Just had my final chemo today. Had total of 8. So tickled about that part but now on to having double mastectomy. Scared of that part.. then after that radiation. Been a hard long fight. Would not have made it without my family and friends. Had been a whirlwind. Found out in August that what I had found in right breast was Cancer. there was actually 2 lumps. 1 was 3.4 cm other was 2.5 behind it.
During the 2011 I`ve been 4 times on echo at my doctor office, he was convincing me that... that lump I have it it`s nothing bad that`s only a fat tissue. Than I decide to go by myself to look another opinion and do the mammogram and...there was it ..a 3G carcinoma invasivum ductale, that his mistake was cost me,mastectomy, 8 chemo and 30 days of radiation.I was exhausted and I am still,but I don`t give up. On my fist control this year I had some pain in my back...another exams and another 4 chemo, cytostatics drugs ..pills.. to cure my bones. Now I hope I am ok, I beat him...well almost ... with the positivism, happy face. Everyone....learn yourself to say NO, do what you want to do it, and what you think that is the best for you...don`t listen only a one doctor, go for another opinion. They are human too...they can make a mistake also. Now on 14 January I will know...can I tell to everyone that I am cancer free? I hope I will. Love you all!
O yes...if I win I will go to make my new breast :) and feel that I am a woman again
I'm 32 years old, married, and have 2 young momma's boys. I've been waiting to include a little girl to our family who will maybe look like me. I found out I was pregnant last summer only to be devastated to find out by my first ultrasound there was no heartbeat. Two months later, after feeling a tiny pea size rock like lump, I learned I had IDC stage I I ER+PR-HER2- and would need a mastectomy and chemotherapy.
Being a nurse, I know all the medical jargon that goes with cancer. But now, it pertains to me. The oncologist said I would need to be on Tamoxifen for five years after finishing chemo. So, getting the chance to have another baby is very slim by 40. Of course, unless I can afford to freeze any eggs. Unfortunately that isn't possible. Did I mention I'm almost 33 with 2 boys? I'm not a wealthy person. So, here I sit, waiting to meet my breast surgeon and plastic surgeon in 2 weeks. It's the most agonizing wait. Everyday I feel like my cancer is growing and spreading. If only this wasn't me. Why me?
I was leaving the security of my management job and decided to get a full physical before I lost my insurance. At 42 breast cancer never entered my mind. I was happily married,my two children were grown and I was looking forward to volunteering with my new spare time. My Dr. Was booked so I was seen by her physicians assistant. The light mood of my exam quickly changed as she said she felt a "fullness" in my left breast. I was immediately sent for a mammogram,ultrasound and then a biopsy. As my husband and I camped out in the waiting room of the lab, my head was spinning. As the results were read to us I heard nothing after "it's cancer". As I write this 2 1/2 years later, I want to give everyone with a new diagnosis hope. I endured a bilateral mastectomy, 24 weeks of chemo, 35 radiation treatments and finally after 14 months with no breasts, reconstruction. My husband, family and friends showed me just how strong I was. I am thankful today to be cancer free!
It was summer July 11, 2011 I was at work , I teach hairdressing to apprentices at college. On that particular morning I was doing a cutting demonstration my daughter Amy was the model. When I had finished the cut I was wiping the hair off me I moved my right breast to one side to wipe the hair from the side of my body. That when I noticed a small lump. I got one of my colleagues to feel it too. I went the doctors straight away. The doctor immediately referred me to the breast care suite for some tests. I had a mammogram, ultra sound and biopsy. Then I had to wait for the results. When I went back that was when all my fears where confirmed . I had stage 3 aggressive Her2 positive breast cancer. I felt numb I had long blonde hair I was a hairdresser my life was about hair!! I asked them not would I die but would I loose my hair! they said most deffinatly . 5 days later my date was set
I finally went in to theatre to have a lumpectomy and full lymphnode removal as it has spread to 2 lymphnodes. I had to wait 5 days to see if I was clear . In that time I booked to go to Spain for 3 days with my friend to take my mind off things . I was all clear on the 14th August 2011. But that wasn't all because my cancer was so aggressive I had to endure 6 sessions of chemotherapy, 20 sessions of radiotherapy, 18 sessions of herceptin, 4 echocardiogram and 40 blood tests, I also had my ovaries and tubes removed to reduce my chances of it coming back. It took 1 and half years. In between that I ran Jane Tomlinson 10k for breast cancer research. I got through it all even though I still get scared. I thank my lucky stars that I did that cut that day!
It saved my life I will be 3 years clear on the 5th August 2014
In 07 my whole life changed. Hearing you have cancer is the hardest words to hear, and accept. I had went to the dr for a random check when they had found a lump in my right boobie. From there it was a biopsy, then lumpectomy, then six months of the hardest chemo, and three months of radiation. Even tho it was stage two breast cancer my wonderful dr. Went above and beyond to keep that cancer from returning. Hardest struggle of my life, so I thought. At the same time I was with someone who I loved, and thought loved me, but in the end just used me, and abused me physically, and emotionally. I didn't know what was worse, the cancer, or the hits I was taking.. some days I wished either the cancer would kill me, or he would of instead of living in sadness daily. Days, and then months passed, and finally that day of the last treatment came. Best day of my life that day. Finally I was cancer free, and the only problem left was the abuser. Unfortunatly that took three more years to finally end, but when it did it was the best day ever, besides that last day of chemo. Thats why when I say I'm a survivor I mean it in more ways then one. Thank you for letting me share my brief story. Oh and I'm going on six years cancer free... :)
At three months pregnant I notices a small, pea sized lump. During my next doctors visit I mentioned it. After giving me an echo to see how the baby was doing, he checked my lump with the same echo and confirmed it was nothing. "If it is still there after breastfeading we will continue". As it was so high up my chest, nearly out of the breast tisue area, and it did not grow much, I did not think much of it. When, 10 months later I dicided to stop breastfeading my second, trouble started. The lump started growing (up to 3cm) and the rollarcoaster ride took off.
My first chemo was in the beginning of April ´13, my youngest was 6 months old. After 12 rounds of chemo the tumor was reduced to 1/3 of the size. I have had a lumpectomy and all my lympf nodes removed from my left armpit.
Radiation was to follow, 25 rounds. But just before my oncologist decided to do a PET scan, just to get the "all clear". To our suprise it turned out I had 2 small tumors in my hip area. What a blow that was. The idea of having metastatic Breast Cancer never even crossed my mind. All I could think about where my two little girls of one and three years old.
But my oncologist gave me hope. Together with the radiation experts the decided to try and remove the tumors with a new technique. I received the 25 sessions on my chest and another 5 on each tumor on my hip.
Even with metasatic breast cancer, my oncologist gave me hope. She has patients like me that have been living like this for over 10 years (and still are).
As I am waiting, hoping and praying to get the "all clear", I have started very carefully to look towards the future again. A future I thought I would not have for a while. But as time passes I feel stronger &healthier. I dont take anything for granted. Every moment with my girls is a celebration of life.
As a 13 year breast cancer survivor, I have been very religious about scheduling my annual mammograms and so in September of 2013, I went for my mammogram. Told I had dense tissue in my one surviving breast, I requested an ultra sound screening. When the radiologist informed me that she saw a lump in my breast, she recommended an ultra sound guided needle biopsy. Two days later I was told the lump was benign. But I was not happy with the thought of this lump being left in my breast. My oncologist assured me that it did not need to be removed and that we would check it again in three months. Whatever it was that prompted me to seek a second opinion with a breast surgeon affiliated with a different hospital, I have no idea. After insisting on re-doing the mammogram and the ultra sound, the surgeon informed me that she found a second mass that was never seen by the first radiologist. An MRI showed that both masses were suspicious, she said, and should be removed. The lumpectomy pathology showed that both masses were cancerous. Following a mastectomy, I was informed that while the cancer was Stage 1 and there was no lymph node involvement, the cancer was an aggressive one – HER2 positive, grade 3. I’m now going through chemotherapy – a combination of Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin. Following six treatments, I will be on Herceptin for a year. When I think about it, I wonder just where I would have been in three months if I had not followed my instincts.
I had unexplained breast soreness for almost two years, but without health insurance, I ignored it for a long while. I found that being under 40 made it very challenging to get a mammogram, which ultimately showed my right breast was riddled with calcium deposits. I was comforted by the comment that breast cancer doesn't hurt, so cancer was an unlikely diagnosis.
It was stage 0 DCIS, grade 3... nearly 100% recovery rate, but I still had to undergo a mastectomy on my right breast this past November. My lymph nodes were clear! I'm very lucky to not have to receive chemo. I'm undergoing reconstruction, which is just weird. However, my outlook is positive.
Breast cancer is saving my life! I quit smoking and am more active than ever! It has brought my family closer and we are all a little bit stronger. I am so lucky to have such incredible care from Stephanie Spielman Breast Center in Columbus, Ohio.
Here's to the happiest & healthiest 2014!
I want to praise God by telling my story. God is good, all the time.
In May 2012 I found out as result of biopsy that I had breast cancer. On July 2nd I had a mastectomy. Everything after that has been good news. Lymph nodes were negative, and a test to determine probability of recurrence at later date in other location was low. So, no radiation & no chemo. The tumor was hormone receptive so it’s just 1 pill/day for five years.I found out that of all breast cancers, less than 1% occurs in men.
During this time, family and a large group of friends were pelting God with prayers for us, and He answered those prayers.
Oh yea, in less than 2 months from surgery I was back playing golf. Woo hoo! And last but certainly not least by a long shot, my sweet wife was where I needed her, when I needed her with anything I needed. And she still is and always has been.
Ladies, this could happen to man in your family...I just happened to find a lump and may not have even thought about it except that a male friend of mine had had breast cancer a few years ago. I found it early and that is important in treatment.
