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One Doctor Saved My Life

I am a breast cancer survivor of 6 years. I had Stage III to ALL my doctors surprise. Had a mastectomy with 9 out of 17 lymph nodes involved.
I had the marker Her2 Neu which, I am learning, did not respond to the usual treatments. Prior to the development of Herceptin it had been pretty much a death sentence,

I had chemo and radiation AND the oncologist I go to said there was a clinical study of this biological agent for women just diagnosed with the marker (prior it had been used after a recurrance). I joined it and KNOW it is why I am alive 6 years later.

I saw the movie "Living Proof" on Lifetime or Lifetime Movie Network and was amazed at the extreme lengths Dr. Dennis Slamon and crew went to research and develop Herceptin. Constantly begging for money pushing beyond all naysayers and obstacles. (I later read the book).
I hit me that I AM ONE of the women that he was fighting for.

I now have chronic, stable lymphedema and need to wear an elastic garment glove/sleeve 24 hours. It is a small price to pay for MY LIFE. My grand nephew and nieces used to avoid holding that hand. Now they are as used to it as I am.

I thank God that this caring male doctor went WAY beyond what most would have and did not give up no matter what the cost in time, energy and free time.
I owe him my life and there are NO words to thank him for that. I also thank his family for the time they could not spend with him while he was so dedicated to this goal.
YES WE CAN ONE DAY CURE BREAST CANCER
with more people like Dr. Slamon onboard.

Rebecca Kosbab
Eagan, MN

Survivor of 2 Breast Cancer Episodes 34 years apart

In June 1974, at 32 years old, I was diagnosed with very early stage breast cancer in my right breast. I was the first person that at that time was allowed to have a biopsy separate from any possible surgery The biopsy was positive, I was the first person at my hospital to be allowed to have a modified radical.) It was a very small lump, there were no affected lymph nodes and no cancer cells found outside the lump. I had only surgery. The odds someone my age would survive for 5 years were 50/50.
I decided to become really pro-active on my own behalf. I became willing to do whatever I had to do in order to survive...to question anything, to look at anything, to change anything I needed to.
I became vegetarian, began a regimen of intensive psychotherapy and learned to meditate, which was a very slow process. It took me five years to be able to sit still and be with myself for a half an hour. It's been many years and I'm still meditating.
I stopped eating refined carbohydrates and stopped drinking alcohol 25+ years ago. Stopped smoking a year after my mastectomy. (the alcohol and tobacco have both been found to make a recurrence more likely.).
In January 2007, at 65, I was again diagnosed with breast cancer in the left breast. The lump was 2 cm and I had one affected node. I had chemo a lumpectomy and radiation therapy. I had the absolutely best medical care. I had a team of friends and doctors that supported me to the max. Through great complementary care I had no side effects from chemo other than hair loss. I know I will survive this too and continue to do what i'm here to do.

Baylah David
Oakland, CA

Cancer strikes again.

I was diagnosed with cancer in the fall of 1996. It was not severe, but it was spread out over the left breast. I had a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction with an implant. I was cancer free for 12 years. In February of 09 I found a lump in the right breast. It turned out to be cancer. It was a different kind than the first.In April I had a biopsy that turned out to be the lumpectomy. I was going to have radiation since I still had the implant in the left side. In June I had an MRI to help set up the radiation treatments before vacation and then left for two weeks. While on vacation the implant started to do strange things. It got harder and started to swell. I did not know what was happening. When I got home I found out that the MRI showed that the implant was rupturing. I met with the radiation oncologist and then the surgeon. I decided to go with a bilateral mastectomy instead of repeating the implant and then undergoing 7 weeks of radiation. I had my surgery in July. I am recovering and looking forward to many more years of life. Everything happens for a reason. I felt very comforted with my decision.

Martha
Champaign, IL

Self Exams Work

I had my mamo in June 2007 and have always done my monthly self exams. In January 2008 I found a good size lump in my right breast. I had my masectomy In june then went through chemo and radiation finishing February 18, 2009. I am waiting till next month for my marker test, but know it will show me free and clear. Don't just depend on mamo's to find something cause it can be clear as a bell and then in a few months you can have Stage II.

Liz Mitchusson
Whitesboro, TX

Thanksgiving to Christmas 2005

I was diagnosed on Thanksgiving eve in 2005, with breast cancer. So I scheduled a lumpectomy for Dec.23rd and by Christmas I was healing and facing chemo and radiation. But by January 2006,
as I was waiting to start chemotherapy, I was diagnosed with Shingles, Again. I had shingles in June 2005 on my birthday. Terrible pain until diagnosed, then had antivirus med. So now the nerves associated with being told I had breast cancer, brought on another round. By Feb. I was well enough for four months of chemo, and six weeks of radiation.
I finished on August 3, 2006. I am forever thankful for the quick turnaround by doctors and radiation experts. I am still cancer free, and this will be four years in November.

Anonymous
Belingham, WA

Never Give up

Today is day 6000 since I was told I had 2nd degree cancer,breast and lymph nodes! I decided that day to count my days and to live for today, and not worry about tomorrow and what the future may bring!!! When I wake up tomorrow morning, I will post day 6001 on my fridge and thank God for another beautiful day! This seems to have worked and the bonus is I got to see my beautiful grandchildren! What a gift!!!!

Marylynne Lawrence
Hamilton, Canada

Success Story

Next month I will be celebrating the 21st Anniversary of my mastectomy. I was 34 when diagnosed and only hoped I'd live long enough to see my children graduate High School. They are now both Teachers and I am a Grandma. See.....Breast cancer CAN have a happy ending. Never skip your mammo and Dr. appointments.Keep fighting girls.!!

Beth
Long Island, NY

Made it, You can to

In 2003 I was told I had stage 3 breast cancer, all I heard was CANCER. But thru the bad news good news came everyday. New and wonderful friends, people who didnt know me taking such good care of me and the beauty of a new day. Well its 2009 and Im still here. Never back down from a good fight, We can all win. SEE YOUR DOCTOR, GET YOUR MAMO, take a friend. thank you God, Doctors, and good nurses. P.S. Im also betting shage 3 overian cancer.

Joy Ryals Wendt
houma, LA

Ten years cancer free

Ten years ago I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer, had a lumpectomy and a recision a month later. The following year another lesion was discovered after having followup mammograms consistently during that year. It was in the same breast so I had another lumpectomy and this time followed up with 6 weeks of radiaton therapy. Since then, I have been cancer free! I did not use any hormonal therapy as I was pre-menopausal. My doctor followed me regularly for years and eventually I had a breast MRI which was negative and also BRCA genetic testing. This showed a very low percentage which is wonderful since I have 4 daughters and they will need to be prepared for the future. I had wonderful support from friends and family and other survivors and indeed I count my blessings everyday. Thank God for mammograms as that is how I was diagnosed in the first place!! Cindy Weber, Wakefield, RI

Cindy Weber
Wakefield, RI

No insurance, lost home last year, sore lump in armpit, scared

I am 51 and what I tell my friends, a typical statistic, however I remain happy and optimsitic about life. Last year after 15 years in my home, and 20 years providing child day care for 14 children I had to file for bankruptcy, lost my home, moved to a rented house and the first night my college aged son, Dale woke my as the house was filled with smoke. Almost losing our lives we moved to a town home, I reduced to day care to 8, kept a helper, while looking for work, now have lost most of my children. Have had a temp job at CSUFresno, revising, researching and updating a carrer planning guide. Apply for a job or more a day. Nothing so far. 30+ years work experience, will take any job to keep a roof over our head. A days ago I noticed a lump in my armpit. It is sore. I have felt it for three days now and am scared. I called the Free Mamogram line and left a message. Have not told anyone, keeping it to myself. Not sure what I will do. Hope that there is some way I can have know what it is. Only know that in about 1983 I was a medical assistant and a 26 year old patient that I liked so very much (actually we care for the entire family) came into the office with the same complaint. She had a husband and two year old son. She was gone in 6 months. I am scared. Wanted to share a photo but it was too big and I could not figure out how to resize it.

Jamey
Fresno, CA