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.....my journey...

August of 2012 I reported an engorgement type feeling in my left breast, I related it to the feeling prior to menstrual. I underwent a stat Mammogram followed by an Ultrasound where I was told by a physician that it was highly likely I had breast cancer. My biopsy report came back 10 days later and in black & white I read of my diagnosis of Breast Cancer. I will never forget the feeling I had after reading the biopsy report.

My husband, mother and children are what stayed on my mind. My physician said to me during our visit after being diagnosed...."You have to stay positive and strong so that your body will be able to do what you need it to do..........which is to get rid of this the best way possible." and I have always kept this as my building and stepping stone in my fight with Breast Cancer.

I immediately let family and the close knit community I lived in know that I was diagnosed. I pleaded and asked for assistance in helping my children, husband and mother deal with this frightening diagnosis and to maintain as much normalcy and routine in their lives. I asked for help to help my loved ones stay positive, I asked for privacy for my children, husband and mother..... My family & community delivered. After 8 rounds of 4 very powerful chemicals I completed chemotherapy on May 6th, 2013. My surgery was in July, pathology was optimal. 25 rounds of radiation were completed in September 2013. A year ago on Christmas Eve I awoke to find my hair on my pillow......this year on this day I have hair growing back. I still have ongoing biological therapy (Herceptin) the good thing is .........I made it through. I have been tested for the Breast Cancer Gene & awaiting results. My message - Breast Cancer can happen to anyone, I just happened to be the one. With yearly mammograms and self-exams it can be caught at an early stage thus increasing one's chances of survival, please be diligent and make yourself a priority.

Anonymous
Fredericton, Canada

Three Time Survivor

In 2007 I was diagnosed with DCIS in the left breast. I had a lumpectomy and thirty-five rounds of radiation. Everything was going fine, or so I thought. In June 2011 I had a routine mammogram as I felt a lump in my right breast. It turned out to be stage 2/3 cancer. I underwent four rounds of chemo, a lumpectomy with lymph nodes removed, another four rounds of chemo and then thirty-five rounds of radiation. I finished all of this in May 2012 and am currently on a regime of Arimidex for five years. I go regularly for my follow up mammograms and credit my med team for saving my life. While going through all of this I was able to work and had a lot of support from my co-workers. At the end of 2012 both my husband (my biggest supporter) and I retired. This summer I had the BRCA-1 test, and it came back positive so I went ahead and had a complete hysterectomy. Years earlier I had thyroid cancer and had the thyroid removed.
This past summer I was honoured and privileged to speak as a survivor at the Cancer Survivor Celebration at the local hospital. It was truly amazing to see how many people have been touched by cancer and how each person dealt with their individual situation.
I feel very blessed that everything has worked out so well and I had such a huge and caring support team.

Bev Sumpter
Beltsville, MD

Breast Cancer at 25...who would've thought?

My story begins 10 years ago. When I was 15, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at 32. She went through it all...chemo, radiation, and a double mastectomy. We thought she was in remission, but 4 years later, she fell, breaking her femur. When the tests came back, we found out her cancer had returned and metastasized into her bones. She lost her fight at the age of 36.

Fast forward 7 years, and I was high on life. I was recently engaged, planning a wedding, and nannying for a fantastic family who just had a baby. Carrying the baby seat was taking its toll, and I had back pains. Not thinking much of it, I went to the doctor who said they were muscle spasms. Simple enough. I was 24 years old, it couldn't be that serious.

On the day after Memorial Day 2013, my fiancé and I were meeting with our photographer. I got dinner, and I wanted to run outside and surprise my fiancé with a cold beer. It had been raining all day, and I was wearing flip flops. Not the best combination on a slippery deck, but one that saved my life.

My foot hit the deck, and I was in the air, landing flat on my back. I could barely move or get a yell out. At the hospital, I was in so much pain. They said I had fractured 2 of my vertebrae. They found a softball-sized tumor on my spine, and after a biopsy, discovered it was breast cancer. The tumor in my breast, however, was only 2 cm...go figure. I had surgery to repair my back and remove the tumor, and almost immediately started chemo.

I am proud to say that I finished chemo in October, and am going into remission. I started Tamoxifen, and everything is going well so far. 2013 was a heck of a year, but it made my relationship with my fiancé stronger than ever. We've been through more than some couples during their entire marriage in the span of a just a few months.

Jeannie O'Pella
Haddonfield, NJ

President Clinton we thank you

Ladies, i see so many posts on the breast cancer sites, about bras, and our breasts being different sizes. Let it be known, that President Clinton, signed a bill into congress, that after our surgeries, we are two different sizes, (they do have a table to follow)that we can have a breast reduction, at NO CHARGE. i had it done 2 years ago......i wont say it didn't hurt, cause it did, butt now, i am the same size ....and it cost me not one dime. so, call your plastic surgeon, make an appointment, and go see if you are eligible for the surgery..........and Please, PLEASE let ever woman you know, that has or had breast cancer...that this is available to them. And after that, the Breast cancer office will fit you for a bra, that will make you feel so good. and the first bra is just $5.00........................God Bless....

Linda Walter
Gulfport, FL

Listen to your body!

I had my first mammogram at age 35. A small cyst was seen in my right breast but nothing that appeared concerning to the doctors. I went back six months later for another mammogram and there was no change so I was advised everything was okay and not to be concerned. In September of this year, now age 38, I was woken up by shooting pain two nights in a row in that same area only this time I could easily feel a lump.

After seeing my doctor and having a core needle biopsy, I was advised that I had Breast Cancer. Further testing has lead me to my current diagnosis of Stage 2A Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. I tested negative for the BRCA 1 and 2 gene so the exact reason for my cancer is unknown.

I have had 8 of 16 rounds of chemotherapy and am doing good so far. Surgery will be at the end of April. Every step so far from all of the doctor appointments, testing, starting chemo to losing my hair has been an emotional roller coaster. I know that there is a reason (or even several) as to why I have cancer whether it be to strengthen me and my family or to give back to those in need by sharing my story. Some of the "whys" I likely haven't begun to see but one thing I do know is that my journey has already lead me down a path of great knowledge that I am very grateful for.

Please ladies, listen to your body. Mine saved my life by giving me a warning sign of pain. Without that pain I wouldn't have had another mammogram until age 40 giving my cyst 2 more years to do its damage. I stopped my cancer in its tracks and you can too! Awareness is key and remember that nothing is too small to get checked.

Cheers to a happy and healthy 2014!

Lindsay Griffin
Plainville, CT

Awakening of Life's Lessons

February 14th, 2013 ..... The doctor comes in after mammogram and ultrasound and coldly tells me ... You have a Tumor ... I am pretty sure you have cancer ...... Of all the emotions I have ever experienced, I didn't think I could go on after hearing this one. A few weeks before that whirlwind day I felt a large lump on my left breast ....never felt it before ... And guess what .... Never had a mammogram before ... There was no history of breast cancer in my family ... I was 54 !!!! There does not have to have a history of breast cancer when it is Her2 positive ladies !!!! A year of chemo, Herceptin and an amazing Oncologist and Surgeon and Nurses ... I got through all of it .. The what ifs the no hair the pain the sickness ..... After the surgery the now cancerous tumor was gone ... No cancer in lymph nodes or dcis!!! Was stage 2 when started ...I found out during that year about what's important ... What's not ... Who my friends and family really are ... It has made a tremendous difference on how I live my life now . Ladies .... Medicine and treatments are so different now ... Always get your mammograms it will save your life ... God saved me and gave me another chance ... I will always have this monkey on my back ... What if t comes back... But for now My life has taken on a new meaning !

M.M
Raynham, MA

Triple Negative Breast cancer changed my life

September 13, 2013 on my way to see my medical doctor a pain hit me so hard in the pit of my left arm. I was on my motorcycle and inevitably hand to plant my arm tight to my side to minimize the pain. I arrived and once I saw my dr.s face I begged him to please help me, and told him what I was feeling. Let me back up a bit, in 2012 I had seen countless doctors because I have a lump in my left breast, to have only been passed around to heart specialists, pulmonary doctors, psychiatrists, etc. telling me that nothing was wrong. Fast forward, on September 20, 2013 I had a mammogram and ultrasound saying they saw at least 3 tumors. September 26, I had a painful biopsy, October 1, 2013 I got the worst news, "you have stage 2 Triple Negative Breast cancer, somebody dropped the ball on this we are sorry." After countless tests, I began chemotherapy October 17, 2013, every 2 weeks A/C for the first 4 weeks then Taxol the last 4 weeks. I wanted to quit, but I knew I counted because I'd promised my daughter who died at 19 in 2004 of leukemia, that I would fight this for her. My last chemo is January 21, 2014 then surgery, and radiation. Finally reconstructive surgery in the Spring. Through Faith, Prayer, and Obedience to Gods Word, I am making it through.

Lisa M.
Struthers, OH

Fight of My Life.

In August 2012 i was diagnosed with Grade 2 Invasive Duct cancer, ten days later i was diagnosed with cervical cancer. By a stroke of luck? Both of these cancers were primary, which obviously gave me a better fighting chance. In Oct i had a Radical Hysterectomy which was a sucess. A few weeks later i started a course of 5 months of chemotherapy for the breast cancer. Chemo was not without it's hiccups, and due to problems with veins i had to have a hickman line inserted, this meant a 9 week gap in my chemo course!!!. Chemo was completed sucessfully, the tumour had shrunk from 2.5cm to 1.9cm. Surgery was planned for a few weeks later for a lumpectomy,reconstruction and my lovely surgeon was going to match up my other boob too.Then 2 days before my surgery was due, i had 2 siezures, having never experienced anything like this before it was a frightning experience. I knew instantly what had caused it. My breast surgery was cancelled whilst i underwent scans and by the end of the week i had been told i had a brain tumour. After being told by my local hospital it was in-operable and i had 13mths to live, my doctor refused to accept this(for this i will be eternally grateful) and got me refered to a brain surgeon who had no doubt he could operate. There was a 20% chance of complications, i could die on the table, i could be paralysed down one side ect, but i didn't care. The op was a sucess. Two weeks after brain surgery i underwent a mastectomy as the breast tumour had grown from 1.9cm to 8.5cm in a matter of weeks as they could not give me any drugs whilst i had the brain tumour. I then completed a 3 week everyday course of Radiotherapy, on both my breast and head. 6 mths on i am still recovering , it's a slow road but i'm getting there. I do believe that lots of laughter, few tears and plenty of positivity has got me this far.

Jo
Worcestershire, United Kingdom

Breast Cancer is evil.

May 23, 1999 was the awful day that I was told that I had breast cancer. Not expecting this, I was in shock. After losing my mother to breast cancer at 57, I started at age 30 and then at 40 every 6 mth mammograms. I could not drive home that day, so I walked trying to figure out why me? I ran 2 miles 5 days a week, taught aerobics 3 times per week and was in great physical condition. I immediately had a lumpectomy, 33 radiation treatments and Tamoxifen for 5 years. After enduring endless bad mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, and MRI's I decided to have the remaining breast and right breast mastectomies performed in 2010. I don't regret this decision, but it was a very, very, hard and physically demanding sx. I developed a lung embolism, allergic reaction to the expanders, anemia and fungal infection, treated intravenously at home with a PICC line for 6 weeks. I had the BRAC 1 and 2 genetic testing performed and thank God they were negative. Did I mention, I was also going through a divorce and alone during this time. Life does improve afterwards, it just takes time.

I use to worry daily about the cancer appearing in the remaining breast and what was left of the other, but after the B/L mastectomy, my life has improved 100% and I married again 11 years later to a wonderful understanding man.

We are all warriors and May God Bless us all.

Bonnie Hampton
Chattanooga, TN

I left MINE in Birmingham!!!!!!

Hello my name is Tracy DW and I am a 3year 9month Breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed on my 39th birthday with stage 3 breast cancer after receiving a death sentence from a physician in my home town my daughter got on th web and contacted UAB to see if they could see me three weeks later we loads up our truck and went to see their team of doctors who restored our hope. After under going 2 major surgeries chemo and radiation I was given a clean bill of health. My daughters are standing here with me in support of the fight for a cure.!!!!!

Tracy Walker
Mobile, AL