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Living Proof of Early Detection

I would religiously get mammograms every year, always with a clean bill of health being the results. This year however my radiologist indicated that there were changes in the breast calcifications. After excision and biopsy, the results were still no cancer. My radiologist insisted that more needed to be done as there were changes, I had an MRI done indicating another area that needed to be biopsied. This came back as abnormal precancerous cells, which was promptly removed and I am now having followup treatment. Thanks to my radiologist being tenacious that something was wrong, even as he was wearing thin on my patience, I now owe my life to him because the abnormal cells were found so early. Thank you Dr. A.!

Anonymous
Spring City, PA

In Honor Of Mom

My mom passed away from breast cancer in 1990. I was 6 and my sister was 12... My dad was left with the 2 of us girls and no idea what to do on his own. My mom was the backbone of the family. She had an amazing spirit that people stillll tell me was one in a million. When she was first diagnosed, she was given only a short time to live. They were unsure of how severe the cancer was and what it would do to her body. My mom fought her battle for 5 long years and was finally laid to rest on Aug. 25, 1990. 15 years later, to remember, honor and forever keep her spirit alive, my sister and I took our life long passion of finding a cure one step further. We decided to get matching tattoos of the breast cancer PINK ribbon in honor of our mom and her battle. We would like the ribbon to show others the dedication we have to supporting a very important cause. In addition, we see our tattoos as a unique way to spread awareness and share our story with others.

Gigi Brindisi
Naperville, IL

Life after Breast Cancer

I was diagnosed in 2004 at the age of 37 with breast cancer, I had to have a right sided mastectomy and I chose to have reconstructive surgery, after many operations and a long road both physically and mentally this is me now, I never thought I'd look like I do now and it is thanks to NHS Grampian Breast Team and the Plastic Surgery Team that I do. I also thought I'd never feel like the old me again, as being told I had cancer and having to have such a visible womanly part removed was devastating. I'm sharing my story to hopefully help other women see that you can still look good after it and no one would know.

Helen Gordon
Aberdeen, United Kingdom

A Blessing - Not a Death Sentence

On September 29, 2004, I heard the words over the phone that no one wants to hear as they await biopsy results. "You tested positive. It is ductile carcinoma in situ." In that moment, my life came to a screeching halt. The nurse informed me to get the name of a good breast surgeon.

So at 44 years of age I had surgery, 7 1/2 weeks of radiation and then tamoxifen. Sixteen months later, my liver decided it did not like tamoxifen. I told the oncologist I was afraid after I stopped taking the tamoxifen. He simply told me not to worry because they were taking such good care of me. So I continued to see him, the breast surgeon and the women's center at Magee Woman's Hospital in the Burgh. Indeed, they did continue to take very good care of me.

Five years later, there are moments throughout my week that I fear a recurrence. If it grew in my body once, will it do so again? Do all of these foods and drinks with antioxidants really work? Or is it that nuclear power plant where I used to work? Or is it that cancer gene on my mom's side of the family? Or..

Five years later, I am a different woman. I am a grateful woman for being able to see my daughter march in her college graduation ceremony. I am a woman whose heart aches for children with cancer. I am a woman who wants to rescue every abused dog in the world. I am a woman who is so happy that the sun comes up every morning and that I am alive to see it. Most importantly, I am a woman who loves more deeply than ever before.

Jan Kaminski
Monaca, PA

Take Control of your health

In August 2000, my doctor saw something new on my mammogram. He told me to come back in six month for another one. That was a long six months for me. I went back in January and what he had seen appeared to be larger. I was advised to have a biopsy done. They set me up to be admitted the next week and have the problem removed. I went back to work to set up some time off from work. When I got to the office, I was told my employer's wife had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. The day before I was to enter the hospital for the needle aspiration, my mother had a biopsy done and we were told it was cancer. Needless to say, I was on pins and needles until I was told mine was benign.
My employer's wife chose to keep her breast and only have the one small area removed from her breast. My mother's surgery required a mastectomy of her left breast and part of the area below her left arm. My mother had gone in for a mammogram the December before her diagnosis because she had felt a lump. The person who "read" her mammogram told her there was nothing there. She made the mistake of trusting his word. My mother received chemo and radiation treatments. She lived another five years before the cancer came back in the form of acute lymphoma. She died six months later.
PLEASE. TAKE CONTROL AND DO NOT TAKE ONE PERSON'S DIAGNOSIS WHEN YOU FEEL A LUMP! DEMAND ANOTHER OPINION. THIS IS YOUR LIFE, not their life. If you are diagnosed with cancer, research for the best care. Don't settle for less.

Cathy N.
Cleveland, MS

I was lucky to have the doctor that I do

During a routine check up in the summer of 2007, my doctor suggested that I have a preventitive breast cancer surgery.I was shocked at her suggestion, but it gave me thought enough to do alot of research. I waited to decide after my yearly mamogram. For the 8th straight year it was normal. I set up an appointment to talk again to my family doctor, she said again that I really should see a specialist. I met with the specialist and she agreed with my family history I should have the surgery. (My aunt and great aunt died from breast cancer and my mother had breast cancer.) A MRI was scheduled so that the doctor would have no surprizes when she went in to remove the breast tissue. The MRI found a small mass very deep in the breast tissue. On November 9th, 2007 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. One month later I had a double mastectomy (my spelling is terrible). I started reconstruction at the time of surgery. Since my cancer was hormone based, I was not started on treatment until 18 months after surgery. I have 7 more months to go, only side affect I am having is increased Hot Flashes. I was tested for genitic BRACA 1 & 2. I am negitive, thank goodness. I have 2 daughters so that means that their risk is lower. I thank God and my doctor for the insight to suggest the surgery.

Anonymous
Wickliffe, OH

Andrea's story

I was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer one year ago after having successfully completed chemo and radiation for tonsilar throat cancer. I thank God that there are so many new medications and treatments available today. I chose to have lumpectomies after all of the doctors adviced this for me. One of the new treatments, which I'm now completing, is herceptin and I thank God for it. I've already completed the chemo and radiation and am waiting for my hair to grow back. I thank God for wigs, too. I also had the BRCA test which was negative and I shared this with my daughter and 10 yr. old granddaughter. The peace I've found is through prayer, my faith in God's word, and the loving support of a wonderful husband, daughter and many more family members as well as awesome friends.

Andrea
Los Angeles, CA

Early detection?

I was faithful to my yearly mammogram. But then came the year that it was misread by my specialist! A year and a half later I went for my next mammo and they found an 8cm tumor!!! Simple mistake?? Apparantly not, as two ladies that endured chemo with me had also had misread xrays by the same specialist!!! How do we prevent this from happening??????

Anonymous
Kenosha, WI

My Second Battle

My name is De Juan Fernandez, and I had breast cancer 10 yrs ago.
I had a mastectomy with reconstruction surgery. I also had chemo.
Now I have breast cancer on the other side. I have a lot of support from
family and friends. I look forward to being a part of the race for the cure
next year.

De Juan Fernandez
San Antonio, Tx

De Juan Fernandez
San Antonio, TX

So Young with so much lost

April 1, 2008 was the worst April Fools joke ever... but sadly, it wasn't a joke. A lump was found in my right breast and a biopsy ensued. On April 7, 2008 my life was forever changed. I was diagnosed with stage IIIB Inflammatory Breast Cancer, a rare and very aggressive form of Breast Cancer found in less than 5% of all Breast Cancer diagnosis.
I was 32 years old. I was the mother of a 1 1/2 year old son. I was 15 weeks pregnant with a baby girl. I was scared. In order to better treat my aggressive form of cancer (IBC), my husband and I made the agonizing decision to give up our baby. A decision we wish upon no one, but it was clear our baby girl was my guardian angel. It was a routine 4 month pre-natal checkup with my OB/GYN that revealed the lump in my right breast.
November 21, 2008, after 6 months of chemotherapy and a surgery in which my right breast and 18 level I & II lymph nodes were removed, I was declared clinically and pathologically CANCER FREE. 2009 began with 28 sessions of radiation, and while I still have 2 more months of Herceptin treatments and two more surgeries (a left side mastectomy and dual reconstruction) in the next 12 months,
I know how lonely breast cancer can make you feel, but I also know how great the cancer community is at helping others. When I was first diagnosed, I was lost. I had many questions, and not enough answers. I quickly learned how important it was to speak with women who had battled, and been down the same road previously. They helped me understand what the coming days, weeks, months and years would be like. Thanks!

Trisha
Redwood City, CA