I just found out yesterday that my best friend of over 27 years has breast cancer...she found the lump on a self-examination...and is the early stages of all the tests...the hard part is that she lives in New York and I am in California..
In December 1999, I found a lump. My doctor told me it was nothing, in spite of my family history - mother, sister, 2 aunts, and a cousin with breast cancer. She ordered a regular screening mammogram which apparently showed nothing except "dense breast tissue". During the next few months, various family issues kept me from dwelling on it, but the lump grew to at least 2-3cm. In April, I went back to the doc. She said it was 1cm, probably nothing, but ordered a routine mammogram. I waited several weeks for that, then all hell broke loose. Ultrasound, needle biopsy, surgical consult, all that same day. Cancer. Big time.
I was 42. My children were 4 and 2 years old. We had recently moved to this state, and were living temporarily in a small apartment while waiting to move into our new house. I knew nobody. My family lived in England.
In June I had a mastectomy, and 2 weeks later, we moved into our new house. Then the chemo. began, along with every possible side effect.
It was tough.
Genetic testing proved I had BRCA-2. I suppose I'd always known I'd get breast cancer one day. That didn't make it any less devastating though. My other breast was removed, then my ovaries. I felt somewhat less female with nothing but a redundant uterus left. Still, I got through it.
Now, I'm a 9 year survivor. My children still have their mom.
My real message here is to PLEASE check your breasts yourselves.Trust your gut when you feel something different. Doctors aren't always right. Mammograms don't always show tumors, especially in younger women with dense breast tissue. Get a second opinion. Make yourself heard. It's your body; your life.
Take care of yourself. Be a survivor!
Three days after a biopsy I get a call from my doctor. "Jennifer, the report shows that you have cancer" he said. Sobbing-I ran for my husband. "I have breast cancer". He looked me in the eyes and told me "You will beat this, you will be fine" And as crazy as this sounds, I believed him. But, at age 38 my life had just been whittled down to a survival statistic. WTF???. I felt fine. I have no family history of any type of cancer. I've always been able to hold it together, all the time. But not now. Now, I am angry, pissed-off and scared.
I found the lump myself. A few days later I made an appointment for a mammogram. I was fidgety, nervous, and uneasy. They did a mammo of both breasts. Then they took more films of my right breast. I am cold, and regretting that I had stupidly worn a thong that day with my dress, because now that is all that I have on. A bright red thong and a paper gown that is puddled on the floor around my ankles. Great, my dignity has begun its downward spiral. I pepper the nurse with questions hoping for an answer that will allow me to breathe again. All she'll give up is that there is a solid mass in my breast. Normally, I would have shot her a "No shit, Sherlock" but for the first time in my life I was too scared to be funny. Cancer isn't funny-is it???
Maybe it can be. I dubbed myself Franken-boob after my surgery. When my hair fell out I bought myself a pink "Britney-after-the-meltdown wig". I slathered mascara on the one eyelash clinging hopelessly to my eyelid. Two years later, I am here and still laughing.
January 2006 I had a mammogram, which revealed no abnormality. In August 2006 I was diagnosed with stage ii breast cancer. My left breast had consistently been sore for about a month. To be honest I was not giving my self-monthly exam on a regular basis. This particular day I decided to give myself one and found a lump in the upper part of my left breast. I immediately called my doctor and they saw me right away. The entire necessary test were performed and revealed stage ii breast cancer. At the time I was 38 years young. I dare to think what would have become of my life if I had not examined my breast that day. I will celebrate my 42nd birthday in February 2009. Having survived breast cancer has made me a stronger more determined person in every aspect of my life. I am living testimony that self breast exam will save your life. If I waited until my next scheduled mammogram, as fast as my cancer was growing I would have been in stage 4 cancers by January. Please give yourself monthly breast exams.
I thought my world had ended when I got the call from my Cancer Surgeon that I had Breast Cancer. That was the worst time of my life. The Chemo made me very sick. I lost what I thought was "The love of my life". It has to be a very, very strong relationship to survive the ordeal. I have a great family. My sister, Jan got me through this terrible time. She took me to get my Chemo treatments and fixed my meals. I have a great GOD! If it weren't for my GOD I wouldn't be here. I am 12 yrs. out and feel very lucky to be alive. Thank you Jesus!
I was 26 years old when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My surgery - a radical mastectomy - was performed just after Labor Day at City of Hope in Duarte, California. A few days later, I celebrated my birthday. If somebody asks when my birthday is, I tell them September, and I celebrate the whole month! This year, it's been 42 years since my cancer treatment, and I'm 68 years old!
I believe it's very important for us to share our success stories. When I was diagnosed, I didn't know anybody ever had breast cancer and then lived a long life. I know that sharing my story has encouraged others to go for mammograms and treatment.
Courage is not absence of fear, but mastery of fear...
I was 43, single with 2 daughters who had left home. Turns out, I was not alone. I was diagnosed on Sept. 5 - Stage 3 hormonal inflammatory cancer (the works!). The mass was too big (6 cm) and had to be shrunk before going through radical modified mastectomy. I had 8 rounds of chimio - that was hard, no need to say - but the worst was that I had to live with this inside me for severals months. I would talk to it, as if it was not a part of me, an intruder, ordering it to disappear. When the surgeon was able to remove my breast on April 6, it was a major victory. I did not loose a breast, although it is gone - I only gained my life back, my body back. I would look at myself in the mirror and be filled with peace.
My body has changed and cancer did leave its mark, but the biggest transformation was done to the core of me, my soul, my heart... I catch myself smiling, amused by the irritants of everyday life... Amazed by the smile of a stranger... And food, the taste of all kinds of food!:-D
I believe that we create our own destiny with the right attitude, so I posted a profile on a dating site and took the plundge... 4 weeks following my surgery (I had to wait to at least remove my drain!) Arrogance or pure insanity? Don't know... But I found love . What a man, a mighty good man ;-) No wigs, radiation, scars could scare him away. Right now, at this time, I have everything that I want...
I made it! Hope is all I need now...
I was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer at the age of 56. Thanks to early detection, I was able to have a partial mastectomy. I had radiation during surgery, 4 rounds of chemo and just finished 17 rounds of Herceptin
I urge all women to have their mammograms and do their monthly self check. I feel very fortunate to have a doctor that followed me closely and detected the cancer early. Its been a year and I'm still here!
Much to my surprise, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in Jan. 2008 following a routine mammogram. I had no family history, no lump, no clue. It was a very small tumor and had not spread, so I only needed a lumpectomy and radiation. Get your mammogram!
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2009, after my yearly mamogram showed "something suspious", I had told my doctor back in July 2008 I felt a lump but she said it was just dense breast tissue. My advice ALWAYS GO WITH YOUR GUT, no matter what the doctor may say. I was lucky that the cancer had not spread to my lymph nodes. I received 4 rounds of chemo, a lumpectomy and 32 rounds of radiation. What I really received was a swift kick in the pants to really start enjoying life. This is not a dress rehearsal. I was also shown what wonderful friends I have. Breast cancer can not be considered a blessing but what you can learn about yourself and others around you is a blessing. I am blessed with friends from my church and at work that have shown me how much they care and a wonderful sister who was by me every step of the way, bringing my wonderful nieces up to see me to help me laugh my way through this and to remind me that there is so much life out there to enjoy. I kept a positive attitude through out my treatment and I really think that makes a difference. I am not Breast Cancer but breast cancer has hepled me define how I want to live the rest of my life, and it has made me more aware of all that needs to be done to find a cure so that my neices and grand daughter never have to face this challenge. I live by this saying "You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have". I am blessed.
