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Overcoming Cancer

My story begins back on November 1 2010 . A close friend of mine had her yearly mammogram nd heard the words no woman wants to hear-you have cancer. Traci was stage 2/3. A long road of treatment lay ahead of her. Chemotherapy was started three weeks later.the treatments ended the beginning of April 2011. Surgery was performed in May 2011 with reconstructive surgery a year and a half later. Fortunately for Traci the cancer had not metastasized. Today she is healthy and is enjoying life with her family and friends.

Sheila Shane
Huntington Beach, CA

One day at a time!

I am proud to say I am a survivor. I had breast cancer I did chemo and radiation but what I think Id like everyone to know is when you find a lump don't listen to what you read or what people tell you. Please go to your family doctor right away. Let them check it out. I had a very painful lump in my left breast . I read in a well known magazine that painful lumps are not cancerous. I had a friend tell me that not to worry she has five and she plays with them. I'm not bashing this friend, I love her to death. I didn't go to the doctor right away. The lump just kept getting worse! So I decided this might be something. I went to the doctor and from then on my life went crazy for a while tests checking the lump as it turned out it was cancer. I am very lucky! I am a survivor! Get those mammograms on time. Be strong be proud be cancer free!

One day at time has been our motto since the beginning over a year ago. It hasn't always been easy, and there were times I felt like not fighting. I have learned that life is dealing with the cards you are given, I could not have gotten through this without God, Steven, my wonderful son Kyle and the support of my girlfriends, Tracy and Jean Kaye and the prayers of many others. Everyday is a new start, make the most of it. Enjoy all the little things and laugh as much as possible!

Jennifer
Ghent, KY

Head Shaving

My mother was diagnosed in May 2013 with breast cancer. Her treatment was chemo and then radiation, soon after she started her hair started falling out. Her oldest granddaughter had shirts made for all of us and we had a party to shave her head. My mom has been very sick through all this but she keeps positive and that's what keeps her going.

robyn harrington
rochester hills, MI

Breast cancer and Facebook fight

Well my story was going to be what brought me to this point but we know the obvious I had breast cancer and I had a double mastectomy three weeks ago to remove it. What I'd like to bring forward is a fact just thrown my way. I posted this exact picture on Facebook and someone requested Facebook remove it as it's obscene and pornographic!!! Unreal. Breast cancer is not a dirty little secret and because of people like whomever requested the removal of my picture and story women and men all over the world will continue to feel ashamed of breast cancer and or the removal of their breasts!!! This is a outrage and we need to stand together and secure women and men in their decision to remove their breasts to save their lives!! I refuse to live in shame for my decision that inevitably has saved my life at 44 years of age! We are not just a pink ribbon we are mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, girlfriends, wives, brothers, fathers, grandfathers and so on. We are fighters and we need never be ashamed of that! Facebook needs to make it clear to Facebook user that breast cancer pictures are heroic not shameful, obscene or pornographic!

Dawnya ferdinandsen
Sandusky, OH

A Cancer Surprise

My adoptive mother and the rest of family had gathered for a holiday celebration when she casually mentioned that she had done a biopsy on one of her breasts. She described how scared she was, but she made light of the whole experience. I was made to believe there was nothing to be concerned about it.

Then, I was speaking to her on the phone one day and she mentions casually to me, "I have cancer and I am going into the hospital to take care of it." I was surprised, because she had given me the impression that everything was alright. It took me days to really absorb all that I had been told.

She handled her diagnosis with such grace and calm which only reinforced her character for being a very strong woman who does not let too many things get her down. Even when she felt tired and lifeless, she refused to let cancer have the upper hand.

I tried to talk her out of invasive treatments such as surgery, however, she felt it was the best way for her as well as targeted chemotherapy. It turned out that her tumor was so large that it would only respond to a surgical procedure.

She was very proactive with regard to tackling her diagnosis of cancer. She took supplements as well as conventional medicine to fight the disease. Her surgery was a long an arduous one, however she pulled through like a trouper.

Even when she had to take her chemotherapy treatments which made her weak and lifeless she kept trudging through. She went to work almost every day.

Although, it has only been a few months since her diagnosis and treatment, no one would ever know, because she refuses to let cancer reign over her life.

Each day, she gets up and shows cancer who is boss by conducting her daily routines and often trying to help others in the process. As far as I am concerned, I think she is a true champion for fighting cancer so valiantly.

Anonymous
Jericho, NY

Follow your gut instinct

I was visiting family in Singapore in January 2013. After my period, one breast deflated and one remained full. It didn't hurt or felt like a lump. It felt like dense breast. I went to the doctor and he also concluded it was dense breast but something in me made me requested a specialist.

When I saw the specialist, she had students with her. She asked if it was OK for her students to study me too. I agreed. The breast specialist concluded it was dense breasts and then the students had a feel too. But to show the students the next step of the diagnosis, she brought us all to the ultrasound room and got the technician to examine my breast and it showed up on the screen. She was surprised. She then arranged for me to get my mammogram done the same day. She said definitely there's something there. She scheduled me to get a biopsy the next day and 2 days later I met her for my results.

It was positive. I had breast cancer. The tears slowly filled my eyes and streamed down my face. My best friend was with me. We were both speechless. I called my mom and called my husband and we all cried. At first I decided to send my 3-yr-old daughter home to US while I did my treatment in Singapore but finally decided to go back to US to be with my family and do the treatment. My diagnosis came 1 month before my 34th birthday. It was 4cm but not in my lymphnodes. In 3 weeks, it was 10cm and in my lymphnodes. By the time I did my surgery in May, the surgeon had to remove 13 lymphnodes with 11 being cancerous. I am triple negative.

I shaved my head before my hair fell out because I wanted to decide when I was going bald. I just finished my chemo and now awaiting my bone/CT scan results. I am a fighter, I will survive!

Melissa Battiato
Winfield, IL

I choose to fight!

May 2013 I was having a shower and as I was washing my breasts I felt a lump in my upper right breast. First I thought it was my imagination so I asked my friend from work to feel it. She said yes there definitely was something there. That night after work as I took off my bra, I suddenly had a pain in my right breast and a indentation in it as well. I went to the doctors and was immediately given a mammogram. A few days later I was told that it was a lump and I would need a breast ultrasound and a biopsy.
Once at the doctors a week later I was given the horrible news, that I had breast cancer and I'd need to see a surgeon. The surgeon suggested that I have a lumpectomy because of the position of my mass and because of the size of it. I also had my lymph nodes removed under my arm pit.
After the lumpectomy and nodes were removed I finally got all of the results of my tests of my tests witch I was told that I had stage 2 triple negative grade 3 breast cancer.
My oncologist told me that having triple negative breast cancer was hard to treat, and there was only one way of treating it. Chemo and radiation. I actually sat there in her office contemplating weather I wanted treatment mean I felt good right now, why would I want to put myself through chemo and make myself feel like crap.....I sat there for it seemed like forever before I decided that I wanted to live and I dont want my cancer to come back, (even though it may come back). I wanted to see my son graduate,maybe go to college, get married. My daughter maybe get her diploma, get married. Watch my two beautiful grand babies grow up! I want that....And with the love, faith,support of my family and friends I know I'll make it through this but, I also know that I'm going to fight like the girl I am!

Christina Jantzen
Cargill, Canada

Unconditional Love

I am a six year survivor of Stage 4 Inflammatory Breast Cancer. My grandson, who is in the military, decided to get this tattoo to honor me and my fight with breast cancer. He was very specific and wanted the ribbon to look like its been through battle like me. He was one of my rocks through this very difficult time. My family was very supportive and kept encouraging me to keep my head up and continue the fight. With their love and support, I am still here. I think his tattoo is so beautiful that I wanted to share it with other cancer patients and survivors. To coin one of my grandson's military phrases, Always Forward! Hooah!

Cynthia Irvin
Chicago, IL

True Survivor

I was 29 years old with an eight month old baby. At my first post baby check-up I asked my doctor when I should get a mammogram. My mother and grandmother both died of breast cancer - Mom at age 54 - Grandmother at 35. He told me I can wait until I am forty. I asked him if there was a law against having a mammo at age 29. He said absolutely not - to make a long story short - I decided to have a mammo and to my surprise - it came back as microcalcifications consistent with malignancy in my left breast. I decided to have a biopsy done and the outcome was cancer. Knowing what my mother went through, I asked my doctor if I he could do a double mastectomy with bi-lateral reconstruction. At that point I wanted no part of my breasts and just wanted to live for my family. He told me I was a prime candidate for lumpectomy but he did say to me if that is your choice - then I agree with you 100% - you probably just saved your life. (My mother's cancer did reoccur 16 years later). I did not want to have to worry about breast cancer again. Yes, it was a radical choice!! But it was the choice I felt comfortable with.

Today, I have been a survivor for 23 years!! I had two more children (2 beautiful girls) and I am grateful every day that I am alive!!! Please keep fighting the fight!!!

Annette

Annette Caprara
New Providence, NJ

Little Lump of Love

My family had lost a beloved dog about a year before we decided to adopt another pup into our lives. We introduced a female mix into the family (shelter dog, of course) and she was great.
One afternoon, my sister took our dog to the local dog park to let her run around. An hour later, she headed back towards the house, but something on the opposite side of the road caught her eye. She thought she saw a dog sitting in the median, ready to get up and run across traffic - she quickly and carefully made a u-turn and pulled over near the white-furred lump.
Upon approach, she could see he wasn't in the best condition... his fur was dirty, he had fleas covering him, and it looked like his legs were injured. Then, the realization came: Someone abandoned this English Bulldog puppy on the side of the road because of his legs.

Scooping him up and taking him home, my family met him and decided he needed immediate attention. We cleaned up him, took him to the vet, and that's when the vet told us that his knees on his back legs do not bend - the bones were fused at birth. My family couldn't let him go to a shelter - they surely wouldn't keep him around.
He was about 6 months old when we found him... now he's coming close to about 3 years old and he's the cutest lump of love EVER. Funny enough, he CAN walk and does it just fine on his own, so don't think he won't come up and greet you!

Rebecca Sears
West Palm Beach, FL