Historic Devastation: Hurricane Helene Left 500 Miles of Misery. Send Aid Now 

Share Your Story

Share your inspirational survivor or supporter story with others

Breast cancer survivor

At age 53, I was diagnosed with breast cancer during my annual mammogram. My mother was 35 when she was diagnosed so I felt I made it pretty far before my diagnosis. My cancer was called "micro calcifications in a cluster". In other words, NO LUMP! This form only shows up on a mammogram or sonogram. Self examination is important but annual mammograms are essential. Don't play Russian roulette with your body--get that annual mammogram! I had a simple mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. Luckily, I had no lymph node involvement and didn't require radiation or chemo. I did take tamoxifen for 5 years. In June, I'll be able to say I'm an 11 year survivor.

Beth Bivona
Port Chester, NY

Survivor

Hi, i would like to share my story of hope, I was diagnosised with breast cancer at the age of 46, The journey started with a lumpectomy and seninel node biospy which was diagnsised to be grade 3 aggressive cancer which had progressed into one of my lymph nodes and was in the margins. My specialist whom I am so grateful too, stated that it would be best to have a left mascetomy and all my lymph nodes removed from my left arm, I am glad this decision was made as there were still three lots of cancer left within different sections of my breast and in my nipple. I was so very forunate to have no more cancer in any more lymph nodes. This then followed with chemo which I found very emotional losing my long hair, it was hard enough losing a breast. I am very grateful to be one year in remission and living a healthy life, I am grateful to the cancer care nurses, my work, friends and a special thanks to my family for the support through this very emotional time. I think the waiting for the results to be one of the hardest things and encourage others to talk about their feelings and always hold onto hope. I do not live in fear of it returning because I will not let that control my life, instead I am very vigilant with my appointments and know if it does return I will get it early and live to tell another story. Karen

Karen
St Marys, Australia
THEIR TRANSCENDING MOMENT!!

THEIR TRANSCENDING MOMENT!!

This is an excerpt from a note that Leah Walsh posted to her mother.

I am Joanne Walsh's daughter and that’s the most important thing you need to know. My mom has 3 children, 2 grandchildren and has just BEAT breast cancer!

I see the effect her diagnosis has had on me, as a mother, a daughter, sister, and friend. I have transcended with my mother from something small to something great and beautiful. I have never felt the emotions of strength, courage, fear, and helplessness all in one tear drop. I have never felt so needed and motherly as I had the day she was diagnosed. I had made myself Captain in the battle of breast cancer, and I was not going to lose. I the daughter had become the mother and my mother had become my daughter, which was our first transcending moment. She was my little girl, and needed ME to call and make every appointment, be at every surgery, drive her to every appointment. She needed me just the way I needed her all those years before. I must admit I ate up the authority and responsibility I had received from being Mom's "Boss". Having my cancer notebook at all the appointments as her doctor just smiled, I checked off all the questions that needed to be asked, and took notes on her every word. I don’t know if mom would agree but I think I did a pretty good job, and if she doesn’t agree, I'll just ground her! At some point, I'm not sure when, we each transcended back into our original roles as mother and daughter. She was driving herself to chemo and calling me to see how I was feeling. I thank God and Papa everyday that mom is a SURVIVOR.

Ruth M.Russell-Hlad
Brunswick, OH

Unexpected Lump

I'm 39, and I've always done breast self exams just because, but on this night while showering, I felt something different. It was the beginning of April 2009, a lump was between my left breast and arm pit. Oh no, was my first thought. Of course, I stayed up worrying all night. The next day I went to my Section Chief''s office, which is a nurse, to get her opinion. The Mammagram was scheduled on April 28th. While there the lady said "we need to do an Ultrasound too". While on the table, the ladies were talking about the size of the lump and their facial expressions were telling me that this was not turning out to be a good day. They left out and a doctor walked in and said "what's your schedule like today, because we need to do a biopsy on you", my response was, I'll give my supervisor a call and let her know what's going on. On Thursday, April 29, 2009 at 1:20p.m. while driving down I-30 to Arkadelphia, I received the dreaded phone call. The voice on the other end asked, "Is this a good time", I said yes. " Well it is Cancerous, but it's not a lot." I have no idea what was said after that. All I could think of was getting to the gas station so I could let it all out.

Monday, May 4, I had an appointment with the surgeon, and the surgery was scheduled for May 17th. The lump was 4.2 and Medullary was the type of breast cancer. I had 16 weeks of chemotheraphy and 6 weeks of Radiation. All of the doctors and nurses that I had, were wonderful. I must say with the help of God, family and friends, I made it.

Renee Williams
Little Rock, AR
My Breast Cancer Experience

My Breast Cancer Experience

In October 2007 I had my yearly mammogram, which I had been doing for 15 years since I turned 40. This was the first time they offered the Image Checker which magnifies. They found a small breast lump, I had a biopsy, and the morning after Thanksgiving they called and said it was cancer. I was fortunate to be able to get appointments quickly, had a lumpectomy on December 6, then had 32 radiation treatments from February to April 2008. I started my radiation treatments the day before my husband had surgery for his second kidney cancer (one in each kidney) at UVA, so I was a cancer patient and a caregiver. My oncologist, my family, and co-workers were wonderful. God has really blessed us. We're now both cancer free and I work with the Radford, Virginia Relay for Life as survivor chairperson, and I offer advice and support whenever I can. We have eleven grandchildren ages 16 years to 8 months, and I plan on being around to see them all grow up.

Marie Archer
Max Meadows, VA
My Very First Mammogram!

My Very First Mammogram!

In March of 2007 I had my very first mammogram, I was almost 41. The mammogram showed a tumor that wasn't felt. I under went surgery and had two positive lymphnodes, so I had another surgery to check the rest of the nodes under my arm and they were clear. I had 6 TAC chemos (lost my hair...the photo is my favorite wig) and 7 weeks of radiation. I'm now on tamoxifen for 5 years then arimidex for another 5 years. That was some journey...I feel like that very first mammogram saved my life! Please keep clicking!

Lisa
Bakersfield, CA

Self Breast Exam Saved My Life

My story begins on my daughter's 25th birthday. I was doing my self-breast exam and found a "pea size lump"...since my mother also had
breast cancer, my first reaction was "it can't be anything, I just had my
yearly MAMMO in Nov. 2007 and everything was fine. I had an ultrasound,
needle biospy which confirmed that I had Stage 2 Lobular Carcinoma. I went for a Lumpectomy and the margins came back "not clean", so I opted for a double mastectomy in May 2008 with reconstructive surgery the same day (Expanders were placed in my "breast cavities" to give me a "little feeling of normal". I went thru 3 months of CHEMO, lost my hair, nausea, metal mouth, the works and all thru this I just keep saying "I WILL SURVIVE".and I have survived thanks to my wonderful surgeons and oncologist along with my family & many many friends. In Dec. 2009 I had my final (and hopefully my LAST) reconstructive surgery.
I am here to tell everyone PLEASE PLEASE do your monthly self-breast exams....if I didn't, I don't know if I would have been here today to tell my
story.

Paulette Pettorossi
Beacon, NY

A Single Cell

In January of 2009, I was diagnosed with stage II/III breast cancer. In spite of it all, I have found a beautiful light of love within the walls of this battlefield. Thanks to all who hold our hands, wipe our tears and lift our spirits..., it is you whom we are fighting for.

A Single Cell
By: Suzi Sundquist

What is this abnormality?
It's growing fast inside of me.
How did this happen, what have I done?
It's not my fault, the odds have won.
Mutation of a single cell,
You start with this, then go through Hell.
At first it's just a couple cuts,
But then it spreads, chemo's just nuts!
This poison kills all in its path,
Too weak, too sick, the aftermath!
I think I can beat it, I'll just have to try!
My family and friends, they won't say good-bye.
I know there's a reason, I'm not sure just why,
The Lord puts us through this, I look to the sky
For strength and for courage, the faith to get through it.
Support for my loved ones, I know you can do it.
Within all the scares, the bruises and pain,
Each minute of life, is our biggest gain.
I tell you, I love you! Don't want you to cry.
I'll try everything and try not to die.
But in the event, it is written that way.
Be sad not for me, just remember this day.
When we woke up this morning, the sun and its' glory,
Said hello to us all, now get on with your story.
For each of the days, we are given a chance
To love one another, make life our own dance.
So fear not for me, I'm grateful to say
I've been given a chance and yet, one more day!

Suzi Sundquist
Omaha, NE

Memories of Mammary

I was diagnosed in January of 2009. Eight operations and a chemotherapy treatment, I was sure was not for me, later..., and I have survived. The following poem was written during my battle as I tried to keep the positive thoughts rolling in my head for strength, a bit of humor for the funny bone and hope for my sanity. May it bring the same to you.

Memories of Mammary
By: Suzi Sundquist

Unique to us all, we get them at birth
Somewhat like a ball, they decorate earth
Though size it does vary, substantial to none
At times, hard to carry but can pack the fun
We watch in the mirror, with hopes they do grow
Stand close to be clearer, stuff no one will know
In time they do weather, then wrinkle and sag
Shrink thin as a feather, a vision or gag
In came the physician, bad news surely shared
Now what a position, no breast to be spared
Hang on to your senses, have faith in the reason
Stay clear of the fences, to all there’s a season
A void they will fill, they have every size
For pain there’s a pill, all perky the prize

Big hugs to all~

Suzi Sundquist
Omaha, NE

I Could be the Poster Child for Mammograms

At 33 I learned I the BRCA1 gene. I never missed a mammogram. This year at 39, and one day after seeing my doctor, her feeling nothing, and me having no complaints, I got my routine mammogram. There was a spot and in every way it appeared to be a cyst. After a biopsy, turned out it was a malignant tumor. I had triple negative cancer. There are no words to describe what goes through the human body when you hear the words "you have cancer". I vomited for days. I cried for days after that. I literally dehydrated myself.

Looking at my three children, I knew I had to snap out of it. I learned everything I could. One month to the day later, I had a bilateral mastectomy and am going to also have my ovaries out. My PET/CT showed no metastsizing, nothing in the bone, and nothing anywhere else in my body. My pathology report came back as a stage 1, 1.5 cm tumor, lymph nodes removed from both arms were negative, no vascular invasion, and I had a lymphatic response, my body was doing it's job trying to fight it off.

I feel that mammogram saved my life. I couldn't ask for a better scenario. Although I have a long road ahead of me, I am no longer afraid of cancer and I hope when I'm feeling better to one day let the world know how important mammograms really are.

Valerie
Hopewell Junction, NY