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A Walk in My Pink Stilettos

June 8, 2008 was like many lazy Sunday mornings. After breakfast, I took a long, hot shower. Peaceful and lost in my thoughts, my hand brushed against a large lump in my right breast. Suddenly, life as I knew it came to an abrupt halt.In my heart I was sure it was breast cancer. I prayed for the strength and presence of mind to cope with whatever this intruder in my body turned out to be.

Monday morning started a flurry of medical activity. Two days later, I had my answer: invasive breast cancer. It was then that I decided to keep an online journal of my breast cancer journey. What started out as a therapeutic outlet soon took on a life of its own.

On July 21, 2008 I had a mastectomy of the right breast. My tumor was large and fast growing, but the cancer was not in my lymph nodes. I had triple-negative bc, a more difficult to treat sub-type of breast cancer that has a higher rate of recurrence than estrogen positive cancers. Chemotherapy followed in September and ended in November with a number of life-threatening complications along the way. Hairless and weak, I still managed to put on my pink high heels for every chemo!

Many women shared that my experience led them to schedule their own mammogram and become diligent about monthly self exams. It gives me great joy to know that my journey and the lessons I learned along the way served to educate others and give them the push they needed to take better care of their health.

My faith in God, my amazing family and friends, and the never-ending support I was blessed to receive helped me through the most difficult time in my life, and continues to do so today.

Francine Ciaccia
Strongsville, OH

Great survival story

my mother in law was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 63, she had a mastectomy , and follow up treatment. she is now 98 and has been cancer free ever since, so don't ever despair and give up hope.

Anonymous
London, United Kingdom

A Bit More Than Anticipated

I have a strong family history of cancer and my mother had breast cancer at age 53, so it didn't surprise me when I was also diagnosed with right breast cancer at age 53 (October 2008). No lump-- just microscopic calcifications on my mammogram. It was thought to be non-invasive (DCIS), as it was less than 2% of biopsy tissue. I expected a small surgery followed by localized radiation for 1 week. I told my supervisor I would be back to work in 1&1/2 months.
Surprisingly, the pathology report from the surgery showed that the margins had not been found, and I had a second surgery and sentinel nodes biopsied. The second node showed a pinhead sized focus of cancer, so chemo and longer radiation were added to my regimen. A post-surgical wound infection delayed these by nearly 2 months. Scarred veins, after 2 rounds of chemo, led to placement of a PICC line, which led to a blood clot in my brachial vein, and 4 months of anticoagulant therapy. After chemo, I developed a cellulitis in my left arm from some bug bites. This quickly led to sepsis, with 2 E.R. visits and a week's hospitalization, with change of the PICC line location to my neck and I.V. Vancomycin. The I.V. antibiotic continued for 1 week post-hospitalization at home. My oncologist said if I could remain well with no complications for 1 week, then I could start radiation! After 7 weeks radiation, with time to recover from burns, and 8 months total time off, I am finally ready to go back to work (as an RN) !
A sense of humor helps! I thank God (literally) for getting me through (there were a few terrifying moments, even for me!) and my family and friends for all their support!

Meg
Oakhurst, CA

LIVING WITH CANCER

My husband Allan was diagnosed with a lymphoma 10 years ago,

Im lucky in the sense that my husband is still with me ten years on and is feeling fine so far and now only attending the hospital once per year as a safety net.
We have been on the other end as both his parents died of cancer, his mother at an early age, which was hard as she never saw the grandchildren that came along.
Cancer not only effects the person that is unfortunate to contract it, but it effects all the family around as well. My children were in their teens and still they had a hard job coming to terms with the fact that they may loose their dad at again an early age. We were all strong for each other giving support when needed, and also my husband who was the one going through it, was a tremondous support to all of us. He would tell us to go about things on a daily basis as per usual and not to think of him having cancer.
He had a lymphoma, which was a large growth at the top of his leg. He underwent surgery for them to say that it was cancer which in turn made things difficult, as when they decided to start chemotherapy immediately he had a large cut with stitches across the length of the lump on his leg.
Once the chemo had started he then had lilttle or no immune system so therefore this scar, trying to heal was taking a long time and we had to be extra careful that he did not get any infection.Thankfully it worked.
. Our thoughts are with you all..

LOVE JENNY+ ALLAN XXX

JENNY STEWART
PERTH, SCOTLAND, United Kingdom

Breast Cancer changed my life

Four years ago, my grandmother heard the awful words "You have breast cancer". She did not let it get her down, instead she stayed positive. After surgery and weeks of radiation, the doctors felt confident that it was gone. She expressed her gratitude by baking cookies and cakes for her doctor and the radiation therapy team. She fell in love with her radiation therapists. She constantly talked about how "sweet and caring" they were. I was in college for nursing, but after starting my clinicals I dropped out. It just didn't fit. My grandmother mentioned the field of radiation therapy. I did some research and felt like I should shadow one for a day. After following one around for hours, I knew my calling. I was meant to be a radiation therapist. This fall, I am starting my clinicals and will be on my way to becoming a registered radiation therapist. So, my grandmother's breast cancer changed my life.

Nicole
York, PA

My breast cancer story

Just got home from a weekend of fun on the 4th of July 2002. Was in the bathtub and I always did my monthly self breast examines the gyno also insisted and I am so glad he did.
Well while doing that I found a large lump. Not thinking alot about it I waited till the next day and called the MD and the nurse said come in the next day for an appointment so I got to thinking and thought why not check to see if I could go ahead and do a mammogram first just to have it. Well when I called back the nurse said the Dr wanted to see me and so I went on in and he then sent me on over to the hospital and they did a mammogram and ultrasound. And well you guessed it yes it was cancer. They did a lumpectomy then lymphnode surgery then chemo and then radiation. Then another lymphnode surgery. Lost all my hair and thought that I would be thru but after 7yrs I still have some problems. Losing my toenails and fingernails, still losing my hair. But God has really been good to me cause even tho a few problems still exist I am healthy and happy.

Cindy Graves
Pasadena, TX

Six Years and Counting

In 2003, when I turned 50, I got a call that changed my life. I was always vigilant about getting my mammograms, and rarely thought about it past the day I went in. That year, I was told that there was a "shadow" on the film. It turned out to be two, thankfully small, tumors in my left breast. My doctor and I decided to be aggressive and opted for a mastectomy and reconstruction. I was lucky. There was no lymph involvement, and as of last week, I am now six years cancer-free. Since that day, my life has changed. I no longer take any day for granted. I moved three years ago from Pennsylvania to Los Angeles, a place I've always wanted to live. I greet each day and each new experience as the gift it is. I talk to women everywhere about getting their mammograms and the importance of early detection. I have been blessed, and I want to share that blessing with the world.

Melissa H. Byers
Woodland Hills, CA

I'm a Thankful Survivor

My daughter found her own lump at age 34, in 1994. She had tried to get a Mammogram just for a base, but was refused because she was under 40. It turned out to be a very aggressive form of cancer and even with chemotherapy, she passed away at 35, in 1995. The next year, 1996, after many yearly Mammograms that showed no problems, I found a lump in my left breast. It was a rare form, malignant but contained, and a mastectomy was performed. I did not opt for reconstruction, and am doing well with a home-made prosthesis that works well enough for me. I have been blessed with good health now for 13 years. I'm a strong supporter of regular Mammograms.

Anonymous
Fairbanks,, AK

The roller coaster ride nobody would imagine to one day be on...

We are still in shock and the words "Our mother has breast cancer," still haven't hit us yet. Yesterday, August 18, 2009, our mom found out she had fallen victim to infiltrating ductile carcenoma. The cancer cells are reproducing at a very rapid rate. She will begin chemotherapy treatments immediately for 15-16 weeks to hopefully stop the growth of the cancer or in best case scenario, shrink it down. Surgery will follow, then another batch of chemo and radiation. Our mother has a very long, emotional battle ahead of her. She is a very strong woman though, and is ready to put up a fight. With the power of prayer and God's healing touch, we believe that she will make it through this journey cancer-free and be a living inspiration for others, even though we already know she is. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. God Bless, the Downs family.

Joe & Kate, Erin, Adam
Eaton, OH

Cancer has changed my life in 2009

I am 38 years old and went for a yearly mammogram in December 2008 where they found a small lump in my left breast. This was confirmed to be breast cancer in February 2009. Since then, my 2009 has become filled with researching cancer and what would be the best treatment for me. I was referred to Lahey Clinic in Boston and have dealt with the most amazing doctors who after consultations decided that I would have the genetic testing done on me. I was found to have the BRCA1 gene, so we decided to have double masectomy with immediate reconstruction. The surgery went very well and my resonctruction is still in progress, as I have an expander in my chest. I am now doing chemotherapy and seem to be taking the treatments very well. Once chemo is finished, I should be able to finish my reconstruction. During this whole process I have learnt to not sweat the small stuff, follow the doctors instructions and remain positive. Even though I feel and look different, I am taking one day at a time and everyday gets much better as I go through this process. I encourage all women dealing with breast cancer to not give up, we can beat this and live healthy lives. There is life through and after cancer.

Ronda Lewis
Sandys, Bermuda