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My wonderful family

In 2007 I went for my regular mamogram. I got a call from my Dr.saying things didn't look right,had to go for more test. And got the shock of my life when the results came back. It was postive. I remember the day so well, I thought this can't be right. But the love and support I recieved from all my family gave me the courage to face what has happened.
Plus I got the news the same day that I was going to have a grandchild.I fight every day for her,and will continue to fight the battle.She gives me the strength and courage I need.
I had my left breast removed, it was the hardest decission I ever had to make,
I was put on Arimidex and had such joint pain I had to stop.Switched me to Femera and it was worse..
Finally after 19 months,I said this is enough. I have been off the drugs for 2 months and I feel great.
The love my husband gives me is so rewarding,all my family has been wonderful. I will fight the battle.
I feel like I made the right choice no matter what comes about.If my Breast Cancer comes back,I will just fight back even more.

Joyce
Ocean City, MD

Poster child for annual mammogram

I'd been having annual mammograms and check-ups, with periodic biopsies of what turned out to be benign cysts, for almost 25 years. In 2006, when I was 54, they saw calcifications in several areas of my non-cystic breast ... what looked like grains of sand on the mammogram. This biopsy came back positive, with a Grade 3 cancer in small but multiple locations. Because of the aggressive type and diffuse nature of the cancer, I had a mastectomy and 4 months of "heavy duty" chemo, followed by 10 months of Herceptin and at least 5 years of Arimidex. I'm now feeling great and consider the remaining treatments to be merely insurance against recurrence. I'm convinced, however, that missing my annual mammogram would literally have been a fatal mistake. Though the cancer was defined as stage 0-1, found before a tumor was even big enough to measure (and the surgeon couldn't feel anything despite knowing exactly where it was), it was such a fast-growing type that it probably would have both solidified and metastasized by the next year's exam. So now I remind everyone I know to get their annual mammograms whether they find a lump or not!

Anonymous
Cincinnati, OH

Maybe

I went for an breast exam on Thursday August 6, 2009. Lumps were found in both breasts, and now I am facing mamogram/ultrasound on both breasts on Monday August 10, 2009. I have supported this cause since meeting survivors years ago. I have many friends who have fought this fight and they have won. I am going to be as brave as them and go forward into my potential journey with the same bravery they have shown me.

Diane Urquhart
Kennewick, WA

My Sister, My Hero

In December of 2002 my little sister was diagnosed with breast cancer at 37 in California. She had the lumpectomy along with the chemo & radiation. In January of 2009 she was diagnosed again with cancer on the same breast in Oklahoma. She wasn't eligible for another lumpectomy. They had also been following a mass on the other breast but were certain it wasn't cancerous according to the mammograms, so she opted for a radical mastectomy on the cancerous one. After talking with her she decided to go ahead & have a bilateral mastectomy in February so she maybe wouldn't have to do this again. It turns out that it was a good decision because the mass from the other breast indeed had cancer cells in it. They say she doesn't have to do any chemo or radiation this time. She's chugging right along now and has just bought herself a house. She's my hero for all that she's been through.

Debbe Edenburn
Champaign, IL

I'm beatin' this!

My mother's breast cancer was not found by mamography. Neither of my sister's breast cancer were either. But mine was. I've been having them every year anyway and last fall they said they wanted another view of the right breast, So I went and they said they thought it was ok but to come back in 6 months for another mamogram. Life was busy, I was rehearsing for a play and I probably would have forgotten, but Kaiser didn't -- they sent me a reminder and so I called and made the appointment, This time they wanted a ultrasound. Then a biopsy and then the week before the play opened I got the results--cancer. I said no surgery until after the play (it was only one weekend and it was way too late to find a replacement!

The lumpectomy came a week after the play and the great news was no lymph node involvement, the bad was they didn't have clean margins so we had to do it again. Three weeks later they went back in to get a little more and found a few more cancer cells but with clean margins this time! Soon I will have the radiation which I'm not looking forward to, but I know I can do it with the support of my wonderful husband, daughter, sister and friends. I now push women I know to have their mamograms and thank God every day for every day!

Lynn
Inglewood, CA

Anti-Inflamatory Breast Cancer

My story started in early December, 2003. I was drying off after a shower and I noticed my right nipple was inverted and my surrounding skin was puckered. I later found out they call that "orange peel" skin. Having my suspicions but being scared to find out what it was, I waited to see my regular doctor till an appointment I had already scheduled on 12/20/03. At the end of my appointment I asked him to look at my breast to see what it was. He started me on anti-biotics because it could have been an infection and he didn't want to scare me for nothing. We made an appointment for a mammogram anyway. When my appointment came up, the machine was broken and we had to reschedule. The mammogram was inconclusive so they did a sonogram and a needle aspiration biopsy and made an appointment to see a cancer doctor. Well the biopsy came back possitive for anti-inflamatory breast cancer. The doctor said that kind is always classified as a 3B stage cancer, 4 being the worst. He said I had no choice, I had to go through chemotherapy and have a Modified Radical Mastectomy of the right breast. I had the surgery on 9/24/04 and was started on Arimidex in November, 2004. It will be 5 years 9/24/09 for the surgery and 5 years for the Arimidex in November, 2009. My cancer was estrogen driven, maybe from HRT.

My only problems are my hair is very thin, practically non-existent on the top. I also have controlled high blood pressure with medication and thyroid/parathyroid problems with medication and the Arimidex gives me hot flashes. I'm on other medications for the hot flashes. Does anyone have any help for thinning hair? I've tried many hair volume products, nothing seems effective.

Phyllis Stacey
Whitesboro, TX

I'm a real live breast cancer survivor and a real live pink bat

I'm a senior athlete who had breast cancer.

At 51 years young I play baseball with the Las Vegas Sandvipers men's baseball team in the 25+ age division and professional full tackle football for the Las Vegas Showgirlz women's football team.

I'm also the steersman for the St. Rose Hospitals Breast Cancer Dragon Boat Racing team.

I'm also a 9-year breast cancer survivor.

My goal is to convince Major League Baseball to let a real live pink bat me swing their wood-painted pink bat on a Mother's Day in a real live Major League Baseball game. Why? Because it's the right thing to do to let a real live breast cancer survivor who is also a real live baseball player swing that pink bat!

I'm Susan G. Komen Southern Nevada's 2008 Athlete Survivor of the Year and the New Balance Athletic Shoes 2008 Honorary Team Member.

On the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color line I made MSBL baseball history by becoming the first woman to execute a rare 9-3 double play with my teammate Steve Johnston.

Then March 9, 2009 I tried out for the Detroit Tigers Minor League Baseball team in Lakeland, Florida by personal invitation from the Major League Detroit Tigers management to come. Glenn Ezell, director of player development for the Tigers, told me at the end of the tryout that I can throw out my age and gender because I can play real live baseball without them!

Plus on May 25, 2009 I made baseball history again by becoming the first woman baseball coach to win a national MSBL tournament.

Norine V. Rathbone
Las Vegas, NV

A strange life saver

From age thirty five, the Gynecologist wanted me to get yearly mammograms. So, for many years I was faithful to make and keep those appointments. However, one year, we did not have insurance and our income was low, so I put it off.
One morning, two months past time for a regular mammogram, I was sitting on the couch during my morning devotion and prayer time. All at once, I was startled by a crashing sound. When I looked up, I saw that a large glass flower vase across the room from me shattered into pieces and fell where it stood. From what I could see, it apparently shattered for no reason as the house was quiet and no one else was there. It sure had my attention. Was it a coincidence or did a small crack finally give way to make it shatter right at that moment? In any case, I took time to clean up the pieces and go about my daily routine.
I received a notice in the mail the next day that I was overdue for a mammogram. Instinctively, I called to schedule a mammogram that week. It was a good thing as it showed a suspicious area on my left breast and immediately I was given an ultrasound. Needless to say, I went in for a needle biopsy the next day that detected cancer. Within three days I was pressed to make a decision to have a partial lumpectomy or mastectomy for first stage breast cancer. However, in either case, lymph nodes would have to be removed.
It has been ten years since my mastectomy and treatment. I encourage women to have regular mammograms "on time". Are there both guardian angels and lifesaving mammograms? You decide!

Susan J. Bucholtz
South Bend, IN

Mammogram

I am blessed at this point in my life with not having breast cancer, but my story my help someone. I recently ran into an old friend that I had not seen in about 5 years. Her first words to me were 'HAVE YOU HAD YOUR MAMMGRAM?' She was half way thur her chemo trreatments. Her mammogram 2 months eariler was postive. She looked like the picture of good health. My thoughts are what a wonderful way to greet another woman, letting her know that you really care about her as a woman. Women helping women is my motto. Yes I am up to date and so are my 2 daughters.

Barbara
Myrtle Beach, SC

My Hero

It's difficult to remember when Gram wasn't undergoing chemo/radiation. Through the years of treatments/remission/treatments/remission,she never complained or gave up. She always spoke of experimental drugs/treatments that were being developed and that she was willing to try them so that someone would benefit. Gram lived being thankful for today. I'm thankful that over the years,research continued to develop newer/better ways to fight this disease. That research bought me time with Gram that I never would have had,memories that cancer can never erase,time for my three children to know their great grandma and make memories with her,and many people new hope because the treatments she tried gave researchers data they needed to continue/refine their research. It's a difficult way to live,but a way to live! We never knew which holiday will be the last and we'd want one last hug/kiss in case it was the last.

Gram's been my hero since I can remember. She's been the rock of our family. All who knew her,loved her. Gram would walk into a crowded room,at just under five feet tall,and be noticed by all. Her smile was contagious and her heart gave constantly. At the age of 80-something, she was named Volunteer of the Year by the Cook County Sheriff's Office for her commitment to driving Meals-on-Wheels,driving the elderly to doctor appointments and grocery stores,and visiting those who were bed-ridden. She never stopped giving. She was always concerned more about others than about herself.

Thanks to breast cancer research, Gram was able to touch thousands of lives as a middle school secretary,lead a family to carry on traditions,share in the graduations of seven grandchildren and the weddings of three,love and be loved by five great-grandchildren,be a role model and my hero. Many lives have been made better because she benefited from breast cancer research.

Cheri Godek
Ocoee, FL