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I AM A SURVIVOR !

Since I was in my 20's, I have always had problems with cysts in my right breast. So I have made it a habit to have a mammogram every year and to know how my breast feel. Since being small chested it was easy. The opportunity to have augmentation arrived and I was scheduled for surgery March 31, 2009. In January however, I felt a lump in my left breast, I immediately had a mammogram done in Feb., nothing showed up and was given the okay for my upcoming surgery. Since my cysts never showed up on mammograms I thought it was another cyst. In September 2009 I went in for my annual Pap test, and while I was there asked to have my breast checked since my surgery. The lump was now visible and my Dr. sent me for another mammogram and an ultra sound, the mammogram showed nothing again,but the ultra sound did. I was told if you have Dense Breast Tissue a tumor sometimes does not show up. After 2 surgeries I was told I had node positive, HR positive Breast Cancer, Stage 1. The onco DX board studied my cancer and determined Chemo would not benefit me, However, 6 weeks 0f radiation would, followed by a pill a day for 5 years. I was devistated, I had just bought my wedding dress the week before finding out I had cancer, for my upcoming wedding in April 2010. In December I turned 50, and shortly after started my radiation treatments. April came and I married the man of my dreams. So far I am cancer free. I ask alot of questions now, and I am determined to beat this horrible disease. Cancer, this is MY BODY and you are not welcome in it so SCRAM !!!!

Linda Holderness
Union, KY

My "40 Year Old" Mammogram SAVED MY LIFE!

Today is October 15, 2010 that I'm writing this. I turned 40 on October 31, 2009. In November I had my 40 yo mammogram. I got called back for more films. The Radiologist wanted to see me. He showed me a linear form of microcalcifications in my left breast. Biopsy confirmed Stage I Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and DCIS. December 15, 2009 - surgery, chemo port placed, lumpectomy with 2 clean lymph nodes. Tumor size 1.4. Final diagnosis. Stage 1 IDC with some DCIS, ER-/PR-/Her2+++. Because of being Her2+++,I would need chemotherapy. In between my surgery and chemo, I got a blood clot on the same side my chemo port was placed and landed in the hospital on 12/29/2009 and stayed until 1/2/2010 - HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)

Starting January 7, 2010, six rounds of Carboplatin/Taxotere every 3 weeks, Herceptin weekly and 33 rounds of radiation. I worked through all of this only taking off the week after chemo starting on my 4th cycle because I couldn't handle working that much anymore, plus I got chewed out by my Dr. :)

I now get Herceptin every 3 weeks until January 7th. I am doing well, but I live in fear daily my cancer has spread. They won't give me any type of MRI/Cat/Pet. They are giving me a mammogram on 12/1/2010 and I am anxiously awaiting that test. What also scares me is during my surgery they found ALH - Atypical Lobular Hyperplasia. I asked my Oncologist about it and he said the Chemotherapy would take care of that. How does he or anyone else know it did for sure? I am living my life, I am happy and positive. I have an 8 1/2 yo son, I AM GOING TO FIGHT!!!

Sandra Green
Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Currently in remission for 5 years!

I am a two time breast cancer survivor. The first time diagnosed, I was 29 years old and could not get health workers to take me serious because of my age. I knew my body and knew something wasn't right. I would tell them that my lump hurt and I was told that cancer does not hurt (mine did). Nothing showed up on the mammograms that I had been doing every 6 months for 2 years. I finally convinced them to take a biopsy. Four rounds of chemo to shrink the tumor, (to try to save the breast due to my age) a lumpectomy, four more rounds of chemo and 33 rounds of radiation later, I was in remission. At the age of 31, I had a new secondary primary with now a 4 yr old and a 6 month old at home. Now after a double mastectomy, I am still dealing with multiple plastic surgeries. My point is, to please KNOW your body and take charge of your own health! No one else is going to. Thank you and god bless!

Kristina Bullock
springfield, IL

Third Scare

Had first tumor at 20, second at 41 (stage one and in remission), and now at 52 am going through additional testing to check a 3rd site found last week...on chest wall on opposite breast. Gonna beat the odds again! So many women have cancer earlier than 40, I think it's ridiculous to change prevention measures and state self exam isn't reliable. I found the first 2, but not the 3rd. But what if one of the first two would have been where my 3rd is... Mammos need to continue, and at earlier ages! Self exam is a no brainer for all of us...MEN included.

Daniela Dixon
Garland, TX

misread mammogram

I had a mammogram in July 2008 and was told by the "technician" (radiologist don't talk to you directly) that I had group calcification and to come back in six months for another mamm. I sought a second opinion from a well known local surgeon and she conferred with the radiologist that it was nothing after viewing my film.
I asked my thyroid surgeon if he did biopsies on calcification as I had heard they could be malignant, he said he did not but referred me to a well known Boston Hospital for a third opinion.
This surgeon thought it was also an innocent thing but ordered a mammogram as four months had already gone by. Off I go to the fourth opinion and the radiologist at this great hospital called me in, as is their policy and told me that the calcification was indeed benign but just a hair below it was a small lump. This was the same mammogram film from the first hospital where I had gone every year for many years for mammograms.
He ordered another mammogram and it was there, so ordered an ultra-sound and a biopsy right there. He called me the next day and told me it was malignant.
It was a stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma and estrogen receptive.
It is most important for woman to have their yearly mammograms but just as important to have a competant radiologist and hospital read your results.
Be persistant and never stop getting another opinion until you are satisfied with the answer.

Kathleen Pritchard
Billerica, MA

it's not always a 'lump'

I had just celebrated my 50th birthday on a trip to Paris - a gift from my parents. A single mom for several years, I was dating a wonderful man and life was looking great. So I finally made the time to get that 'funny" spot on my breast looked at - it was starting to bother me, the better part of a year after I'd first noticed it. It was just a kind of thickening area, a hardness that wasn't well-defined, so I assumed it was just scar tissue or a fibroid. I'd had regular normal mammograms for the past several years so cancer wasn't a concern. Instead I worried about whether or not my insurance would cover it if it was something related to my breast augmentation 10 years before.

A clinical breast exam was immediately followed by a diagnostic mammogram, biopsies, and the diagnosis: invasive metastatic lobular carcinoma, hidden behind my implants. It was too large and spread out for lumpectomy, with at least one lymph node involved. I opted for a bilateral mastectomy because I didn't want to have to think about re-visiting the issue.Fortunately it had not attached to the chest wall, although it got pretty close, and about half of the nodes removed were positive. I was referred to a fantastic oncologist who treated me with a very aggressive course of chemo for 6 months, followed by radiation. My sons, my extended family & friends, my church, and my phenomenal boyfriend took great care of me and kept me positive. I never went to an appointment, test, procedure, or treatment alone.

It was a fight, but we won it! I have just celebrated my first complete year being cancer-free; and am about to celebrate my first wedding anniversary as well :) Life is good!

Susan
Antelope Valley, CA

Our fight

It all started, April 2009 with my yearly Mammogram, 3 weeks later, i was called by the imaging center to get another mammo. I wasn't that much concern about it because, I've taken it twice before. But then when they called me again for a biopsy, then i started to get worried. Four years ago my sister had a Non Invasive ductal carcinoma, it was stage 0. They took the lump out and she undergo Radiation treatment for 6 weeks and had to take pills for 5 years. Everything was ok and she went back to work.
In May 2009, my biopsy results came and it was positive for an Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Stage 2. My heart stopped when i got the news from my Doctor, I've never thought it would happen to me, my outlook of life has changed, but i know i had to fight this and not let this disease take over my life. I had a lumpectomy, and was taken 14 lymphnode, in which 1 of them has cancer in it. I had 8 cycles of chemo and 6 weeks of radiation. Thanks to my family, especially to my sister and my boy friend, who supported and helped me get through this battle.
A year has passed, and i am now cancer free, and had gone back to work. Ironically, my sister's cancer came back on her other breast and this time it was Invasive, it was Stage 2. They had to do Mastectomy on her almost the same time (june 2010) i had my surgery last year. Last week was her last chemo, but she will have 8 weeks of Radiation to do. The fight will never stop! We will beat this and we will win!! Have Faith and just a strong determination.

Anonymous
Oxnard, CA

My lucky find

I went for a normal mamogram just before Xmas 2009. I then got a recall in January, but didn,t think too much about it. I made an appointment at the local hospital and had a 2nd mamogram. When the Dr studied my x ray he saw a shadow. There and then i had a biopsy, and was given a date to return for my results. It was January 20th '10, and i was given the news that i had breast cancer. I was devastated. Luckily it was early stage cancer. I had a lumpectomy op and some of my lymph glands removed. It hadn,t spread. I also had a course of radiotherapy.
Mamograms, although not a pleasant thing, certainly saved me from a more severe breast cancer

Jane Yates
Wigan, United Kingdom

Please do not wait

I found a small lump on my wife about 2 years ago on her breast,she waited almost 1 year before she went to a doctor, she only went because the lump went from a pea to a golf ball,and she had so much pain that she couldn't sleep at night.She was lucky it wasn't attached to her chest wall which was a good thing, she went for only 4 treatments of chemo therapy and shrunk it enough to remove, then she went for 33 treatments of radiation it was a real rough road for awhile but she is now cancer free. My suggestion to anyone male or female please don't wait if you feel any kind of lump, get checked out before it is to late.

jimmy lesser
port st lucie, FL

I was only 34...

One month during my period, I noticed a lump while in the shower. After my period, it went away. This lasted for 3 months. The 4th month, the lump stayed. I had no insurance and the single mother of 4 children. I was in the position to have a job with insurance in 3 more months so I thought that I could wait, even though in my mind I knew it was cancer. After 1 1/2 months went by, my health went down hill so fast that I knew I had to find help no matter what. I found a Doctor. After the mammogram, they quit counting after 10 LARGE areas on my breast and told me the whole thing had to go. I told them to take them both. THe Doctor told me that it was probably in my lymphnodes and that it was Stage III or Stage IV. I would have a year of chemo and then radiation and then we would see. After my surgery, and the pathology report came back, ALL of the nodes that they had taken were CLEAR and the other breast had pre-cancerous cells in it. The results: I only had 3 chemo treatments, no radiation. My decision to have the other breast removed meant that I did not have to go through it a second time. That has been 8 1/2 years ago. So far, I have seen my oldest child graduate college, my next two graduate high school. A also found a wonderful man who had never been married, had children who walked through the WHOLE experience of breast cancer with me. We have been happily married now 6 1/2 years. God has a way of turning thorns into roses.
SELF EXAMS DO SAVE LIVES.

Barbara
Springfield, MO