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My Grandma's story

I remember it like it was yesterday, it was my second semester of my freshman year of college and I just found out that my grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer! I was devestated. Even so, my grandma was one of the lucky ones who didn't have to have a breast removed. Just the lump that they found cancerous. I remember her going through chemo and radiation and how tired it made her. My grandma and I became very close that summer as she went through her treatments and we closer than ever now! My grandma is one of the strongest women I know and as of today, almost three years later, she is still cancer free!!!

Rachel
Moberly, MO

I'm a Survivor

I had a biiopsy the day before Thanksgiving 2008. The physician said she was 99% sure it was a malignant. 5 days latercame the phone call with news of a Triple negative tumor, Grade 3. I was terrified. On that cold December day I thought I was being told my life was ending. But after a lumpectomy, Contura catheter seed radiation, and 6 months of Chemotherapy, I am now a Survivor. My GYN's persistance probably saved my life. I believe God gave her the mind set and insistance that I have an MRI, otherwise 6 or 8 months later, when it would have been found it would have been too late!!! Even after knowing where the tumor was, they had to take 8 views to bring it out on a mammogram due to the close proximity to the chest wall.
Keep those appointments for Mammograms, special views, whatever is recommended. Follow your own intuition. And don't forget to do your own self exam. IT may save someone's life YOURS!!!!!!!!!!! Keep a positive outlook, it makes such a difference.

Anonymous
Dallas, TX

15 years!!

I was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 33 years old. It seemed like a nightmare at the time but now 15 years later, I am enjoying life to its fullest as a grandmother of five!
After I found my lump, two different doctors said the same thing to me. "99.9% sure it is nothing." One doctor said, "Let’s just wait and check it again in a few months". The second opinion said, "Yes, we can wait and worry about it for three months or we can just remove it now." I am sure glad we decided to remove it as the lump turned out to be malignant. I had a lumpectomy and an ancillary dissection. No lymph nodes were impacted but the results of the lymph nodes removal has left me with lymphedema in my right arm. It serves as a constant reminder of how fortunate I am to still be alive and well.
Since I was only 33 at the time when I found the lump, I thought the surgery would be sufficient to treat the cancer. It was a small lump and since it had not spread to my lymph nodes I thought I would not have to go through any further treatments. However, I underwent six months of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation. Now, as others go through this recovery process I find myself not giving them sympathy but instead empathy. I have been there and know what they are going through. I believe this in itself is a gift from God…being able to comfort others that are now going through what I went through. God works in mysterious ways and I am so thankful that He is using me.

Marji Baumann
Tempe, AZ

My sister's mammogram saved my life, too.

My name is Melissa and I am a 35 year-old breast cancer survivor. On June 12th, I was diagnosed with DCIS. I had no palpable lumps, and I felt great physically. My sister was diagnosed with DCIS in February of this year and is a breast cancer survivor. When I told my doctor that my sister had been diagnosed with DCIS, he referred me for a mammogram. I thank God everyday that I beat this, and for my sister being faithful in getting her yearly mammograms. She saved both of our lives. From the day I was diagnosed, I put my faith in God and my trust in my doctors and surgeons, and made the most of every day. I'm in the reconstruction phase now, and I'm continuing to live life to its fullest just as I did before I was diagnosed. It will be the end of March until my reconstruction is complete, but it will all be worth it. God Bless all of the women out there who are fighting, those who have won the battle, and those who were taken from us too soon.

Melissa Kreisher
Morgantown, WV

Lisa's Journey

I was 42 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was experiencing terrible pain in my left breast. I knew the inevitable. I underwent a lumpectomy, sentinal node disection (of course the cancer was through my lymph nodes already because I am HER2NU posititve), chemotherapy, and radiation. My tumor was not detected since it was so miniscule, however the cancer spread through my system like wildfire due to the HER2NU gene. My doctors saved my breast due to the size of the tumor, but more importantly my life.

I am a much better and stronger woman for this journey! Take time to smell the roses, and listen to the messages from your body. It's all about awareness!

Lisa Pelazza
Stamford, CT

Faith and hope will keep us strong

A month ago, at the tender age of 26 I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma stage 2. Having a very strong family history, I would only imagine what it would be. My great grandmother and her daughter passed away, and my aunt whom was also 26 was diagnosed with cancer. It has been her battle and survival that has kept me optimistic, positive, strong and hopeful. I got a lumpectomy with glymph node dissection and thank God, all my glymphs returned negative. I'm now starting my ct exams and all the other stuff to beging chemo and then radiation. WE MUST NOT GIVE UP AND FIGHT WITH ALL OUR COURAGE.

Marlene Ramos
New York, NY

Living is a Blessing

In 1997 I found a lump while drying off after a shower. I battled for 2 months just to get the test I needed. See, just like many here, I was 32 with no history of cancer, I exercised, did not smoke, my diet was good, but I too was diagnosed with Stage 2 DCIS also invasive. I did not cry, I only asked "what do I do now, what are my options". After a lumpectomy w/ auxillary disection, 1 lymph node out of 32 was positive, I did 4 rounds of chemo, 37 days of radiation and I was off to a different life, A life where I knew without a doubt that living is a blessing. I had two children 6 yrs old son and 12 year old daughter that I very much wanted to enjoy.
I wasn't placed on any form of preventive treatment until 18 months later. When we moved and I got a new doctor. I feel that this delay is what brought on the return of the cancer in 2004, the same day my daughter told us we were going to be grandparents. This time I was told I had metastatic breast cancer and did another 6 rounds of chemo. I had been clear at that point for 6 yrs! I remained cancer free two more years. I am battling now, I live a pretty normal life. I work, I travel to see my grandbabies, I saw my son graduate and he is now in college. You all know that at some point you have a fear of never seeing these things come to pass. I trust in God! I smile,to show that I know, that even on a bad day, that yes, even then, living is a blessing.

It won't bring me down......

Teresa Smith Poppert
Vine Grove, KY

My little pink bundle

In October of 2007 I was diagnosed with ductal breast cancer and tested positive of the BRCA gene. I had a bilateral mastectomy and found i had cancer in both breast. My mom had a bilateral mastectomy in her sixties and is 82 years old cancer free. I completed my reconstruction surgery in March of 2008. I became pregnant at the age of 42 in December of 2008. I now have a healthly baby girl. I will continue to check my ovararies and that will be my next challenge to remove them. Keeping a postitive attitude and having the support of my family and friends have been amazing. Breast Cancer changed my life and gave me a purpose. I am now blessed with our baby girl and a new outlook on life. Never give up and give back as much as you can. May god bless all those suffering with this disease at this moment.

Raf
Hoboken, NJ

Listen to Your Pet and Yourself...

My Maternal Grandmother died of breast cancer, my Mom struggled with it for 11 years, till she passed in 1987. As I promised Mom I had my mammogram each year on her birthday after that.
In 2006, my old cat, Jack, who had already saved my life once, began getting on my chest and persistently kneading my right breast till it hurt. If stopped him, he jumped up and started again. It was aggravating, and began to really hurt, but I didn't "hear" what he was telling me.
I went for my mammogram that year and though in the back of my mind I had always suspected one day I would hear the words, it was still a shock; I had 2 DCIS along with 2 LCIS IN EACH SIDE, all pre-cancerous, stage 4.
Having watched my Mom's struggle, I had decided long ago, if the time came, I'd have a bi-lateral mastectomy.
My Oncologist wanted lumpectomies w/chemo and was very unhappy , and became very rude to me. Looking back, Im surprised I didn't do what he said, but my mind was made up and my surgeon luckily, agreed with me.
At my post surgery appointment my surgeon came in smiling and said "Sue, you made exactly the right decision..." All the pre surgical tests I had failed to detect an invasive cancerous tumor near my ribs, but they got it all and my lymph nodes were clear.
I left the room completely speechless. As we got into the elevator I burst into tears, for all the women who like myself would normally have just done what their Dr told them instead of listening to their inner voice and I was SO happy for once I had believed in myself enough to listen to mine.

Sue Clynick
Andover, SD

My Story

On August 28, 2009 I had my yearly mammogram and check up. I had felt no lump, and neither did my doctor. I noticed the mammogram process was a little longer, several extra views were taken. 5 days later I received a letter from them asking me to call for an appointment for further studies. I was able to get in right away, Sept. 4, and I was given an ultrasound, and viewed the lump myself! It was very small, but even so the radiologist offered to take a needle biopsy right then, which I did opt to do, (not fun but not that bad, they numb you up). I chose not to tell anyone except my husband until I received the report, which came Tues. Sept. 8 at 4:30, and it wasn't good news, invasive ductile carcinoma. The thing is, my sweet daughter had the same thing 5 years ago, only her lump was huge, mine is tiny. She underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy at age 38! She had a cough last Fall, after testing discovered it had spread to her lungs, and she underwent chemotherapy again, this time with with Herceptin, and is doing great! Back to me, I am so lucky that my tumor is small, I was offered a lumpectomy which I had Sept. 14, and will start radiation in a couple of weeks. There is no sign of anything in my nodes! I still do not know about chemotherapy,( I have not seen the oncologists yet) Having her for a role model has given me the strength and confidence that I am going to be just fine, and I encourage all of you to have your yearly mammograms and do self exams! Cancer is so curable with early detection! Life is so good!

Anonymous
Birmingham, AL