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That's not your lymph nodes...

I had been battling a variety of illnesses since April...the worst being a chronic sinus infection. My lymph nodes were swollen, I would get put on more antibiotics and still it wouldn't go away. Finally one day in November a lymph node in my collar bone swelled to the size of a golf ball. That was enough for me to check out one more doctor. She looked at that and then at the swollen lymph node under my arm. I could tell she was concerned and she told me "that is not a lymph node". It was most likely breast cancer. Wow.

After a biopsy my worst fears were confirmed...cancer. For some reason my surgeon sent me in for an ultrasound on my right breast too. Something was suspicious so I had an MRI biopsy. An early stage cancer too.

January 2, 2013 I had a bilateral mastectomy. I was lucky it hadn't spread past my Sentinel lymph nodes. The next six months were filled with the pain of expanders, reconstruction and nipple reconstruction. At the end of this long year, I realize how lucky I was. I also have so much appreciation for the other survivors, my support angels and my awesome healthcare team.

Not a journey I wanted to go on but I have learned so much. I want to shout from the rooftops for everyone to get regular mammograms and to listen to your body. If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.

Mary Jo
Hudson, WI

late but early detection

I'm so grateful,thankful and blessed to write this story. About 2 years ago my sister was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. she was 63. I at the time I was 59. Had not had a mammo in 15 years. So I went as support with her to her doctor/surgeon. As he talked to her he turned and asked me when was the last time I had a mammo. I did not want to admit it but told him. He then made me promise to get one. So a few weeks later I went in and got one. Yes I had breast cancer too. Caught it early !!! Stage 1. My sister and I went through treatment almost together. Here we both are 2 years later yay!
My point is early detection !!! Now I would get a mammo every 2 months if they told me.

michele santangelo
manorville, NY

Breast aug gone bad

After three years of saving money, I finally had enough to get the boob job I always wanted. After breast feeding my two kids, I should say the one I needed. In Dec 2012, I met with a plastic surgeon for my initial consultation. She felt my breast to determine size and discuss the type of implant to use. After we agreed, I made the appt to come back in March 2013 for the her to take my H&P prior to surgery. During my second visit with her, she asked me a bunch of questions and I ask her one. Do I need a mammogram or ultrasound prior to the surgery? She asked me if I have a family history. I didn't know of anyone, so she told me "no, I didn't meet the criteria". She took my money and sent me on my way. Three days after my breast aug, I went back to her office because my right breast was in so much pain. She told me she dug in that side a lot and the pain should stop. After a week, a lump appeared under my right arm pit. I immediately went back to the doctor. She thought it was a fibroadenoma. She told me if it's not gone in a month, she will send me for an ultrasound. I told her I wanted one now. The ultrasound did detect a large mass but he wanted me to come back in a month for another one. After second ultrasound, my surgeon wanted to take a biopsy. Approx. a week later, I received a call from her that I have stage 2a triple negative breast cancer. I thought my life was over. I'm only 32 years old with two small kids. But with the support and love of my family and friends I made it through 16 chemo treatments and now I'm working on my radiation treatments. Keeping my faith!!

Wendy
Palmetto, FL

The Day That Changed My Life

July 25, 2013 was the day that changed my life. It all began on June 17th when I discovered a lump in my left breast. I had experienced lumps before so I was thinking that it would go away. I had also just had a mammogram in January so in my mind there was no way it was anything to worry about. Three weeks later it was still there, non movable, hurting and growing. After another mammogram and biopsy, I was diagnosed with the Her2 breast cancer at age 53. The whirlwind began with Dr. appointments, tests and more Dr. appointments. I had a double mastectomy with the removal of 24 lymph nodes on the left side. Out of those 24 lymph nodes, 10 showed cancer cells. I began chemotherapy 6 weeks after surgery and I'm still in the middle of my chemo with radiation therapy in my future with a follow-up surgery to insert my implants.
One thing I have learned through all this is that cancer is not prejudice and it does not discriminate. You also learn just how strong your family is when you go through something like this. They have been right by my side from day one. My mother has been there every step of the way, from changing bandages and drains to carting me to every treatment. She is 78 years old and the strongest woman I have every met. I'm grateful to call her Mom.
I guess if I could leave a message with everyone it would be to "GET YOUR MAMMOGRAMS" and be aware of your body. You know when you feel changes and you know when something feels wrong.
I am very confident that I will be a SURVIVOR!!

Sandy Neal
Ladoga, IN

A diverse community unites for a friend

In a world filled with so many issues that pull communities apart and so many negative media stories hitting the News it is important to remember that Love can still bring a community together to help in a friends fight. Ashley Satine is a Local Sanford Female Impersonator and Anabella is the Crowned Miss Florida little Princess Royal Dynasty two very different age brackets and two very different individuals which brought a local community together in more ways than just fund raising but in Unity and Love to bring a positive energy not only to the recieptient fighting Cancer but to all those who came together to give their Love and Support such as Local business, building owners, City employees and residents of the community and we all want to say. Thank you Ashley Satine and Annabella and to everyone who came together to help in a time of need. Much Love to All

Anonymous
Sanford, FL

I will survive

Hello to all I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer in September. I'm a 30 year old blac woman, no children, not married. It has been an emotional rollercoaster for me. I was diagnosed with they call DCIS breast cancer. It is only in my left breast. At first I had chose to have a lumpectomy along with 6 weeks of radiation. I wanted to do a genetics test to find out if I was a gene carrier for breast cancer because no one in my family had ever had breast cancer. While waiting for those result seemed like forever. They finally came back after waiting an entire month that I was not a gene carrier and all my tests came back negative. I was so relieved. But with me not being a gene carrier my doctor wanted to figure out where /how I got the breast cancer. I have what is called neurofibromatois. This is a condition that causes tumors to form on your body inside and out. It is a serious condition. This was the cause of my cancer. I have decided to have a double mastectomy because with neurofibromatois its not recommended for me to have radiation therapy. My surgery date is January 27th 2014. I will have reconstructive surgery as well. Im very blessed and grateful that I will not have to have chemotherapy or radiation. I titled my story I will survive because even though I have not had my surgery I know I will Survive. God bless to all my survivors. Thank you for reading my story.

Almetrice
Bedford, VA

Moving Forward

Hard times or not the words my family frequently heard from me when situations came up were, “keep moving forward.” Too often we allow things to stop us in our tracks and even reverse the direction we were heading and encouraging one another to keep moving forward is important.

On December 13,2010 I got a taste of my own encouragement as from the bed of an emergency room I was told I had bone cancer. Possibly breast cancer caused. Sure enough two days later the lump was found. “Karen, my doctor said ‘you did it all backwards. Most people find the primary site then they find where it may have spread.” With a lump the size of a sewing pin head there was no way I was going to find that first.

It took the power of the words, “Stage IV breast cancer” to temporarily stop me in my tracks. However, it was the encouraging words of my love ones using my own words against me to keep me moving forward. Three years into my disease oral chemo continues to work. Bone cancer pain slows me down sometimes where walking is difficult but I’m still moving forward. I am blessed.

Karen Gillett
Powell Butte, OR

My story is just beginning

I went for my 1st mammogram in October & they wanted to biopsy what they believed to be calcium deposits. I am 41 years old with a family full of cancer. Only one member a survivor. I didn't feel positive about what they would find. Day before Thanksgiving I had 2 biopsies done, that following Tuesday I was told I had stage 1 invasive breast cancer in the right breast. A week later I had a bilateral double mastectomy with reconstrucive surgery done. They found the tumor was larger than they thought & I was moved up to Stage 2 breast cancer. I see the oncologist on 1/8/14 to see if I need chemo. It doesnt seemed to of spread. I feel hopeful & scared. I lost both parents to cancer but I'm determined to survive! My husband & sons are my rock. I thank God for everyday i have. My journey has just begun.

Jamie Norris
Cherry Hill, NJ

You need to trust your instincts

In December 2011 I had a mammograms that came back with some noted thickening. I had been getting yearly mammograms for years due to having "lumpy" breasts. I also had yearly ultrasounds for the same reason. No one seemed too concerned with this finding and chalked it up to aging. I was 45.
I was not comfortable with this response. I talked to a friend who runs a mastectomy boutique who just told me to not let it go. So thankful for that advice.
I went back to my family doctor who wasn't very supportive and I had to fight for follow ups She had to leave town and a new doctor finally listened. Thank God I didn't give up.
The tumour was very aggressive and growing rapidly. Within six months of the original mammogram it had caused my left breast to be an entire size larger than the right. It was extremely painful. Yet my original family doctor insisted it was a cyst.
I had to have a radical mastectomy of the left breast in September of 2012. It turned out there were three types of tumour in the same breast. The most concerning being inflammatory breast cancer.
I under went 8 rounds of chemo and 25 rounds of radiation. I thought I was through the worst. I was feeling great and getting my life back I have three beautiful daughters that keep me fighting.
I have now just been diagnoses with a reoccurrence of this tumour at the original site. Just had it removed and waiting to see if need to do more treatments.
Don't stop fighting if you know something isn't right. Know your body!!

Kelly Dawydenko
Thunder Bay, Canada

Family of fighters

The day I got the call will forever be etched in my memory. Two days prior I had a lumpectomy to remove a lump that was believed to be a fibroadenoma. I wish that's all it had been. My oldest sister had just passed away the year before from metastatic ovarian cancer and my mom had beat vocal cord cancer. So to hear the words of "You have breast cancer" at the age of 27 was devastating. However, after getting all the details (Stage 1), my only thoughts were how do I beat this? I have 2 daughters and I need to be here for them. Thank goodness I have a supportive husband and family. Now, I am finished with chemo and about to start radiation. But as I am rounding down my battle, my other sister is just beginning her battle with Colorectal cancer (Stage 3). We are a family of fighters and will continue to kick cancers butt!

Jami
Oyster Creek, TX