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i slept funny

I was a normal mum busy working raising 4 kids. I was 34 .like most people I would get up have a shower go to work , on this day I woke up and noticed my nipple had a dent in it . I thought nothing of it . the next morning it was like it again. I said to my husband that I must of slept funny as there was a dent in the nipple again. I decided after I finished work that day I would go to the doctor. best choice I made . as I showed the doctor she had a feel and told me she could not feel anything but sent me for a mammogram .wow what a shock 3 lumps in the ducts my heart sank as I knew in my heart I had breast cancer . I had a biopsy the next day and the results were positive . so 2 weeks later my world was upside down as I had a double mastectomy . then came the six rounds of chemo . about a year later I began the reconstruction side now have just had my nipples . if you notice a change no matter how small see a doctor as I did now I get to see my wonderful kids grow up and enjoy growing older with my husband . my name is Shannon and I am a survivor

shannon blinnman
sydney, Australia

THE MONTH OF THANKFULNESS

I am thankful for. . .
1. my diagnosis of breast cancer 3 1/2 years ago;
2. the discovery of Herceptin about 12 years ago, which is used to treat HER2NU+ cancers—before then, there was NO treatment;
3. the answer to my prayer that God use my cancer journey to help other women traveling the cancer road;
4. God leading me to start His project—The Sparkle Caps Project—in 3 years, we have given out over 600 sponsored gift bags of blessings to women battling cancer;
5. my husband Gary, family and friends who supported me on my breast cancer journey;
6. the new friends and acquaintances that I have made because of cancer;
7. the support (in so many ways) and encouragement of others, which lights a fire to my passion to help other women dealing with cancer;
8. the wisdom to listen and the desire to follow my boss’ instructions;
9. the tears that flow too freely and the deep-seated compassion that allows me to pass on God’s love to our Sisters in Pink, Green, Yellow, Black, Burgundy, White, Orange, etc.
10. God, who loves me like no other can.
We are blessed, each of us, in so many ways during our trials. When we get to the light at the end of the treatment tunnel, we experience life with more appreciation; more compassion for others; less judgment (walk a mile in my shoes), and a greater joy for life. We do not know our time on this earth. Our destinies can be shaped by cancer but not determined by cancer.

Susan "Victorious" Heimbigner
Sumter, SC

On the Road to Survivor

My journey started August 2013 as I found my lump on a Saturday morning. By Friday of that same week, I'm hearing "I'm sorry but you have breast cancer". I didn't fall apart or burst into tears. God had been preparing me all week to hear this. It's hard to explain but I just knew. Only a few weeks later do I learn that this is the aggressive triple negative BC and I need to move quickly on chemo. I just finished 12 straight weeks of chemo waiting for surgery a week before Christmas and more chemo to follow then radiation. I just do what I got to do. I am a mother of two sweet daughters. I teach the most amazing 3rd graders ever and have family and friends that have my back no matter what. I can do this with God holding my hand and I will be claiming next year that I AM A SURVIVOR!

Jeana Helton
Greeneville, TN

Stay Strong

In June 2006 i remember talking to a riend of mine, having a great day. While taling to her, I crossed my arms and as I did, I felt a rather large lump under my right arm. I immediately thought of breast cancer because my Mom and Aunt had breast cancer. I went for a mammogram ultrasound and stereotactic biopsy a couple of days later and the news I heard shocked me. I had cancer in both breasts, 3 tumors in the right and 2 tumors in the left. I was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma Stage 2B. I had no choice but to have a Bil. Mastectomy with Lymph Node Dissection. Several nodes were positive, so I started Chemo right away and then had Radiation. Once Radiation was finished, they placed me on Femara fo 5 years.

I rememberwhen we hit the five year mark, I was 'cancer free" and it was such a great feeling because it had been such a long, hard road. I had an amazing support team...wonderful friends and an incredible family. My husband was my rock and my gentle soul. My 3year old at the time kept me smiling.

in June 2013 I had a routine PET scan done and once again received a shock of my life. It seemed that my cancer had returned. This time it was in my bones and liver and I would have to start chemo right away.. I was in shock, but I stayed strong and began to do what was needed. My fighting and not giving up is working so far. My Liver cancer is gone andthe bone cancer is only in my spine and is not spreading. So never give up and always fight!

Tammy Smith
Greenwood, SC

NO Way, it can't be....My Journey

My journey started September 13, 2013 after returning from a wonderful vacation visiting my sister in California.
I had my yearly mammogram this day and after having my imaging, I was told to wait in the waiting area. The tech came to me and said we needed to do additional imaging. Afterward, I was told to sit tight while the Radiologist reviewed the additional images. About 15 mins later, a Tech came back to tell me the Radiologist wanted to do an ultrasound. I was a little scared by this point. My ultrasound was completed and I was told it looked good. The Radiologist told me that I needed to see a Breast Surgeon and have a wire localization with a surgical biopsy. I also was told that 90% of the type of micro-calcifications I had were benign and only 10% malignant (aka cancer). I was able to see the Breast Surgeon 10 days later and my wire localization and surgical biopsy took place two weeks after seeing the breast surgeon. I waited a week for my results and received a call from a Nurse Practitioner telling me I had breast cancer. I was shocked. I couldn’t even understand all that she was saying to me. I had to get my composure and call back. My mind was spinning. I was able to be seen in Clinic the following Monday by my Breast Surgeon and the Radiation Oncologist. The next couple weeks I had time to think about things and make my decision. Within three weeks, I underwent a simple mastectomy of my left breast and a sentinel node biopsy.
My situation is far more complicated due to being born with a rare bleeding disorder Glanzmann’s Thrombasthenia. The good thing is, my Physicians and nursing teams supported my decision all the way and got me through it thus far!

I was very stressed, on an emotional roller coaster prior to my surgery. My thoughts have changed in a more positive way and if I could say one thing, trust in your physicians, have faith and stay POSITIVE!!!

Jyll
Sylvania, OH

I lost myself when I lost my mom .

It was 1999, February 28th ;also my brother's birthday when she went to God. She was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer.It presented a view of life that we hadn't had to consider before. Each day took on a special meaning for each one of us. It was important for us to make every day count. My brother was 12 years old and I was 9 years old; I didn't understand at that time that she would be leaving us forever. My mom was very young .When my Mom first found her lump under her armpit she let it go cause she didn't know it was cancer she thought maybe it was some scar tissue or a swollen lymph nodes, cancer never once crossed her mind. Later,her lump was the size of a baseball and the cancer had already started spreading to her other breast ; treatment began right away but it was the last stage of cancer . She received the best treatment from the doctors they did what they could. With every Chemo, my mom started losing her hair. Though it was very hard for my dad- he remained strong and hopeful. Her golden heart stopped beating when she was 32 years old; growing up without her is very hard. She truly was an amazing woman, a principal of a school, a teacher , a programming student, a business woman,a good wife, a strong and loving mother, helpful and cheerful who always had smile on her face no matter how difficult it was for her. My mom's sister came to our place that day to wish my brother birthday, and our mother's demise was hidden from us. Later, I remember my dad took my brother and me on his lap and tried explaining it to us (my brother who was 12 started crying but I didn't understand that I will never see her again - I was just 9) . I miss the special thing of life that is mother's love, many times I just wish if I could run to her and hug her.

Anonymous
Kathmandu, Nepal

Think Positively

When I was diagnosed with a "teeny-weeny" breast cancer, it was as though the cancer was not real. In spite of the fact that my mother and one sister had had breast cancer, I never really let it sink in that I had it as well. I had surgery immediately (the surgeon said he could barely locate the site), and this was followed by 30+ daily treatments of radiation. I have been cancer free for several years but still suffer from hot flashes caused by the medication I took for about 5 years after the surgery. My message is one of hope ! If you are diagnosed, jump on it immediately! You can be a total winner ! Breast cancer does not have to come back. Never give up your optimism. I think this is THE KEY to treatment - optimism! A positive outlook cannot be stressed enough. It's like the Law of Attaction. Never let a negative thought enter your mind after before, during or after your treatment!

Carolyn F Rubenstein
Memphis, TN

Almost there!

I was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer on June 21 2013. I of course panicked and thought my life was over. i know it's a very aggressive cancer. After I finished freaking out, survival mode kicked in! I started all the appointments and all the treatments were about to start immediately! I had the port put in on July 3, 2013 and had my first Chemo on the same day. the first chemo was the worse for me. I was very weak and sick. Couldn't even get out of the bed. I lost all my hair about 3 weeks after that. I had 5 treatments every 3 weeks. My dr felt that the tumor was not shrinking fast enough so she decided to do radiation and chemo at the same time and make chemo treatments weekly. That did the trick, it has shrunk allot since then. I had my last chemo on 11.19.13!! I have a few more radiation treatments left and then I will have my surgery a few weeks later! I am so glad that I have responded so well to treatment and I am almost done!

I am so lucky to have a wonderful support system also. My husband, son and all my family and friends have been beyond amazing and supportive!! Staying positive and not letting it get to you is one of the best ways to get through this. Lean on your friends and family and pray! God is good!

Jessica Johnson
Pasadena, MD

Jodi's Story

It was breast cancer awareness month 2012. I was 48 and had never done a self exam before. I had been having mammograms and ultrasounds (because I had dense breasts) every year since I was 40. I did a self breast exam and felt these small bumps under my right nipple. I had also noticed that my (left breast) had grown bigger. I went for my annual gyn appointment and then went for my annual mammo and ultrasound, to the same place I had been going to for the past 8 years. My results came back with no findings. However, my gynecologist wanted to be safe and sent me to a breast specialist/surgeon. He examined my right breast and felt some lumps and sent me for a new ultrasound at a different place. (Turns out the place I had been going to for the past 8 years had missed these tumors !!!) The technician was extremely thorough and had a concerned look on her face. She asked me questions like, does breast cancer run in your family ? The results came back and I had biopsies done. When all was said and done I was Stage 3a. My right breast was 70% filled with cancer (7 masses) and 9 lymph nodes were positive. No cancer was detected in my left breast (ironically the one that had grown bigger). I had to remove my right breast and elected to have my left breast removed as well. I didn't want to wait for the other shoe to drop and wanted both breast to be equal once I had reconstruction. Thanks g-d I removed my left breast too. They found a trace amount of cancer that would not show up in scans for another few years. I would've had to go threw this whole process again, had I not been pro-active. I am now cancer free after 5 months of chemo and 6 1/2 weeks of radiation (today was my last day). Next is tamoxifen for 10 years. I have stayed extremely positive and learned to not sweat the small stuff.

Jodi
Parkland, FL

My Grandmother

On November 11, 2012 my Grandmother called and asked me to come over she wanted to talk to me. When I got there my mother told me that my Grandmother had two lumps on her breast and that she was ready to go to hospice. I was very confused because she wasn't sick enough for hospice or so I thought. What she wanted to talk about was that back in 2007 she had a suspicious mammogram that she chose to ignore. She said she had watched two people very close to her die from cancer and she never wanted to go through all those treatments. So for months she had been in so much pain she said that she was in denial and now she has come to terms that she had breast cancer and her time here was almost up. So long story short we called her doctor and they sent someone from hospice to the house and we were able to keep her at home. They started her on pain meds and after that first day she already felt better I told her if she had told us she could have at least treated the pain anyway, from day 2 of taking pain meds we noticed she slept more and more anyway to make a long story short 18 days from the day she told us she was dying I watched her take her last breath. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Two months after she died I got this tattoo on my right shoulder blade in her memory. The anniversary of her death is coming up on November 29 and the closer it gets to that day the harder it gets for me. She was my rock and will be missed terribly.

Penny Anthony
Zebulon, GA