I had a lumpectomy on my left breast in 2004. My oncologist said it was unlikely that the cancer would return. During my yearly check-up with him in Dec. 2008, I told him I had a dull, achy pain in the bottom of my left breast. He said it was normal and nothing to worry about. Now it's mid-2009, and I have a new lump exactly where that pain was. Be suspicious and vigilant. Push for an ultrasound if this happens to you. I wish I had.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2008. I was 47 years old. I underwent lumpectomy, chemotheraapy and radiation. I am now one year post diagnosis and treatment and feeling wonderful. Early detection does save lives. Every woman deserves to receive a yearly mammogram.
I was 46 years old in March 1987 when I found a substantial sized lump on my right breast by self-examination. The doctors thought it was benign. In my case, it didn't show on the mammogram, but needed to be removed. The pathology results showed a large benign tumor encapsulating a very tiny, tiny malignant tumor! My choice: a modified radical mastectomy followed by reconstruction. I was fortunate enough not to need either chemo or radiation - my lymphnodes were all clean. Though the mammogram was not helpful to me, more than 99% of all malignancies are detected that way. Please make sure to get a mammogram yearly and do a self-examination as well. I now enjoy my grown children, my grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. And I feel GREAT!
My sister Susie at age 38 was diagnosed with Inflammatory breast cancer last year. Stage 4...it happened so fast fast it is still ablur, a rash onher breasts, and then treated for an infection that didnt go away, and finally the horrible judgement..stage 4. She went through all kinds of chemo, in three months and had the heart of an angel. She never complained as she lost her hair and her family rallied around her. I am still in shock of this rare form of breast cancer that is devastating that no one hears about. She died three and a half months later.......
I will never be the same, I hope more is done to get the word out about this form of breast cancer. A rash needs to be biopsied, before it spreads like wildfire. I will miss my sister and my best friend everyday I have left here on earth. Please pass the word. A lump is NOT the indicator of breast cancer.
I found my cancer while doing a self-exam. When I then saw that there was a crease where the lump was, I knew it was cancer. Actually it was 6 ctms.,and after 2 lumpectomies to get clear margins I opted for a bilateral mastectomy. Did 8 rounds of chemo and 28 radiation treatments, then reconstuction. (tram-flap) God,family and friends helped see me thru, as well as awesome Dr.s! It will be 3 yrs. in August and I'm doing great! Do those self-exams!!! I had missed my yrly mammo by about 6mos.,but due to fibrocystic breast disease, it was hard to spot, so always know your boobs and check them!! God Bless whomever is reading this!!!
In 2005 (six months after finishing chemo for my second bout with colon cancer) I was diagnosed with breast cancer. A lumpectomy and radiation took care of that problem, and two dragonfly tattoos took care of the scars. (They also delight my surgeon at follow-up visits.) The worst thing about cancer is what it does to the people around you. The best thing is finding out how many people care. Life is good!
I was 39 when diagnosed with IDC breast cancer on 11/7/03. It spread so fast, had to have mastectomy a month later, after DOZENS of tests. Then six months of chemo (A/C & Taxotere in a Trial), with some wretched side effects. Two months later started 25 rounds of rads, was burned within a week, had to stop treatment at 20 rounds to heal, then continued.
I decided to remove other breast and have TISSUE EXPANSION breast reconstruction a year later. After numerous STAFF infections, six surgeries, contracting HA-MRSA, told MD "take it ALL out/off and leave me ALONE!"
Sadly, many of my female friends "disappeared," my hubby didn't know WHAT to do, my mother "denied" I had anyting wrong, my very supportive father died during my treatment, so the ONLY place I could go for support was BREASTCANCER.ORG.
It was there I was told about THIS site, and have been CLICKING every day since, hoping that this won't happen to other women & men.
BC.ORG has INCREDIBLE resources, and the chat room and folks there saved me from my deep, deep depression. There we laugh, cry, joke, make fun of ourselves, have get-togethers, plan BC relays, runs and walks. There is someone there almost 24/7, and if not, try back in an hour, someone is usually on, from somewhere in the world.
BC was (and still IS) the worst thing that's happened in my life. To this day I am BLESSED with an incredible husband who still loves me, regardless of my empty chest.
My husband and I discovered that once we started talking about BC, that EVERYONE has been touched by this horror. With DAILY CLICKS, I hope we can help a few from going through the torment my family and I have gone through.
Blessed Be... Peace.
My grandmother died from breast cancer when I was only 13 years old. Back then, no one really talked about such things, so I didn't understand why every time I saw my grandma she just looked sicker and sicker. Then she was gone. I never really knew what was going on until I was older.
My mom died 21 years ago this month, of breast cancer metastasized to the bone, and I swore to my sister that "the buck stops here". Two months after my mom died I had my first mammagram at the age of 29. I have never missed a checkup.
Two and a half years ago I was diagnosed with DCIS after a routine mammogram, and had a lumpectomy and radiation. I was angry, and sad, and scared. I never got married, adn adopted a baby girl whenn I was 37; she was just 11 when I had to tell her the news. 11 year olds don't understand that DCIS is the "good" kind of cancer. Frankly, I don't think 48 year olds understand it either. I had great friends and family for support, but it's still hard to be a "brave woman"...
Ten days from now I am going in for a bilateral mastectomy. I had gone in for a follow up ultrasound/mammogram as they'd seen something in my right breast 6 months prior. They decided to do the left as well, and discovered the DCIS was back. My most recent MRI also shows evidence of DCIS in the right breast as well. Good thing I'd already decided to get both done. My "reason for fighting" is now 13, and I can't imagine anything worse than being 13, unless it is being 13 and scared for Mom. Mammograms have saved my life twice.
My sister-in-law and best friend, Tracia Helene Garrison, lost her life to breast cancer on July 20, 2009 after battling this horrible disease for 3 1/2 years. Tracia had the most aggressive type, when diagnosed had both breast removed, and went through chemo and was fine. A year and a half later, her cancer came back and moved up into her neck. She had a radical neck surgery done and throughout her entire battle, had a total of 15 surgeries. She underwent radiation, chemo and numerous clincial trials. The breast cancer traveled through the tissue so it was readily visible, the most aggressive and very hard to beat. The cancer was smart and would figure out ways to overcome the treatments, it would work on the old but not the new so we always had to find different treatments for her. After such a strong battle, she lost her life to this disease. I hope that everyone gets checked because tomorrow may be too late. Tracia left behind my brother, Terry Garrison, and a daughter Cassandra Nicole (10 years old) and a son, Trevor Reese (7 years old). Tracia was the strongest woman I have ever met, smart, independent and loved her family. She fought to be here with them. I hope others hear of her story and together we find a cure for this devastating disease.
Her sister-in-law, Lisa Brandt.
I was diagnosed in Oct 2007; I was shocked. I was 69 years old, and breast cancer happened only to others. The diagnosis was thanks to a routine mammogram. The lump was small and hidden, and without the mammogram the highly aggressive tumor I had would have gone undetected until it would have spread. I am so fortunate to have it caught early and had treatment immediately. We must help every eligible woman have a mammogram and treatment.
