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Fighter

On August 28 of this year, just 6 days shy of my 34th birthday, I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. Wow, Happy Birthday to me! Stage 1 but the tumor is grade 3 and HER2 positive. I just had a lumpectomy 2 weeks ago and will begin my chemo and then radiation very soon.
I have to admit, I am scared!!! My entire life has been turned upside down! I don't want to go through this and I want to curl up in a ball and just forget it all. But I can't, I don't have that option. I have to FIGHT and I will FIGHT!!!
A big part of my life is the Dave Matthews Band. I have been a fan since 1993 and have been going to their 3 day concert over Labor "Dave" Weekend at the Gorge since 2000. My goal this year is to return to the Gorge for my favorite band for year 15, as a SURVIVOR!!! Their music has been helping me through this process, along with the DMB "family!" I am blessed to be apart of the DMB family!!!
I also lost my mother to leukemia 6 years ago this November. She was a very big part of my life and I wish she was physically with me now as I go through this. I do know and feel some comfort that she is watching over me from above.
I am a fighter and I will beat this!!!

Mary Gigray-Shanahan
Lewiston, ID

And now, in the Red Corner...

It was invasive lobular carcinoma - I found the lump just 3 months ago, through self exam. But I had no other symptoms. (In fact, at 44, I was probably the healthiest I'd ever been.) Every woman is different, as are her treatment options. I chose a more aggressive approach, put on the gloves and came out swingin' - and it paid off for me. Turns out neither mammogram nor MRI found the small 2nd tumor and the cancer in my sentinel lymph node - both of which were found and removed when I underwent my "elective" mastectomy.

Given the cards we were dealt and the dark direction this path could have taken us at every crossroad, I'm blessed to be able to say that I've had the best possible outcome. I don't need radiation or chemo-therapy - the thought of which scared me more than the cancer .The surgery to replace the tissue expanders with permanent implants has been scheduled for mid-December. I'm on the path to reconstruction and recovery. My cups runneth over.

You can ready more about my story in the Red Corner at https://red-corner.squarespace.com/news/. Get ready to rumble.

Ronda Warrick
Phoenix, AZ

Faye King

This is my beautiful Mother in law Faye. She was diagnosed in June with Breast cancer, stage 2 invasive ductal sarcoma. She had to do chemo with 3 different meds. for 2mths. Now she is doing a different chemo med for 12 treatments/weeks. She just completed her 5th one today. Faye refuses to be a victim! All of her nurse stay laughing when she is there. This past Sunday we attended pink heals tour with the cross fit competition and everyone just kept telling her how great her spirit is, and how amazing she is doing and staying so positive. She is truly an inspiration. This picture is of her having a blast at the Pink Heals tour. We love and support you Faye, as well as all women/men fighting this battle. We will Beat this Monster together!

Maegen Golitko
Cibolo, TX

Quiting is not an option

March 2 2013, moving day I had a quick appointment at the doctor before we got the moving truck for the day, as she asked if I had any concerns I told her I was feeling a lump in my left breast, she did an examination and considering my family history of breast cancer thought it would be best to get an ultrasound and mammogram. Finished the move and I made the appointment for Monday. On March 14 after many doctor visits we got the results. I was 29 and following in my mothers foot steps, I had cancer. I started chemo within the week since my tumor had doubled in size in just days. I fought through chemo into July had a birthday celebration the big 30! And got ready for surgery in August. In the mean time i was tested for the BRCA gene and tested positive, i begged my sister who is 32 to also get tested, she finally agreed and her results came back negitive, strange how that happens but thank goodness for her. The double mastectomy was a bit harder then I thought as silly as it sounds breasts are very defining to being a woman and when you lose them it is a big challenge to face. However I am happy to say after five weeks of radiation and just finished I am cancer free! The road has not been easy but it can be done, I hope to become an advocate for young women who might need a bit of guiding light in this situation.

Amber
Denver, CO

my support

My mom found out she has stage 2 almost stage 3 cancer.. I was living in georgia when she found she lost all her hair after her first round of chemo I shaved part of my head and put the breast cancer ribbon in my head to show my support and to tell her kno that even 1100 miles away ill fight this battle right by her side

Jennifer Armstrong
fort stewart, GA

my tattoo for mom

My mom found out she has stage 2 almost stage 3 breast cancer which latee spread to her lymoh nodes and liver .. I was living in georgia when she found she lost all her hair after her first round of chemo I shaved part of my head and put the breast cancer ribbon in my head to show my support.. I recently got back to oklahoma to help her through treatment.. it is a hard thing to watch the women who gave u life suffer like this so yesterday I went and got this tattoo to show her that she is not alone and even tho she will have scars from the port and surgery that I will always believe in her

Jennifer Armstrong
fort stewart, GA

MY WIFE

IN OCTOBER OF 2010 WE FOUND OUT MY WIFE HAD BREAST CANCER. WE WERE DEVESTATED. WE KNEW NOTHING AND NO ONE TO TURN TO. LUCKLY WE WERE AT WVU HOSPITAL IN MORGANTOWN,WV. THEY HAVE THE MARY PUSKAR CANCER CENTER FOR BREAST CANCER AND THEN THEY WE HAD DECIDED THAT SHE NEEDED TO HAVE A MASTECTAMY ON THE LEFT SIDE. DOCTOR HANNAH HAZARD, TO ME ONE OF THE GREATEST SURGERONS GOT ALL THE CANCER AND SHE HAS BEEN CANCER FREE EVER SINCE. SHE WAS LUCKY WITH NO CHEMO OR RADIATION ALL SHE HAS TO TAKE IS AN ANTI CANCER DRUG FOR 5 TO 10 YEARS OR SO WITH YEARLY CHECKUPS. THE PICTURE I CHOSE IS A TATTOO I DESIGNED OF THE RIBBONS INTO A BUTTERFLY AND HAD PUT ON ME WITH HER DATE. THIS IS FOR THE HOPE TO NEVER HAVE IT AGAIN, THE FAITH FOR A CURE AND THE STRENGTH TO ENDURE THE FLIGHT OF THE JOURNEY YOUR ON DURING YOUR ENCOUNTER WITH THIS DISCEASE. MUCH LOVE TO YOU ALL. ALLEN W. SHUMAN. MY WIFE IS WENDY THE LOVE OF MY LIFE.

ALLEN W. SHUMAN
WEIRTON, WV

Unreal

April of 2012 I had a routine mammogram like I had done for 13 yrs. I was called back for a sonogram and then in early May 2012 had a biopsy to find out I had cancer in the milk ducts on my right side. Immediately I prayed with my husband that it wasn't true. But God knew it was and He also had a plan for me.
I was shocked to find out at 54 yrs. of age with 13 previous mammograms all normal why I had Stage 3. I was shocked!! What had the drs. missed? Could it have been found earlier. I was assured that my kind of cancer is the most common among women of all ages. So I had a bi-lateral with reconstruction in June of 2012. I started 6 rounds of chemo on Aug. 7th, 2012 and had my last treatment the Tues. before Thanksgiving. So let's just say Thanksgiving last year didn't happen. I was in my dark space( as my husband referred to it). To make matters worse I contacted pneumonia at Christmas as was in the hospital for the holiday.
Things did get better and I had my reconstruction surgery at the end of Jan. 2013. I started radiation on Ash Wed. Feb. 13th and finished on April 1st which happened to be Easter Monday. Oh God was so good to me!! I was pronounced cancer-free on Dec. 11th 2012 by my oncologist!! So I am headed to my 1 year anniversary!!! So excited and blessed beyond belief. I shared my story with my church who stood behind me and my husband and family for a whole year bringing food, hugs, stories and God's love.
I take tamoxifen everyday to keep the estrogen away because that was my cancer ER+ but hormone negative. Thanks be to God!!!!! I am so ready for this holiday season to get underway. I have a lot of time to make up for.
So please GET CHECKED!! It'll save your LIFE!! It sure saved mine!!!

Linda Cordaro
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA

I am the Poster Child for early detection - twice!

In October 2009, I was 54 yrs old, my husband was in the hospital with a blood clot, it was my appointment for my annual mammogram, but, with what he was going to I thought "My mammograms have all been fine since I was 35, I'm going to blow it off this year". But, then I decided that I should go any way. The look on the technicians face when she looked at my scan told me what I didn't want to know, after an MRI and biopsy, it was IDC (Infitrating Ductal Carcinoma). I had a lumpectomy,nothing in the lymph nodes therefor no chemo, local radiation and 5 years of an Aromatese Inhibitor for the Estrogen receptor BC I had. Fast forward, 18 months later, this time, it was the left side, and sure enough, another one was found through a mammogram. This time DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ), lumpectomy, whole breast radiation and again no chemo. I am thankful that I had gone to that mammogram that I almost blew off and since both of mine were found so early there was no chemo involved. My aunts found theirs at the lump stage back in the 60's and 70's and both lost their breasts. One lost her life. Mammograms save lives! And in my case, early detection was key. I have had many friends that had not gone for mammograms for years and I inspired them to go. Thankfully, no one else has had my news.
I now walk with my family and friends in cancer walks to raise funds for those ladies that cannot afford mammograms and subsequent treatment. We want to end this terrible disease.
I got my tattoo (pictured) in October 2012, right after the end of my second treatment. It's my own reminder of what I have been through and all that my sisters in this fight endure.

Rita Z
Salem, NH

my reason to Push forward.

I was diagnosed on Oct 31,2008 with HER2 POS. In my left breast , I am a single mother of 4 daughter's so I was terrified n devastated at the same time, I was also a cervical cancer survivor of 7 yrs at the time and no one in my family had been diagnosed with BC so I thought my life was over because I never really kept up with technology in that field and how far it had came. But, my daughters at the time where ages 7, 9, 10 and 12 but they were my biggest support group I didn't have any close friend's or family around my daughter's was all I had so I had to fight not just for myself but them as well I was tired and weak alot but I had to push n keep going I had to get out of bed every day take kids to and from school , cook, clean laundry help kids with home work. It wasn't easy. But God n my children kept me going and looking forward to all the tomorrow's I had ahead of me. My baby girl Mikayla she was at every radiation with me for 6 weeks straight . I thank God for my blessings Jada, Alexis, Kassie and Mikayla.

Janet ryder
Williamsport, PA