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Many Happy Birthdays to come!

November 9, 2012 I set alone in the Dr.'s waiting room and read the words invasive ductile carcinoma grade 3 of 3. I was 32 years old and my son's 1st birthday was only a week away. So many thoughts were going on in my head that I couldn't think straight. This photo was taken at his party the next week. I was so scared that this would be the only birthday I would get with him. I have now had 3 surgeries and 4 months of dose dense chemo. On May 7th 2013 I was told that I'm now cancer free. November 17, 2013 we celebrated my son's 2nd birthday and I'm looking forward to many more. I'm very grateful to all of my family, friends, co-workers and ever perfect strangers for all the support they gave to me during this chapter of my life. I know the love and support they all showed me helped me get thru the hardest part of my life.

Amanda Williams
Cape Coral, FL

I had no idea

I went for my yearly checkup and mammogram, they needed to do another mammogram and said there was a little something on the film so I needed a biopsy, still did not believe anything was wrong. Go in for test results and hear the words you have breast cancer. Could not have been more shocked. Went through all the tests, X-rays, cat scans, ultra sounds, appointment after appointment. Stage 1 had mastectomy on left breast and went through chemo. Survived it all, I got through it with the help of family and friends. Don't be scared and you are stronger than you will ever imagine. Bless everyone's heart who is going through this process, I think of you everyday.

Terri
New franken, WI

Warrior!

This is the story of my Mother-in-law that overcame cancer! Today was her last chemo and she is doing great!!! The early detection of Breast cancer definitely was key for her treatment. In July 2013 she had a mammogram and the results showed a breast lump. Then she was diagnosed with Cancer, she was on an early stage. After a lot of exams on August she had the mastectomy on her left breast. November 13th was her first chemo, going forward she had to take chemo every 21 days being today, 01/15/2014 her last one. Thanks to the support and love of family and friends from United States, Guatemala and Brasil she has overcome it and she's still fighting with all her strengths! Now she has to continue with the treatment one more year. There are no words to describe her strength! So the main message here is early detection can save your life! WE LOVE YOU TITA!

Madeline Herrera
Guatemala, Guatemala

Future Cancer Survivor

On January 3, 2014 I was told that I tested positive for Invasive Ductal Carcinoma stage 2 on my left breast.. I felt my heart dropped as I sat there and watched the Radiologist MD who performed the breast biopsy with the Hospital RN. Two of my four daughters were sitting by my side and I felt both of them squeeze my hands as the Dr spoke. I already knew quite a lot about this disease. I had recently done research when my 38 year old niece passed away from the same cancer just six months ago. My tumor is 2cm , ER/PR positive and HER2 positive. I have since had many doctors appointments and many tests to prepare for bilateral mastectomy and chemotherapy. I have not yet decided if I want reconstructive surgery. I need more information before I decide. I am still in disbelief and really trying to deal and keep strong. I would like anyone with a similar experience to counsel and guide me with any additional information that may help in any way to keep me strong and encourage me to think positive. Sometimes I feel strong and sometimes I think "Am I going to die?"

Thank you

Nellie Figueroa
Orlando, FL

I was in denial

It was April 2012 I was in the shower and I felt and saw a lump in my left breast, having been recooperating from a small stroke and having my gallbladder removed ( remind you I am only 48 at the time) I went right into denial, thinking my gosh you have got to be kidding me! So I wait until my family Dr. appointment the NEXT year!! He ordered a mammogram, then came the biopsy and then on May 13th 2013 I got the dreaded phone call. Mrs. Wahl you have IDC breast cancer it is an aggressive cancer, my heart immediately went to my throat. The next month my journey began, sentinel node biopsy, 8 nodes removed only the first one had a small smidgen, smaller than a pin head thank goodness, ended up being stage 2 because of size of tumor, lumpectomy, 8 rounds of chemo with neulesta shot, 34 radiation treatments which I finished up Dec.30th 2013. Still receiving Herceptin infusions until Nov. 2014, Tamoxifen for 10 years. It has certainly been a very difficult emotional roller coaster ride, but a very positive and upbeat mental attitude is the key!
My rock my husband for almost 30 years, my fabulous 2 boys, a loving and caring family along with many many friends have made this journey a lot easier to handle, although tough it sure made things better. Most importantly thank you God for it was YOU who carried me through this tough journey and will continue to carry me through every bump I may stumble upon in this path of life.

Kristi Wahl
Fort Wayne, IN

What I Do With My New Birthday

I am the daughter of a strong woman fighting breast cancer for a second time. I am a five year survivor of stage II breast cancer. My Mother's remission didn't last as long as we would have liked. Only getting 9 years between each diagnosis. I am living each day with a carpe diem attitude. For every day my Mother is too tired to do much of anything because of the chemo and radiation treatments I am out in the world doing my best to try new things. Like learning to ski! Each new adventure is shared with my Mom so she too can live vicariously through me. Be brave for yourself, be brave for others!

Krista
Taos, NM

Without family and friends

My journey begain in February 2011, I went to a routine mammagram, that was 4 months over due. That day I had a mammagram, sent for an ultrasound, and sent back for another mammagram. Then was scheduled for a needle biopsy. Was called by the doctor (not the nurse), so I knew what the doctor was going to tell me.

So on March 1st, 2011, I heard those dreaded words, "you have cancer." Which at that point you no longer hear or comprehend anything the doctor says after those words.

So I did go for a second opinion, since I was asked to make my decision of a lumpectomy, mastsectomy and bilatteral mastsectomy, based solely on the test results thus far. I went elsewhere, where they did and MRI, PET scan and bone scan, and they could tell me without a doubt that the it was found in one lymph node, and hadn't spread beyond that area. I now knew what I was looking at in terms of treatment. For me, the best decision was bilatteral mastsectomy followed by chemo and then radiation.

So about the title of my story, "Without family and friends." You see I was also a widow of one year on February 1st of 2011. I lost my husband unexpectantly the year before. So my family and friends were my rock, they took me to appointments, they held my hand, and they were there for me through it all, and I don't believe I could of done it without them.

So, if you find yourself unforunately on this journey, and I pray you don't, but some of us do, my suggestion to you is find a strong support group. People who are there for you, to hold your hand, a shoulder to cry on and to say a Prayer of Hope together. Because they will hold you up when you feel you are at your lowest point.

I would like to say that my journey is making me a better person, I have reevaluated my life and what is really important.

God Bless you all.

Rhonda
Knoxville, IA

3 years clear

I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer sept 2010 at 39 years of age. Now at 42, I'm more than surviving...I'm thriving! Great kids, great friends, and a bit of mod music makers life worth living to the full. It's great to be alive :)

sarah heggarty
Belfast, United Kingdom

Bcra2 breast cancer @ 32

Hi I'm Nikki I was diagnosed with BC five years ago I had mastectomy and chemo for 6 months & tamoxifen. I had results that were her2+ So I had to have Herceptin for 18 cycles. This was a hard time for me being a single parent with 2 young girls. I tried to be brave and strong for them although I was hurting inside. Two years after I was first diagnosed I felt a lump under my left arm and it was cancer. I had an operation to remove the tumour and had Taxol chemo for 12 weeks, very hard being the second time I'd lose my hair but this time I knew what to expect so I just shaved it off as I did not want to go through the falling out stage again. I decided to have reconstruction with a tummy tuck too, and I was amazed at the results using my own tissue. This was my decision not one that was made for me. Two years on, my sister was diagnosed with BC at 38 and this sent alarm bells off at the hospital with the surgeon, my sister was tested for the BCRA gene and it was BCRA2 +, something I never wanted to hear after what id already been through. I was called in to have the test, as it was possible I had the gene too and my results came back as posetive. The road ahead for us both was heart renching but we made the most of a bad situation and remained posetive throughout. I had my overies and tubes removed. I had a skin sparing right mastectomy with expander, reconstruction followed using a silicone this time. Still on tamoxifen I have a healthier lifestyle than ever before. My sister is doing well. We have five daughters between us aged between 7 & 21 but knowledge is power. Thank you for reading my story and I hope you like and share to help raise awareness for mammograms, I'd like to get 1 million likes to make my journey worth while !!!!

Nicola Satchell
London, United Kingdom

SURVIVOR AND YOU CAN BE ONE TOO!!!

I published a story a few years back about cancer and how devasting it is to hear those words that "you have cancer". While cancer can be treated and you can be a survivor numerous times, most people do not realize that cancer is a disease and a lifetime diagnosis. I have been diagnosed with cancer since 1999. I have survived this disease 4 times already. Cancer appeared at first, in my breast, chemo and radiation and a lumpectomy and THANK GOD I was in remission. This horrible disease can and has in my case resurfaced in other parts of my body. In medical terms its called metatasis, or metastatic disease, which is the spread of a cancer from one organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part. After the tumor cells come to rest at another site, they re-penetrate the vessel or walls and continue to multiply, eventually forming another clinically detectable tumor. This new tumor is known as a metastatic (or secondary) tumor. It helps to know what may occur and how to prepare for it. Metastasis depends on the cancer cells acquiring two separate abilities -- increased motility and invasiveness. . If a cancer arises in the lung and metastasizes to the liver, the cancer cells in the liver are lung cancer cells. However, the cells have acquired increased motility and the ability to invade another organ.With God's Blessings I have faced this disease and have survived it now for 15 years now, and I am truly Blessed. I have fought this disease with having knowledge of the disease, not fearing it, but rather facing it. If you face your foe, you can defeat it. I certainly hope that those who have this disease face it with deternination, and strength in knowing that this disease can be beaten, this disease can be conquered and that with knowing what you are facing, you have a 100% more abilities to fight it. May God Bless you and to all those who have this disease, you are in my prayers.
Love and Blessings, Vera Ferrara-Rone Allentown,PA

Vera Ferrara-Rone
Allentown, PA