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My Mother Survived!

My Mother was detected early in the stages of breast cancer. Upon Ruby's initial CT Scan-and result; she exited the exam area with tears and a tissue in her hand. I was devastated and so was my Father. Her Surgeon Iki MD was a true professional and explained the CT Scan Results. At that point, my only concern was that the cancer cells hadn't invaded or entered the sentinel nodes. Dr. Iki promised a check of the lymph nodes upon biopsy.
To our surprise, there was no sign of the lymph nodes being contaminated by the cancer! It was simply the breast that was affected and only with a small round lump that seemed to be growing. Ruby's surgery went well. Afterwards, we were elated to see her up and about again! As a male I can not stress how important it is for all women to do self exams as well as, your yearly mammogram! It saved my MOTHER's LIFE! Now, we can look back at photos and still sit with her to enjoy the past. God is good and life is better for the advances and the Pink Ribbon Campaigns. I thoroughly enjoy the Ralph Lauren Pink Auctions. I know that Cancer will be beat one day soon!

Angelo
Rialto, CA

I Will Survive!

On February 10, 2010 I had a double Mastectomy….My battle with Breast Cancer began December, just two days before ringing in the New Year. We are never prepared to hear the words “you have breast cancer”. After having my digital mammogram the doctors discovered suspicious “grains of sand”. After a lumpectomy and then a re-excision, I was told the grains were more extensive throughout the duct. Back in the hospital for surgery number three! I was Blessed to have 0 stage cancer and required no chem or radiation after my Mastectomy.

During my journey with Breast Cancer, God Blessed me with an amazing circle of support from family and friends from every corner of the country. With the help of my support system, I began training for the Avon Breast Cancer Walk just four months after my surgery. As the youngest survivor walking, it was my small way to help others battling this disease while helping myself to stay healthy and strong. I believe my strong faith, positive attitude and wonderful support system helped me along the journey but what helped me to survive breast cancer was the decision to have my mammogram. Don’t put it off - schedule your mammogram today!

I pray for a cure for Breast Cancer but until that cure comes, do your part to stay healthy and schedule your yearly mammograms, do a self-exam and each year have a yearly clinical exam. We all want to sing the words “I Will Survive”….

Much love and BIG hugs to my family and friends!
Elaine

Elaine Connolly
Lisle, IL

Early detection

Make sure you get your yearly mammograms. I had no family history but I was faithful in getting my mammogram. Iwas diagnosed at age 49. Thirteen years later, my annual mammogram found another spot. I am a two time survivor and I owe it all to my annual mammogram and a good radiologist. Tell everyone you know to keep on getting those mammograms.

Carol Duncan
Grimes, IA

Brac testing

Dont have Cancer but did test Positive for it on the Brac testing lost my Mother 48 yrs ago to Cancer and most of her side of the family had all the surgeries that I can have last year still going to the Doctors every 6 months still free of the cancer

Anonymous
Ira, MI

Early Detection

12 years later and I am here to tell my story. Went for my yearly mammogram at age 50, which I started doing at age 40, and was shocked to hear that I should see a breast surgeon because they saw something very small that was not on the mammo from the year before. I had no family history of breast cancer.
Went to the breast surgeon, then for a biopsy and the finding was malignant but thank god for the mammo finding...... because it was an early stage cancer. Lumpectomy, chemo, radiation and I'm here.
Please go for your mammos!!!!!
Marsha

Marsha Bernstein
Staten Island, NY

4 years and counting my Miracle

I have always had my check ups since I worked for an imaging company. I was a few months late for my usual check up and noticed a dimpeling of the skin on my right breast. I knew this was not good. I had a mammo and ultra sound the same day and to all of our shock there was a very large mass that was like a spider web and it was not able to be felt as a lumb until after the pain full mammo. I was diagnosed with stage 3C breast cancer. I had a mastectomy and reconstruction a year later. Chemo and radiation were done first. I am so thankfull to be alive and going on my 5th year in December. My mother died of breast cancer, my grandmother died from breast cancer, my one sister has had thyroid cancer and my other sister has had uterine cancer. Early diagnosis was crucial to all our survival... Unfortunately, my mother was 80 years old and suffered other ailments that did not allow her to survive her breast cancer. She passed away a year ago. Please.....get you check ups and survive.

Anonymous
Bear, DE

Surely Not Me

My story started the summer of 2010 with a friend who turned 40 and got her mammogram. She reminded me to get mine everytime I saw her. Since I skipped it last year, I decided I would get it this year. I kept forgetting to call and schedule it, then I started getting mailers from facilities where I had it done before. All that helped to remind me to scheduled my mammogram, which was followed by a sonogram (which is normal for me, because I have dense breast tissue), but that is where things changed. The radiologist said he didn't like what he saw and wanted to do a biopsy. I kept thinking it would turn out to be nothing. After all, I had my well-woman exam earlier that May and my doctor did a breast exam and felt nothing. I felt nothing. On August 5th I was diagnosed with stage 1 inductal carc. Two weeks later I had a bilateral masectomy and the start of reconstruction. No lymph node involvement. No Brac Gene and a low recurrence rate from the OncoType Test. No chemo or radiation needed, just Tamoxifen for the next 5 years. I'm very blessed. Through this experience I was reminded of how much I am loved by everyone I know. People I hadn't seen or heard from in years contacted me and gave me their love and support. I hated hearing that word "cancer", but from this experience, I got so much more than I ever expected.

Gina
Arlington, TX

Love and Support

I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer on October 22nd 2004 when I went in to have a routine mammogram.
I underwent a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation as part of my treatment.

I tried to have a positive attitude throughout the entire process from diagnosis to treatment. I knew that this was just a small detour in my life. I rarely thought about anything negative.
When I hear of someone being diagnosed with cancer and I have a chance to talk to them.
I tell them my story.
I let them know how important attitude is. I tell them to trust their doctors but to also be an active participant in their own care.
It is important to research your own symptoms and to share those findings with your provider of care.
It is your responsibility to make sure each one of your doctors knows whats going on. Communication is key.
I also tell them to let other people help them. My friends and family helped me so much with their love and support.

I have three amazing and wonderful children. They are my motivation for most everything that I do.
Charles is 22 and will be graduating from GA. State this December with a BA in Journalism and a minor in History.
Christina is 19 and she attends Brenau University . She is in her second year and is studying theatre and dance.
Tyler is 17 and is a senior at Norcross High school. He would like to study theatre in College.
I am so very proud of them and I love them dearly.

I have been an active participant in the American Cancer Societies fundraiser, Relay For Life in Gwinnett County, Georgia.
My team is Mothers and Daughters Against Cancer.

martha worthy
Norcross, GA

Breast Cancer Changed My Life...for the Better!

I found my breast cancer lump myself on April 10, 2010, went to the doctor and said, "I have this lump, let's get this show on the road because I'm busy". I finished all of my treatment (surgery, chemo and radiation) on October 1 and I truly feel stronger, better, more grateful, more balanced, more loving, wiser and more authentic than ever before. It was through the strength of my friends and family's support and meeting the most amazing "classmates" along the way that I can honestly say, if I had not went through this journey, I wish I would have - they gave me hope and inspiration. My life never revolved around the cancer, but it is now more enriched because of it and now I will never forget...cancer is a word, not a sentence. My life's journey is beginning a new chapter - the best one yet.

Jill
Raleigh, NC

early detection

Was diagnosed with tubular breast cancer 9 1/2 years ago and underwent lumpectomy and radiation. I was just diagnosed with invasive ductal Ca in my other breast and had a lumpectomy and axillary node dissection. I will soon have radiation again. I have no family history and they were both found only through mammogram. Please, Please have your mammograms. They are so important!!!!

Judie
Yuma, AZ