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Pregnant with cancer

I found out I had breast cancer when I was 8 months pregnant. My pregnancy is what fed the tumor to grow fast. They induced me when I was 37 weeks. I started chemo bout a month later. Not a day goes by that I'm not scared of dieing. My son is 3 months old now and I stay strong for him. I'm 38 and he is my only child. Every time I get sad bout having breast cancer I look at his adorable smiling face and it cheers me up. I have 3 more treatments to go before I get my double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. My reconstructive surgeon gave me the option to either have my boobs redone from my body fat or to have implants. He said if he were to take it from my body,it be like having my normal boobs. I said why would i want droopy looking 38 year old boobs, when you can give me perky younger boobs lol. Lot of people say that I have a good sense of humor during this dark time of my life. I say you have. If I were to allow this to get me down, then I might as well lay there and die. I will survive this and beat it. I will join all my sisters out there who have overcome breast cancer.

Teresita
Dover, NJ

A Happy Ending

My story begins in August 2001 when I was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer at 40, 2 days after my operation my husband committed suicide ( not a good week). 9 yrs later after Chemo, radiotherapy, Zoladex injections and Tamoxifen I have had 3 weddings one of them mine I have a new younger husband :-) and 5 beautiful grandchildren the youngest is just 7 days old.

Always be positive in your outlook, life is for living and I'm looking forward to a long and happy one.

Let's all beat Cancer together..

The picture is me at my son's wedding last year with my granddaughter Freya.

ANNE HILL
Meopham, United Kingdom

I'm fighting for these guys xx

Nearly 10 years ago my Brother died of cancer, he was only 25.
Theres not a day goes by when i wish he was still here with us, And why!!
It's been nearly 2 years, I also was told i had Cancer.... I've been having treatment with out much success, But im still fighting & i am going to beat this....
I Normally don't like to talk about it, and find it difficult to share this with my family....
I don't want my family to suffer my pain,
I have a new Partner, he is the most wonderful person i have ever met, I feel guilty that i got sick, soon after i met my mr right, I have 5 fantastic children who are my life, ...........So watch this space......
I'm gonna beat this disease... Not for me, But for my Family,
I have so much love to give and i am soo loved back...
Nothing else matters , Love from my Family is everything, It's alittle bit of magic that keeps you fighting xxxxxxxxxxxx

sam
somerset, United Kingdom

The Silent Killer

In 1996 My Mother was Diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer - IBC. By the Time they found it it was too late. It Spread from one Breast to the Other and then Everywhere. My mother Died In 1998, She was only 38 years old. Even though I never saw her sick or in Pain i was it was unbearable for her. I was only 7 years old when she was diagnosed so when she was really sick she sent me to my grandmothers so i would see. She was so scared but never showed it.

Brittany Anderson
Cozad, NE

Surviving the fight.

In September of 2009, I found a lump in my breast just by chance. I am only 31 years old and never thought I would have breast cancer. No one in my family has had BC. I went for a follow up immediately where they detected a hormone fed, aggressive breast cancer. I have had a double mastectomy and am now undergoing chemotherapy. I am surviving the fight and plan to be here tell women out there that cancer does not descriminate against age, race, or gender for that matter. Please do self breast exams get regular check ups. It saved my life. Keep fighting the fight. We will win. I am.

Julie Hudnall
Morgantown, KY

Hidden Gifts

2 years ago, 1 year after my brother passed away from cancer at 29, I was diagnosed with CANCER. I went to the doctor by myself during lunch hour to check out a lump. I was certain that NO WAY I could have cancer. God would not do that to me so soon after the loss of my brother. I was told that same day that I had cancer and that I needed to see a surgeon for test to confirm. I sat on the bench thinking this is not real. Maybe they are wrong. I felt lost, confused and could not think straight. I had the right surgeon, plastic surgeon and oncologist all lined up because they were the same ones that we researched for my brother. My surgeon worked with plastic surgeon to do reconstruction at the same time. Best thing I could have done. I woke up with tata's and did not have to face additional surgeries with the dreaded drainage tubes. Yes that was the worst part for me. After a double mastectomy, reconstruction, chemo and now tamoxifen. I am GREAT. I was fortunate to stay busy with friends, family and yes I worked during the chemo treatments. My oncologist and my company worked with me to accomodate my schedule. Today I have 15 year old perky tata's that actually get me honks and even GP doctor was stunned that I had a double mastectomy. I now look back and really believe that God gave me a gift of compassion and Love of life that I did not have before. I use to put work first and now I love to swing on swings, and ride my pink bike like I did when I was 10 and laugh at least once a day.

Donis Simmons
Walker, LA

my aunt KIM JACKSON

I AM WRITING MY STORY ABOUT MY AUNT KIM JACKSON. SHE WAS THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE. SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER WHEN SHE WAS 29YRS OLD. SHE WAS VERY UPSET WITH THE IDEA OF HAVING THIS CANCER, HER LIFE FLASHED BEFORE HER EYES BUT SHE REAMINED TO TRUST GOD WITH EVERYTHING THAT SHE HAD. SHE WAS A LIGHT TO EVERONE SHE MET , SHE WORKED HARD AND VOLUNTEERED FOR MANY ORGANIZATIONS, SHE ALSO TOOK IN MANY PEOPLE IN HER HOME IF THEY DIDNT HAVE ANYWHERE TO STAY. SHE NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING BREAST CANCER SHE JUST LIVED LIFE AS IF IT WERE HER OWN. HER CANCER RETURNED BUT SHE NEVER SAID ANYTHING, SHE DIDNT WANT HER FAMILY TO WORRY, IN JULY OF 09 SHE WENT IN FOR A ROUTINE CHECK UP AND NEVER RECOVERD DUE TO COMPLICATIONS OF BREATHING, WE REMAINED AT HER SIDE UNTIL HER PASSING IN SEPTEMBER OF 09. SHE WILL GREATLY BE MISSED, BUT SHE WILL BE HEAVENS GAIN.......R.I.P.... KIM JACKSON

sheila
saint louis, MO

Tough little German lady

This story is about my mom, Gerda Taylor. She was from Munich Germany and one tough lady. She grew up during WWII and faced all kinds of other obsticles but Breast Cancer took her in 2006. She was first diagnosed in 1997. The doctors said she had to have a full mastectomy on her right side. The night before her surgery she couldn't sleep and came downstairs for a drink. She slipped on the bottom step and broke her left ankle. The Lord works in mysterious ways because she was more worried about her ankle than her cancer. She healed fast and the picture is her back home in Munich Germany for her sisters 60th birthday in 1999. It was the first time she'd been home in 25 years. The cancer came back three different times in the next seven years. She fought long and she fought hard, but on Feb 9, 2006 at 4 am, she passed away in her sleep. The same morning she was scheduled to come home from the hospital. I didn't get to tell her good bye, only that I'd see her later. I had to leave her to go back to work and thought for sure I'd see her the next day. But I will see her again and we will have just as much fun in Eternity as we did on that trip to Munich!

Jenny Kennington
Charleston, SC

Keeping the Faith

My story began 2002 when I found a lump in my right breast. I was 55 and enjoying being a grandmother. Stage III, surgery, chemo, and radiation. I had the support of my husband, sister, circle, and friends. We retired to a new home active life style and enjoying life to the fullest. In October I thought I had arthritis in my right hip. Had x-rays that supported that. It was not arthritis, but a tumor between my pelvis and hip bone. (Breast Cancer in the bone). After a hosptial stay, radiation, I was home but still in pain and on a walker. My new friends here have cleaned for me, made dinners, prayed, sat with me and helped me to laugh again. Not sure where this journey is going but I am going to fight Breast Cancer to the best of my ability. I do feel blessed that I had 8 healthy years to see 2 more grandchilden born. I hope to walk (even with a walker) this spring both for Susan Koman, and Relay for Life. We need to FIND A CURE!

Elaine Ferguson
Magnolia, DE

Loretta Lord

Seven years ago I met my now husband and instantly inherited an extremely large extended family. I love all of my family, but felt a special closeness to my sister-in-law, Loretta. Three years ago, Loretta was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time. She fought a hard and courageous battle, but was called home on January 21st, leaving behind her husband of 51 years, 6 children, 17 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and the rest of her loving family. Loretta's love and compassion will live on in all of us. The woman will be missed, but her spirit remains with us all.

Tracy Romeo
Ludlow, MA