she had never heard of someone so young having it.

On February 1, 2011 my doctor sat my mom and me down and with saddest, sweetest look broke the news to us. He and his nuse held both of us and cried with us for probably about ten minutes before discussing options. I later found out that I have BRCA 2. Knowing that I had a 50/50 percent chance of passing this on to my kids, and that I had "good" chance of having ovarian cancer I had to make the very tough decision to have a total hysterectomy. I also had to do four sessions of chemo.

In a couple of weeks I will be celebrating being a survivor of 2 years with my friend that was diagnosed the same day by the same doctor. We even have the same birthday. Life is short, sometimes shorter than you think so make the most of it. I try to talk about this as much as possible so people don't keep thinking that breast cancer only happens to women above 50. It happens in women of all ages and men too. We are all in this together, live life to the fullest and keep hope alive!

Allyson
Shelbyville, IN

A Bumble Bee

It is almost 14 years now since I had breast cancer, I was 51 at the time and still lived in the U.K. I went out into my garden to collect my washing off the line, it was a beautiful sunny day so I only had on a strappy top, as I reached out to get my washing a Bumble Bee landed on my right breast, I went to push it off but it stung me first. I removed the sting, but a few days later a lump came up, so I went to see the Doctor who examined me and said I think it is just a result of the bee sting but I will send you to have a check.
I had a needle put into my breast to find out what was happening. A few days later I went back for the results, I was then told I had breast cancer and how lucky was I that the bee had stung me as it found the lump, if it hadnt been for that bee It could have been too late to do anything about it. I had the lump removed, I then had chemotherapy and radiotherapy and 14 years on I am still going strong and hopefully will continue to do so for a long time. I now live in Greece on the island of Kos as it was our dream to live in the sunshine and after everything that happened it made us realise if you want to do something then do it before it is too late.

Jane
Kos, Greece

Pregnant with breast cancer, fighting for two!

My name is Kamila Sauze and I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in July of 2013. Almost a week after a lumpectomy it was confirmed I was pregnant, I was 35. Treatment had to be put on hold until second trimester, for baby's safety, if I didn't miscarry. Well, it turns out I didn't, I am already 7 months pregnant with my second child and still going through chemo. I still have 3 more sessions to go and right after delivery will start 6 weeks of daily radiation. It hasn't been easy at all; been in and out of hospital in preterm labor, had anaphylaxis to Taxol and also constantly in and out of bed rest. Luckily I have the support of my family, even though they are all in Brazil, my dear husband, whom I married at the 1st of the year, my son (even though he's only 8),friends and coworkers, not to mention God, where I find the strength to go through it all. I just wish to put all this behind us and enjoy our little miracle baby! With all that has been happening we haven't been able to enjoy the pregnancy, nor to get ready for the baby's arrival, which due to the treatment could be at any moment. We just pray for a healthy baby. This Friday, January 24th, is chemo day and hopefully all goes well.
My prayers to everyone out there fighting the fight. Be strong, persistent and have faith, we'll beat it!

Kamila Sauze
Marietta, GA

My cancer journey

I was diagnosed at 38 with breast cancer in Nov. 2012. My husband and two kids were devastated along w myself. Once we got my treatment plan underway we never looked back. At 38 I lost all of my hair two wks after my first treatment. My kids already seen Mom go from long hair to short then had to see me in bandannas til I could wear my wig cuz my head was so sensitive. It was my daughters senior yr...my son was in 8th grade...two of the hardest yrs to deal with. I learned to schedule things during my good wks like college tours etc. I've been a cna for 20 yrs in rehab so I couldn't work due to my immune system etc. however, I kept telling myself what I would tell my patients and I kept a positive attitude through the next 13 mos of treatment. My husband is such a strong man as he went to every treatment/appt with me. My kids were great supporters as well. They were especially good when mom was losing it due to chemo brain. It was hard for them to see me so forgetful as I have always held us all together but we learned to make a joke of it and we used humor quite a bit. I think for me the hardest part was being a patient myself....I didn't like it one bit! I can say today I am a survivor and I just turned 40 in dec and I have a whole new outlook on life. I have been blessed as I am still here and I try everyday to be grateful for the gift of life. The hardest thing now is learning to cope with people that are negative and always complaining. I have learned that even the biggest problem has a solution and it is still better than being six feet under. Always stay positive no matter what.

Patty
Harwick, PA

The Big "C" is not what you think.....

My fight began 5+ years ago (Aug/08) and wasn’t the big “C.”

It was the big “G” – called GRIEF.
It was the loss of our two beautiful daughters - ages 2 & 6.

May/13, thinking I was finally settling into a “new normal,” I found my lump.
Again, my life was in the valley!
Satan was attacking, but once again, I chose not to allow Satan to win and continued to lean into God and gain my strength from the even bigger “C” – CHRIST!

The month of June consisted of MANY appointments: mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsy . . . hearing the words “you have cancer,” to many scans and tests.
I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. The cancer had metastasized outside the lump and the lymphnodes.
I chose a bi-lateral mastectomy in July.
One month after surgery, I had a port inserted for blood work and chemo treatments. This was a great concept, yet my body didn’t like the invasion, so I had nine weeks of infections in that area.
The dreaded chemo started at the beginning of August and continued until the end of November. Six cycles in total. Two different drug changes, both rearing their own ugly heads of symptoms!

It has been a long journey!

January 2014, I started 16 rounds of radiation as well as a drug called Tamoxifen, which will be taken daily for the next 5-10 years.

We are truly blessed throughout this journey . . . so many people rallied to help us!
I am thankful for my oncologists and team!
My chances of the cancer returning will go from 55% down to 10% upon completion of radiation.

One beautiful gift was a cancer photoshoot!

Some of you may wonder why include a teddy bear in the shoot? I'm 43!

Well, Honeyfitz, has been everywhere with me – through grief, through cancer, to Africa on Mission Trips, on holidays – so it was only fitting that he was in some of the photos!

“Everything in life I share, except of course my teddy bear!”

Shauna Olsen
Olds, Canada

My Husband, My Caregiver

In late 2010, I was diagnosed with DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ). The first biopsy did not come back with a clear margin, but the surgeon felt sure that the second one would and that my short saga with breast cancer would be over. However, it did not, and I was given the shocking news that a mastectomy was necessary. I struggled to come to terms with it, but by the grace of God and my husband's loving support, I underwent a bilateral mastectomy in March 2011 in complete peace with the situation.
My husband, Brian, was my caregiver, and he was a great one. He was gentle and encouraging. He emptied my drain tubes morning and evening. He washed my hair. He took off work and drove me to every appointment and sat by my side. He helped me realize everything would be all right and that we would continue to live normal lives. Our marriage is even stronger after truly going through a very difficult time together. I can't thank him enough but I am thanking him publicly through this message and maybe giving hope to another couple in a similar situation.

Kristie Moore
Jackson, OH

Breast Cancer at 19

In July 2007, I found a lump in my breast while taking a shower. After looking online and talking with my mother, I went to see me gynecologist, she sent me for an ultrasound, which showed nothing, the doctor actually said there was no way I could have breast cancer because I was 19 and had no family history.

I was a little worried, I had an inverted nippled, and I read that non-cancerous breast lumps would come and go with my menstrual cycle, but mine stayed. Over the next few months, I saw my gynecologist, each time being sent for an ultrasound, and each time the doctor saying that I couldn't have breast cancer. My gynecologist suggested that I see a breast surgeon to discuss having the lump removed. In December 2007 I saw a breast surgeon who also said there was no way that I could have breast cancer but he would take out the lump to make me “feel more comfortable.”

I had my surgery on Feb 1. On Feb 5, during my last class I received a call from my gynecologist. She left a message saying they needed to talk about her biopsy results. It was really weird though. I remember smiling, not because I was happy, but because I felt justified. For 7 months no one listened to me. Finally I heard the words I always expected. "You have breast cancer." I was diagnosed with stage I invasive ductal carcinoma. I went through 4 rounds of chemo, 33 rounds of radiation, and 5 years of hormonal therapy.

I am now almost 26 and almost a 6 year cancer survivor! After my diagnosis, I felt a new commitment: building public awareness about young women and breast cancer by speaking to college classes, at community events and in the media. I want to let people know that breast cancer doesn't discriminate. If my story can save a person's life, I know that my job is complete. Because of my persistence and being my own advocate, my doctors told me that I saved my own life.

Adrienne Harlow
Indianapolis, IN

Supporting Breast Cancer

Brantley, my son, is pictured with his Daddy's mud truck "Pink Panther." Joey participates in mud bogging events such as Trucks Gone Wild and local mud bogging. He chose to paint his Bronco pink and listed on the side of the truck "Boggin' For Boobies." He has several stickers with the pink ribbon on the truck also. He wanted to support a good cause and we had a matching shirt made for our son to support the cause also.

Thanks,
Joey, Stephanie, & Brantley

Stephanie Almond
Elberton, GA

3 year survivor

I am a 3 year survivor! After a year of being diagnosed with breast cancer, i was also diagnosed with malignant melanoma. I was devastated when i was diagnosed with the breast cancer, i have a 22 year old daughter and a 5 year old son. They are my life my family means everything to me, my husband is there for me everyday!Both cancers are gone, and they are staying gone!! My point being is don't ever give up, god would not give us no more then we can handle, keep your head up and fight! FIGHT LIKE A GIRL God bless

Jamie Ferenbaugh
Danville, OH