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Diagnosed with malignant breast cancer on 7 January 2010

I discovered a walnut-size lump on the left side of my left breast on 23 December 2009. I did not have health insurance. The health department examined my breast on 28 December 2009. By then, my lump was 3x5 inches and very firm. They thought it was serious. I had my diagnostic mammogram and biopsy on 4 January 2010. The pathology report came back on 7 January 2010 and reads Invasive Mammary Carcinoma. The smaller print indicates I have ILC and IDC. My surgeon implanted a Sub Q Port on 15 January. I meet with my oncologist for the first time on 21 January. They will begin with chemo first, probably a full Mastectomy second, and then a cocktail of chemo and radiation third. To help other women and as a form of prayer therapy, I am blogging and writing how to articles on every thing I am learning along the way. I am blessed that most or all of my expenses per breast cancer will be covered.

I cut off 24 inches of hair to give to Locks of Love on 9 January. My husband has me on every prayer chain that he can get his hands on. I have a very strong faith and know that well-being abounds. I let myself indulge in a couple of pity parties; however, mostly, I feel strong and confident. With God's ever-present help, I will get through this. My mantra is: "I am looking good, feeling good, healthy and whole. I am a breast cancer survivor aka thriver." My favorite quote by Mary Baker Eddy: "To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, today is big with blessings." I am counting my blessings every day: God, my husband, my family, my friends, and the opportunity to be of service to others.

Debbie Dunn aka DJ Lyons
Mosheim, TN

Cancer Sucks!

I was diagnosed on July 17, 2009. I found a lump in my breast, I asked my husband his opinion & we both decided it was time to call the doc. I found out that day after having a mamogram. The radiologist told me I had a huge mass in my breast. I'm 35 yrs old, I have 2 girls 7 & 2. I have no history, no braca gene. I started chemo in Aug, I finnished my 6th chemo on Dec 15,2009. I am getting ready to have a double masetomy on Feb 1 2010.
I wil not let this diesase beat me! I will not let it become me. I know I am more than my breasts & I am certainly more than my hair!

Monica Gibbons
Morristown, NJ

1 year Survivor

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March of 2008. I had a lumpectomy & 8 lymph nodes removed in May and a second surgery in June because my margins were not clear, This was followed by chemo and radiation. My last radiation treatment was January of 2009 and I then began the count down to the magic 5 year cancer free mark. It's been a year since my last radiation treatment and my tests have all been good so far and I'm looking forward to a long cancer free life!

Mary Cellino
Phoenix, AZ

Surviving Breast Cancer

October 2005 hearing the words "it's cancer" had to be the 2 most scariest words in the world. My neighbor just had a double mastectomy & I was doing my routine check of my own breasts just a few days later & my fingers found the lump. My husband felt the lump & encouraged me to go to my doctor. From there I was sent to a specialist, a group of women doctors who only handle breast issues. All of this just weeks before our son was to get married on the beach in Florida. I was lucky as it was in the very early stage of cancer. I opted to first have 4 aggressive treatments of chemo in the hopes it would shrink the tumor & if it did then I would have a lumpectomy followed by radiation. The only thing that I insisted upon was that I see our son get married first before any treatment was to begin. I wanted to wear the beautiful gold halter style silk dress that my daughter-in-law helped pick and I proudly wore the pink ribbon on my dress that day too. Chemo began Thanksgiving week and I was thankful that I was still alive. Chemo worked, tumor shrunk, February 7, 2006 is when I became cancer free. I have a wonderful support group that I want to thank, my husband, sons & daughter-in-law who were all there every step of the way and also my friends. I'm 4 years cancer free and waiting to hit that 5 year anniversary. My attached photo was done for breast cancer awareness month although for me every month is breast cancer awareness. I tell ladies of the importance to learn self exam & practice it. It saved my life & can save yours!

Ramona Reeves
Cumming, GA

this one day

being one of those many few who get the bad news of.. " i am sorry. but we have found a cancerous tumor in your left breast and it is stage 1 cancer was the worst thing in the world for me. i have a 3 year old daughter and never in my life did i imagine i would be one to say i had breast cancer. the pain it does to you not only physically but mentally really can do a toll on you! i fought it for 7 months.. between the pain of chemo i went threw and almost all of my hair g one i managed to get threw it with the help of close friends.. i dont know where i would be without the prayers of friends and family! i had been cancer free for the last 9 months and 28 days and a new lump has been found. i pray i dont have to go threw it again but i know i am strong enough to wi n this battle again. anyone can!! i pray for all woman with with this horrible disease and i believe you can do it!! never ever give up becuase this to shall pass.

Cindy
FLorida, FL

In my forty-seventh year I prayed for change...

for release from the corporate wraith that drained my life of color and denied my soul its name. The change came as a shadow in the night, silent, severing my bonds while I still cried as a penitent. It called itself cancer and brought an answer to my prayer that was swift and sure: it exchanged my loathing of today for terror of tomorrow. But the grace, the fierce grace of my salvation, lay within the terror - - only terror could make me welcome the blade slicing away my once proud breasts, make me embrace as a lover the fire of chemotherapy that burned away the penitent. Now, I live my name- - teller of illuminated tales, singer of silent songs: Victoria's Arias.
I am the subject of change. Change is at once my Guide and my Journey, showing me who I am as it removes all I am not. Change that I resist destroys me, that which I accept purifies me. It has shown me what I am not: hair, breasts, youth, blossomed woman - - all these I've lost on this path. They were the past; I am forever now. Everything I have yet to be is within me, fully present in the moment. My art is the means of my changing; I need only create with color, fiber, texture, and all within my grasp in order to make myself more clearly present. By reducing old, worn textiles and anything else I can find to small pieces, as cancer reduced me, and creating from them a new garment, so I recreate myself stitch-by-stitch. Through my art, I am the change of my prayer.

I will celebrate 8 years survivorship on March 15, 2010.

victoria Clegg
Greensboro, NC

First 90 Days

I am a 34 single female. October 20, 2009 I was told "you have breast cancer". My life changed in a moment. I had not told anyone of my appointment and quickly found myself on the phone with my parents and my best friend to share the news. My mom and my best friend were on a plane the next morning to begin an incredible journey with me. From that day my journey has been one that has had many twists and turns along the way. My tumor was aggressive and growing daily, originally measured 10cm. I had a PET scan, a biopsy, a medi-port and chemo within 10 days. My first round of chemo showed instant results as my tumor began to shrink and for the first time I had some relief from the constant discomfort. But that would not last, after 2 weeks the tumor began to grow again and I was sent for an emergency Right Modified Radical Mastectomy which produced a 4lb 7 oz tumor measuring 15 cm. Yes, that's pounds! Followed up with a with a revision surgery 1 week later. From surgery I began radiation and an oral chemotherapy. Christmas Eve a second tumor returned to the same area as the first and I had a second biopsy and PET scan following the holidays. Results proved another tumor and cancer in another lymphnode in my chest. Surgery to remove the tumor the first week of January and the second lymphnode with cancer is being treated with radiation and new chemotherapy. I've recently started my third chemotherapy. January 20th marks 90 days, what a ride. I walk in confidence that the Lord will deliver me through this journey and I rest in His peace. I continue moving forward, whatever my lot, I will praise Him.

Jennifer Cunningham
Dallas, TX

I'm a survivor

In a new relationship with a wonderful man back in May 2007 I felt a small lump near my nipple, being the optomist that I am felt sure it would be of no concern how wrong was I ? > the next few weeks were distressing & confusing hearing about the required treatment. From the lumpectomy operation to then further lymph node removal followed with chemo & radiation treatment all taking 12months to complete. How did we get thru that time ? Fantastic girl friends & family who were there for me & my loving partner at my side constantly. Deciding that this interuption to my / our life was to be a minimal as possible I decided that we would continue as normally as we could. I planned on breaking in a young horse giving me reason to get up & out which helped me tremendously. The 12months flew by before we knew it all the treatment was done & dusted here we were planning a wedding what a celebration.
Here we are now 2010 my health is fantastic my life is wondeful we enjoy every day that we are blessed with, keep it simple, don't sweat the little things tell your family & loved ones that they are special to you and keep on smiling.
The breast cancer clinics have provided wonderful support for all the women and men battling cancer, what a great organisation to have when our lives momentarily fall apart they help pick up the pieces & hold your hand.
Life after breast cancer for many yes it's wonderful, lets also remember those not so fortunate to survive their journey. Sue Rowden

SueRowden
Mt Pleasant, Australia

A Delicate Pink Rose

I met Janet Connolly when I got my first REAL job. My first impression was that she would be one of those tough supervisors. But as I got to work with her and as time passed, I got to know her well. And as it turns out, Janet had a heart of gold.

She may have given people the wrong impression because she sometimes appeared to be grumpy. Its just that she had had a hard live. Really, Janet was like a rose - once you got past the thorn, you smelled the sweet fragrance and felt the soft petals.

Throughout the years, I got to know her more. She loved her daughter and grandsons SO much. We shared many laughs - she was really funny and FUN to be with. She was very honest, and never one to talk behind someone's back. She was very talented: she made pottery, painted, knitted and was an amazing Supervisor at work. She called her underlings her "girls" and she took care of us like daughters. We also found out that she was an amazing dancer - she really knew how to get her groove on!

To our shock, Janet was diagnosed with cancer early in 2009. We, her girls from the office, witnessed how cancer slowly took her away from us. It was as painful to watch her die as it must have been to receive treatment.

I thank God I was able to tell her how important she was to me and what an impact she made on my life.

On Monday, December 21, 2009, my friend Janet lost her battle with cancer. My heart aches at the loss of such an amazing woman. A woman of dignity and character. A woman with a heart of gold. A delicate pink rose.

Norma Trivino
Richmond Hill, Canada

Diagnosed by First Mammogram

In 2006, I was forty one years old, and at a routine physical, my doctor told me I was a year late in having my first mammogram. I wasn't concerned. I had no family history of cancer,and I had no known risk factors. She had her office schedule it, and I promptly called and cancelled it, thinking I was too busy to bother with it.

Luckily, as a teacher, I had to view a video with my class promoting the Relay for Life which was to take place at our high school. In the video, the narrator stated that cancer can happen to anyone, regardless of family history or risk factors. I had honestly never known that. I really thought cancer was not something I had to worry about, but after seeing this video, that mammogram appointment I'd cancelled began to nag at me, so I rescheduled it.

Thank goodness I did. I had the mammogram done in the middle of the week, and by Friday, my answering machine was full of messages from the imaging center, telling me I had to come back in for more testing. I went into immediate denial, and did not return the calls. By Monday, my family doctor was on the phone, telling me to get in there and follow up with more testing. After an ultrasound, and an MRI, along with six biopsies , I learned that I had stage II cancer in two areas of my left breast, as well as numerous areas of DCIS.. The tumors were highly aggressive. I opted to have a bilateral mastectomy and follow up with chemo. I am a three year survivor now, and I tell everyone , mammograms save lives. If I had not rescheduled my appointment, I might not be here today.

Karen
Clio, MI