Share Your Story

I had cancer but my Mom was the hero!!

I was living in Baltimore, MD when I was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 25 in 2000. My Mom was still living in Virginia which is where I'm originally from. She drove up to Baltimore when I had my first surgery and was told about the cancer and was there with me every 2 weeks when I had chemo. After chemo I had a month of radiation and was extremly sick from it and since I was pretty much by myself, my Mom drove up to Baltimore again and drove me back to VA to recooperate at her house for another 5 weeks. I couldn't have made it through the roughest 6 months of my life without my Mom. Thanks Mom and Happy Mother's Day!! I love you!!!

Melissa

Melissa Davis
Poquoson, VA

my best friend....

my story is about my wife. teina foell. the oldest daughter of 10 kids she was one of a kind. lived her life to the fullest. that was never more evident then when first diagnosed with cancer. as the kids and i fell apart she rose like a pillar of strength. she showed all of us just how to live our lives. show those you love how important they are to you. live for the moment. make each day count. but most of all just be happy, thankful for what you have. although she ultimately lost her fight. the lifes lessons still echo in our souls. i owe all i am to her. forever loved, missed, and cherished. remembered fondly on your day. happy mothers day sweetheart...

ken foell
dallas, PA

My story!

I am 29 yrs.old and have a wonderful hubby and 3 beautiful little girls..my world was turned upside down this last October..I had triple negative breast cancer I caught it with self-exam one night while seeing a commercial on breast cancer awarness..thankfully I found it in the early stages and had a double mactetomy in december and started chemo in january..Today was my last chemo treatment and while at some points I just wanted to quit I knew I couldnt..I had a family that needed me and I needed them... so I kept pushing and going..I am a fighter and a survivor and I will NOT let this disease take me from my family and friends.. I pray that one day they will find a cure for this awful disease!!! My prayers are with those who are going through this and for those that are family that are having to watch their loved ones go through it..Best of Luck to all of you!!!!

Vanessa Mandala
Chowchilla, CA

Ribbon's REAL Meaning

Let's NOT Glorify and Beautify a Ribbon that is only a symbol for destruction and death.
Let's not make it pretty and cute... when it causes heartache and pain.
Let's NOT sugar coat it - let's accept it for what it truly is.
My Mother didn't look pretty when she almost died and she didn't look beautiful when she had to fight,
She went through hell as did the Ribbon
She went through the darkest times of her life but came out strong
As did My Ribbon for Her!
I WILL Wear it, have it Scarred into my back to remind me of the Woman in my life who fought the hardest
never gave up, is stronger then she will ever appear to those on the outside.
I will always be reminded of the Woman who fights everyday to be well, to love and to still raise Her Children, her Grandchildren and now Great Grandchildren.
I WILL Wear Her Ribbon on me Always and know that it's not beautiful, it's not glorified, it's not made to be in destructive
I WILL Wear it knowing that everyday there is Hope no matter what the fires of Hell put us through, no matter how dark our hours seem
I WILL Wear it remembering... Remembering My Mother, My Grandmother and all the Women WHO fight!
My Ribbon represents what Breast Cancer Really IS!
It's a Ribbon that has gone through the battle and sometimes, just sometimes
Wins the War!

And this is My Ribbon Tattoo

Linda Powers
Sun Valley, CA

My Daughter - My Hero

My daughter Lisa was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer at the age of 32, 2 years ago. It was already in her lymph nodes. She has two beautiful boys - now ages 5 and 3. Needless to say, this is the worse news a mother could hear. Why was this her and not me? She fought this horrible disease with surgery, chemo and radiation. During this time, she remained so up and positive, it amazed me. She was in remission for only about 6 months and had a reoccurance. Because it appeared in a different area, it was now Stage 4. More surgery, more radiation and chemo. She also now has lympademia in her arm and hand. She has many side effects from the chemo from nausea, sores, etc.

Occasionally she gets depressed. The doctor said that is also a side effect from the chemo.

I have had many proud moments during my daughter's life, but I have never been more proud with the way she is handling this. She is the strongest woman I know. I am proud to say I am her mother.

God bless her and God bless all the women and men who are going through this. They deserve the best.

Jan Juris
West Haven, CT

They're Why I fight

I am a 32 yr old mother of 4. Late last year I found a pea sized lump in my right breast. Having no known family history of breast cancer, I brushed it off as a swollen milk duct. In Jan of this year, I went to have an exam. My dr also believed it to be no more than a swollen duct but insisted on an ultrasound as a precaution. After an ultrasound, mammagram, and biopsy I was told I had early stage DCIS and that I would need a mastectomy. My Drs believed that it had not spread. After the mastectomy we discovered that it had spread into 19 of my lympnodes. My early stage DCIS was now Stage 3 HER2+ Breast Cancer. I was told I would need 6 months chemo, 6 wks radiation and 1 year of Herceptin. I had a lifeport put in and began chemo. I am currently halfway through chemo. It has been a difficult time but I am surrounded by positive, loving people who constantly encourage me. There are times where I feel like giving up. The sickness from the chemo can make you feel SO defeated. But I look at my husband and children and know that I can NEVER give up. They need me as much as I need them and I will FIGHT until GOD says its time. To all the survivors who have shared their stories, thank you for your encouragement! And to those fighting now, STAY STRONG!! We CAN do this! God Bless you!

Melissa Cruz
Modesto, CA

A MALE BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS STORY!!!

YES, YOU READ THE TITLE CORRECT!! MY HUSBAND IS A MALE BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR. HE WAS DIAGNOSED IN DECEMBER OF 2007 AND UNDERWENT A MASTECTOMY ON THE 14TH OF DECEMBER 2007. HE HAS BEEN BATTELING THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS NOW WITH IT COMING BACK ALMOST EVERY 3 MONTHS WITH A VENGENCE. HE IS NOW IN STAGE 4 WITH COMPLICATIONS FROM BLOOD CLOTS FROM HIS PORT. HUGH HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO NOT ONLY ME BUT TO OUR WHOLE FAMILY AND MANY OF OUR FRIENDS. HE HAS KEPT HIS FAITH IN GOD AND VOWED TO MAKE THE BEST OF THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE BY SPREADING THE WORD OF EARLY DETECTION TO NOT ONLY WOMEN BUT TO THE MEN THAT CAN ALSO BE AFFECTED BY BREAST CANCER. WE HAVE DOCUMENTED HIS JOURNEY ON MYSPACE AT www.myspace.com/male_breast_cancer PLEASE TELL THE MEN IN YOUR LIFE THAT THEY TO NEED TO CHECK THEMSELVES, MAKE IT A MONTHLY THING TO DO TOGETHER!! PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE WORD AND GOD BLESS!!
KIM CAMPBELL

kim campbell
louisville, KY

My momma rocks!

My mother was just recently diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer. She found her lump by doing an at home breast exam. She's had a lumpectomy and also recently had a surgery to remove lymph nodes. She had 4 nodes test positive. She will start chemo within the next week or two which will last about 6 months. Although she's fearful of the unknown she is so ready to FIGHT! God is faithful and the Word tell us in Isiah 41:13 "I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, and I tell you, Don't be afraid. I will help you." My sisters and I are in awe over our beautiful and courageous mom. She has risen through extreme diversity and this will again be a testimony of her life. I'm standing firm that she will conquer and defeat this disease. We are all very much ready to support her, appointments or whatever the task may be. My mom is my hero. A real hero with a massive mountain to climb.

MY MOMMA ROCKS!!
Candace Gray

Candace Gray
Lubbock, TX

My Story

I have always been strong. From the time I started living on my own at 15 yrs of age and joining the Navy at 17. Even injurying my back in the Navy. All the back surgerys and all the pain had not completely brought me to my knees.
When the specialist called me back in and gave me the diagnosis in March 2009 that I had breast cancer.. I was in shock. My oldest son had just given me a grandchild in August 2009 and I would not get to see him grow up, I would not see my younger son grow to his potential! So many things race through your mind!
Then you have surgery, donate hair and start treatment. Chemotheraphy made me very ill. One day I went into the hospital and didn't go home. I had a fever of 105.5 and they couldn't bring it down. The doc came in and told me it didn't look good. I asked the doc to please save me. That is about the only thing I remember from those 5 out of 7 days in the hospital. All I know is that I had to make it.. I have too much to live for. But it was not easy. I am still healing.
This brought me to my knees!! Not only in prayer for myself, but for my family and all the other women that go through this! We are one! God Bless you and all your families. All the docs & nurses! We couldn't do it without you! This has given me a new lease on life! I hope to use every minute I have with the people I love! No one should take "life" for granted!

Andy Anderson
New Hope, MN

My Mummy

My mom was diagnosed with cancer over a decade ago, and courageously faced this disease and conquered it. Her fearless and enduring spirit has helped her to not only win this fight, but to also provide support to her three sisters, niece and countless others who have also battled this disease. She is my heroine, she is my warrior, she is my joy, my strength and the light of my life, she is my Mummy! I love her so . . .

Simone Roach
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago