a very short story
My MUM 35 years clear and nothing new to report
ME 10 years clear and nothing new to report...
Lets hope that all of us can be as lucky as we have been.
Identity and Survival
I had been neglectful in my mammorgram check ups (at least 5 years) and being over 50 I should have known better. One night laying down, my breast seemed a little sore, so I decided to do a self breast exam. Upon doing so I found a lump. I wasn't too concerned as I had a fibroscistic disease in my breast for years so I thought this was part of the problem. Needless to say I went to the doctor who then sent me for a mammogram and a biopsy. It was stage 2 cancer with cancer in 1 lymph node. I had a lumpectomy done on both breasts as their were some pre-cancerous cells in my other breast as well. After surgery, chemo and radiation I am now a 3 year survivor. Looking back at this frightful time, and what I went through, I also remember when losing my hair and how upset I was. Of course I was more concerned about surviving, but when I lost my hair I felt a part of me was missing, it was my "identity" for 56 years (so I thought). Putting everything into perspective, I had a beautiful wig much like my own hair, my own hair did grow back thicker and curlier (I always had straight hair), I realized I was the same person inside just a little different on the outside and no matter what happens, I'm still ME. God was, and still is, a big part of my life. I had put my faith and fate in God's hands and left it all up to him. With the support and love from my wonderful family and friends, and knowing I had given the Cancer to God, I had the strength and courage to fight this awful disease.
Being Smart
Being Smart
I used to get my check-ups regularly. Then I fell on some hard times and didn't look around to see if I could still get my mammograms somewhere. So for a couple years, I didn't take care of me.
I had given my daughter a kidney and we were at her follow up appointment when I saw a sign that said "Free mammograms for uninsured or under insured". I said well since I am not working this would be a program for me.
I went and had the mammogram and I had ductal cancer. They got it early, took the lump out and radiated for six weeks. I have been cancer free in my right breast for nine years.
I have always had my yearly check-ups since then and now I just was told I have the same kind of cancer in the left beast .I just had the lump removed and will start radiation in a month. Once again they GOT It EARLY. I can't tell enough gals go get checked so this is not something they can't fix because it wasn't caught early enough.
The year of breast cancer
I am a Bladder cancer survivor, 6 years. Then last February 20th, I received the dreaded words "you have a malignancy and need a surgeon". Things went so fast, I didn't have time to let it sink in and I think this has caused me a lot of grief. I had my mammogram, then a diagnostic mammogram, an ultrasound, needle biopsy and a MRI (all in a week's time). Two weeks post diagnosis I was having surgery and three weeks later I was starting chemo. I wasn't told about the chemo until after talking to the Radiology Oncologist (I had agreed to 31 radiation treatments before they did the surgery). I was told I had triple negative breast cancer and that it was hard to treat (I, also, had two different types ofcancer cells in the tumor). The chemo was brutal and a year later I am still having some long term side effects. The radiation wasn't so bad, although it caused a lot of fatigue and some chestwall pain. I go this month for my mammogram to see if the cancer is still gone and I would like to encourage all women to get their mammograms and to do monthly self breast exams. I am a strong believer in them, although I had stopped getting them regularly until 4 years ago. Who knows when they would have found this cancer had it not been for my mammogram. Men, also, need to realize they too can get breast cancer and should do breast exams. I am the first in my family to develop breast cancer, but my Mom died fron Ovarian cancer which predisposed me to breast cancer. Please everyone note your family history and do everything possible to get early dectection of cancer and better yet to Prevent it.
The 4th Sister
Barbara had a persistent cough. It wasn't Broncitis like she thought. It was Ovarian cancer. Later she developed breast cancer too. Our world changed. When you think lightening doesn't strike twice, it does. Bonnie found a lump in her breast. Now 2 sisters were fighting cancer. I'll never forget the phone call when Brenna simply said, "I have what Bonnie has." I cried for days. My 3 sisters lost their battles in a span of 3 years and 13 days. They were 48, 46 and 34.
A few years later I read an article in the local paper asking for women at high risk for breast cancer to join the nationwide Breast Cancer Prevention Trial. Since I felt I was staring at the cross hairs of disaster, I signed up. I took Tamoxifen for 5 years. Results of the trial showed 50% fewer breast cancers in the group that took Tamoxifen. I hoped it was the magic bullet... and it was for 15 years. I never failed to have my annual mammogram. Over the years I was called back for more tests a number of times. The techs always paid close attention because of the family history. In 2008 I was sure the call back would prove to be nothing again. This time the look on the Doctor's face was different. I scarcely heard what was said as visions of my sisters rushed through my head.
1-1/2 yrs. later I'm on the other side of a bi-lateral mastectomy, 6mo. of chemo and working on reconstruction. That mammogram found cancer at stage 1 before a lump could even be felt. Technology unavailable when my sisters were ill typed it highly aggressive. Genetic test results will help my daughters be aware. I am going to be just fine. Technology saved my life.
My Story
I was diagnosed in August of 2003. I had my routine mammogram and it showed up there. I then had an ultrasound but the cancer did not show up on that. So I had a biopsy. And the cancer was confirmed. I called my three children and through tears I told them the news. Then I called my sisters. My husband was with me through the whole process and had just had quadruple heart bypass surgery a few weeks before and before that he had had one bad stroke and several small strokes. So for me to be diagnosed with breast cancer was like the icing on the cake. My doctor gave me the choice of lumpectomy or mastectomy, and since I was 60 years old I chose the mastectomy. My surgery took place on September 25, 2003, my one daughter's wedding anniversary. I am a strong person and knew I would beat this. But in my heart I was scared to death, and no one knew my fear. I have to say my family and my husband's family were very supportive. My sisters, one from Idaho, and the other from Ohio came to be with me for my surgery. And my son and daughter from Ohio also came to be with me. My daughter here in Pennsylvania, even though it was her anniversary, spent the day with me. I will never forget the day I took the dressing off to see the surgery sight. I was both surprised at how well it looked, but also horrified to see one of my breasts missing. My husband said he would rather I be without a breast than dead.That night I ask God to guide me through the process of accepting the fact I was missing a breast.
Three Year Survivor
I was 47 years old when i found a lump in my left Breast. Went in for a visit to my Ob.. She ordered a mammogram. After i had the mammogram they brought in a Radiologist who gave me the news that she saw (something very concerning). She referred me to a surgeon who i saw a week later. The first time i met my surgeon she did an ultrasound and a needle biopsy. Then i had to wait a couple of days for the results to come back. My Husband and i went in for the results together. My results were the big C word that no one wants to hear.
We opted to do a bilateral Mastectomy and that was done one week later. I opted to worry about reconstruction later.
I had surgery on December 20th of 2006. I had one month off and then started Chemotherapy. Did it weekly for 3 weeks then off one week for 6 months. Had a month off then Radiation daily for 6 weeks in the morning then off to work i went. I still have 5 little tattoo's from radiation marking.
During the chemo i worked tuesday-thursday. Did Chemo friday and took Monday off. During radiation i worked the whole time.
Now just did a latissumus flap and bilateral expanders three weeks ago.
I will be finished in about 6 months with all of my treatment except my follow ups with my Doctors.
Without all the support of my Husband, Daughter, Son and Sister and friends and co-workers this would have been much tougher to go thru.
I did the Susan Komen 3 day walk in 2008 with my daughter and co-workers. Am planning on doing it again this September with my Husband.
God Bless all affected.
Just Happy to have had a mammogram
I had my routine mammogram Dec. 26, 2000. I had been out doing a whirlwind shopping day with my two teen aged daughters. Ran in at the last minute for my annual test. I was a 43 year divorced mother. The mammogram discovered a small lump that I had not felt or never felt. I went from Dec 26, 2000 until Feb,12, 2001 praying, and believing all would be well. I had a right mastectomy on Feb 12, 2001 and chemo. I am so thankful to God that I recovered fully and have been running for my life ever since. I am thankful for that mammogram. I tell everyone to take a mammogram, and I click daily. I am a survivor and I would not take nothing for my life!!
my bout w/breast cancer &lucky to be alive.
i was dx at 54 w/inflammatoy breast cancer stage 3. this kind of bc is only found in 1-5% of bc's. my breast turned pink but thinking it was mastitis & no lump, i didn't go to the dr. for several wks. when it didn't go away. luckily no metastases to other parts of body. proceeded w/chemo, surgery & radiation & medication & happy to say i am a 10 yr. survivor though only 20-40% make it past 5yrs. this kind of cancer usually presents w/no lump, so one must always check for changes on the breast. most often women are in stage 4 when discovered.
Trust Yourself
I was diagnosed with very early stage breast cancer because of a skilled radiologist. All the doctors wanted me to have a lumpectomy, then chemo and radiation. I did a lot of research on my own and decided to go for a bi-lateral mastectomy instead, and NOT go the chemo/radiation route. The doctors thought that was overkill. But I was more worried about being sick all the time than I was about losing my breasts (I was 63). They honored my wishes. When the affected breast was biopsied they discovered another tumor that would have been out of the range of the radiation, one that hadn't shown on the mammogram! I also chose to avoid a lymphectomy. There was absolutely no sign of spreading, and I dreaded the side effects of a lymphectomy as much as the chemo, etc.
It has been almost two years and I'm doing great. I have never regretted my decision. My advice is to do your homework and trust yourself. Be a part of the decision making process. I don't even wear the fake boobs, and I don't feel diminished at all. I don't know what the official time frame is (five years?), but I already think of myself as a survivor!