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My Journey

In the fall of 2005, my husband left me and two months later, my mom died unexpectedly. The autopsy showed she had cancer throughout her body which started in her lungs. My world was turned upside down. I managed to pull myself together by the following spring and tried to get my life back together. I met a man and things were looking up. In June 2007, at the age of 39, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I thought it was a death sentence. I thought about my son and once again I pulled myself together and started a journey I will never forget. After many surgeries, chemo, radiation and herceptin treatments, I was cancer free but very weakened by the whole process physicaly and emotionally. It took me almost 6 months after my herceptin treatments stopped to start regaining some of my strength. I will never be the same person physically or emotionally but I am a better person because of my life experiences. I also managed to lose 100 pounds during these difficult years which I have managed to keep off by watching what I eat and exercising. I make sure to go to the doctors on a regular basis for my screenings and watch myself closely for any signs of recurrence. I do think about it coming back but I know I have been given a second chance and I am grateful for the little things everyday. Throughout this whole process, I have missed my mom terribly and have been unable to fill the void created by her death. I know she has been my guardian angel. So many women die from this disease every year. We must continue to fight for those that no longer have a voice.

Kim Toomey
Brasher Falls, NY

SURVIVOR 10042004

My name is Leanne Willcuts and I am a 37 year old, late stage 4 Breast Cancer Survivor.
I found a lump when I was 32 years old, and went to my sister to ask her what it was. She told me to go to the doctor that very day.
I went to the doctor and they sent me for a mammagram and an ultra sound. They misdiagnosed me.
2 weeks later it had double in size. We went for a second opinion on the ultra sound, and found that I had a tumor the size of a tennis ball.
It was a whirl wind expierence. They, quicker than I could even get used to the idea that I might have Cancer, got me into surgery and removed a very large tumor...and the surgeon came to my sister (my only support at the time since my mom and dad were out of town).
My poor sister had to hear that I had Breast Cancer and was probably in late stage 4. She waited until my mom got home to tell me, bless her heart.
Shortly after, they removed all 19 of my lymphnodes.
After my surgery my wound would not hold stiches, so I had to heal from the inside out. A nurse had to come out 2x a day to clean and dress the wound, and I could not start Chemo until the wound was healed.
Shortly after starting Chemo, the doctors told me I only had 6 months to live because it had spread to my liver.

I never believed I would die, so I fought it!
With a tremendous support group as my family...here I am today.
I am very proud to be a Breast Cancer Survivor. It changed my life!
Thank you God!

Leanne Willcuts
Lacey, WA

A New Road

I found out that I had Breast Cancer in Nov. of 2009 at age 34. It is invasive ductual carcinoma, poorly differentiated, grade III. It was a very aggressive tumor and it had spread to my lymph nodes. I had a lumpectomy a week after I found out that I had Cancer and now I am going through Chemo. On Saturday night I had to ask my boyfriend to shave my hair off because my head hurt to have it touched. I laughed and cried through the process as my two older daughters watched. It feels better and I seem to be getting through Chemo pretty good. Being diagnosed with Cancer ...is life changing. It makes you cry, question God, you get scared, makes you feel very alone, and you beg God for your life and tell him all the reasons why you want to be here.. At the same time you open the door to great relationships and caring people who want to be a part of your life and see you through your changes. These people have a true gift of compassion and I would say that if you have Cancer, allow them into your life. I am so amazed of what Cancer does not only to the person with Cancer, but the people that are in contact with a cancer patient. A new bond is made , a new life begins. My three daughters and I talk more, we pray together, we volunteer to help others and I feel blessed. I have made new friends, who I cherish. God and I, oh we talk alot, that is for sure. I thank him for everyday I stay on this side of the grass. Cancer is a New Road, I pray for all who travel it.

Anna
El Dorado, KS

god is good

i was diagnosed with breast cancer in may 2009 at the age of 49. when my doctor told me all i thought was im dead. i had a small cancer in my right breast the size of a grain of salt is how my doctor decribed it. i had a lumpectomy in june 09 and went thru radiation for 6 weeks. im doing fine now and i thank god and my husband for the support of making it through this night mare. i just kept asking god to please let me be around to see my 8 year old granddaughter grow up. i am so blessed that i had my family but mainly my husband of 30 years to walk through this with me. mammograms are so importyant i have gotten them faithfully since 40 years old. and glad i did because its what found my breast cancer. im very lucky to have beat this and with gods help ill continue to always beat this horrible diaese. i feel so blessed.

brenda
toledo, OH

My Breast Cancer Story

I was diagnosed in Oct 2009 with left breast cancer and spread into the lymph nodes. To say I was devisitated is putting it mildly. After the shock, denial tears and finally acceptance of what was happening I did everything I could to make my life right with God in case I did not survive.
I am about to go get my 6th of 8 chemo and then I face surgery. they have put me on an inhibitor for a year as well.
I have been sick weary and have faced a myriad of emotions. I havve learned so much about others and gained so much from this that I am actually grateful that I have had this experience. My sons have been my greatest support. My younger son Jeff lives with me and on bad days he takes total care of me. He is only 21 years old but he has grown up so fast.
I have gotten closer to God than I ever thought possible and if it took this for me to get close to Him then it was more than worth it.
My onocologist says I have an excellent prognosis. I havve reseponded well to chemo and I have an upbeat attitiude.
If I had never gotten cancer I am not sure I would be as happy as I am.
My scariest moment was when I layed on the floor and said God I give you this whole deal. If I live or die is up to you and I trust that either way You are doing what is best for me. To give up that kind of control was a huge step for me.
After I get well I want to help other cancer victims get through their treatments.

Bonnie
McAlester, OK

my moeder

my ma is so 3 mnd terug met borskanker gediagnoseer dit was vir almal n groot skok want niemand het gedink dit sal met ons familie gebeur bloot oor die fiet dat daar geen kanker in ons familie is nie. haar bors is die 17 de desember afgesit en sy is die 19 des ontslaan, sy is n baie strerk vrou en vat die hele storie nogal goed.
Ek en sy het een dag so in die badkamer gestaan want sy wou n bra aantrek maar oor haar wond nog seer was kon sy nie, ek het toe voorgestel dat sy een van hierdie sport tipe bra aantrek, dit het so vreemd gelyk dat ons altwee in trane uitgebars het net die blote feit dat daar geen meer bors was,was snaaks, dit was die enigste keer wat ons gehuil het. vandag was sy vir haar eerste afspraak by die kanker dokter en sy gan nou begin met gemo, hulle het gese dit sal 28 weke van behandeling wees. dit is n lang pad wat nog vir ns voor le. so almal wat lees bid vir ons asseblief. groette sonja

SONJA
PRETORIA, South Africa

Mammograms are so important

At the age of 45, I was diagnosed with DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma in situ). It is the earliest stages of breast cancer. I was already one year overdue on my annual mammogram. There is no history of breast cancer in my family. The doctors say they find breast cancer more and more in younger women, and it's due to the environment. After a lumpectomy and six weeks of radiation, I can say that I am a one year survivor. I thank God that my cancer was caught so early. PLEASE DON'T PUT OFF HAVING YOUR MAMMOGRAMS!!!

Karin Smith
Tyler, TX

Humor saved my life

I was diagnosed with Breast cancer on May 26, 2009. I went through surgery, Chemotherapy and Radiation. I just finished the last Radiation treatment on January 20, 2010. It was a very challenging time in my life. I am very fortunate that I have great Doctors and that I still have my humor. I guess you could say that it was God who saved my life because he gave me my humor. Being bald didn't bother me as much as it probably should have. I decided that I was going to laugh at Cancer and my baldness by purchasing several Halloween wigs and taking pics with them on and wearing them to my Chemo treatments. Not only did it make me laugh, it made the other patients and staff laugh. I love to make other people laugh because laughter is the best medicine as the old saying goes. I feel great now and just waiting for the next step. I AM a survivor. I am blessed to have so many people praying and supporting me. Thank you all.

Pam
Oxnard, CA

Our baby girl will cure cancer!

My husband and I were surprised to discover we were expecting our third child. We began to discuss that there must be a higher purpose for the baby. We already had two boys and thought our family was complete. I had an ultrasound around 20 weeks and I was excited to hear that our baby is a girl! We began to discuss names and again returned to the discussion of her "higher purpose" in the world. God must have a grand plan for her since her arrival was such a surprise. My husband decided, "She was brought here to cure cancer."

Little did we know, that we would soon have a strong motivation for her to find a cure! I found a large lump in my breast while I was pregnant, but figured that it must be one of those strange pregnancy things that happen to a woman's body. The lump didn't go away after our daughter was born. Eight weeks after her birth, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Thanks to a lot of prayer, excellent care from my doctors and nurses, chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation...I'm cancer free. I have attached a picture of my kids and me that was taken on my last day of radiation treatments.

My daughter will turn three next month! I continue to pray for a cure...even if my daughter is not the one to discover it!

Julia Teahen
Grand Blanc, MI

My brave mum

As I type this, my mum is in theatre undergoing a 10 hour operation following the return of her breast cancer....I'll start at the beginning.
Mum was diagnosed with Grade III breast cancer in her left breast, 3 years ago. After a masectomy, Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy, life returned to normal. She changed her career, becoming a Care worker for disabled adults, thoroughly loving her work, enrolling in computer course and taking exams for the first time in her life!
Just before Christmas, she found a further lump on her left chest wall, where her breast had been removed previously. A punch biopsy revealed the cancer had indeed returned, convinced it had spread we were delighted to find that it was in fact an isolated tumour and could be operated on. The bad news is, the operation is major, involving removal of ribs, muscle and skin grafts...all very unpleasant yet totally amazing what the medical profession can do these days.
That said, there is an element of unfairness to it all. Mum is only 56, we lost my dad at 50 to the big C too, it is a truly horrible, painstaking disease.
My mum is an inspiration to us all, never complaining and thinking only about the impact this has on us, her children and grandchildren.
Hopefully, she will come through the operation and it will give her time, thats all we ask for.
To everyone out there currently fighting this disease and to all of the families and friends acting as a support network, stay strong and have hope...xx

Leanne Gregg
Sutton Coldfield, United Kingdom