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Twice the Fight.

I was diagnosed in 2008 with stage 2 estrogen induced cancer. In that same year my mother died and within a few months my mother-in-law and father in law both died. My husband lost his job and we stopped paying the mortgage. I went through a mastectomy. 6 rounds of chemo and 30 of radiation all while trying to help my spouse with his depression. My daughter was a god-send. She listened to me and drove me to all do my appointments, the best thing to come out of this experience is that we have become so much closer.
Skip forward five years, we have both worked through the grief, my husband has a great job, and we have a much better mortgage. I Go for a mammogram, weeks short of the 'magic' 5 years survivor. I then discover that I have a 2cm lump in the other breast. This time it is a different cancer HER2, lucky me, I got a 2fer. This time they got all of it with the lumpectomy. I just passed the half way mark in my chemo and discovered that I really had sailed through it last time as this cancer is more aggressive and so the chemo has to be.
Anyway, managing the side effects with medication. My husband has been much more involved and takes me to appointments when work allows. My daughter takes me to all the others and we have another 30 sessions of radiation to look forward to. I have no doubt that we will all get through this.
I am also,finding other changes in myself. I have always been an optimist, but very impatient. I am finding that the thing that we can give,to others is not money or goods but our time. I have become more sympathetic and compassionate to others and I take the time to listen. For these lessons, perhaps it is all worth it.

Nell Cronk
San Diego, CA

My Mom, My Hero part 2

I wanted to add to My story as I ran out of space. After My Mom was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma stage 2b of her right breast, I asked if I could see her breast and she showed me. I was shocked, you could visibly see the lump in her breast. I couldn't believe it. I asked her "mom, how could you not know that was there ?" I told her to do breast exams while showering as it was easier and she told me "i'm not going to be feeling on myself like a pervert and I'm not checking myself out in the mirror!" I was upset, a little angry but most of all not believing what I was hearing. I think many times in certain cultures we are taught that certain things are not appropriate. I was angry that this belief could of cost my Mom her life. I thank God my Father got mixed up and scheduled her mammogram 5 months too soon. If the lump had grown so much in so little time Heaven knows how far it would have gone in 5 more months. I'm sharing this because we need to be sure to teach the women in our lives it's ok to feel your breast and examine them and it's not perverted or wierd. I think not only our culture madey Mom think that way I think the innocence in her way if thinking after her stroke made her think it was wrong. Everyone please be sure to educated all the women in your life in the importance of self breast exams and mammograms

Anonymous
Colton, CA

My Hero, My Mom

My Mom had a major stroke at 36 years old and it was a shock. She was young and healthy but ended up unable to walk,talk,do anything for herself. She fought hard with therapy for speech,physical and all others. She took years but return to about 80% of her old self. She was well, then 30 years later she went for her yearly mammogram ( for some reason my Dad accidentally made the appointment 5 months too early) she went ahead and had the mammogram even though he may have to pay for it since it wasn't a year since the last one. Thank God She had it done, they found a lump on her right breast and ultra sound, biopsy and tests later she was dx with Invasive DuctalCarcinoma stage 2b. We were devastated but My Mom remained strong. She decided to have a bi-lateral mastectomy with some node removal on right side. She had surgery and Dr came out and told us her nodes were swollen and hard and not normal so he thinks the cancer spread. I cried because My Mom was so scared if chemo that's why she had the mastectomies. We prayed as all our family did and upon follow up appointment we were told everything came back clear, Dr even seemed surprised. No chemo needed just hormone therapy for 5 years and the gene test came back real low so very unlikely of a recurrence. I have no doubt my Mom was healed and she handles all her reconstruction surgeries like a champ, no complaining or nothing and hardly had to have pain meds. For the 2nd time My Mom was truly Blessed by Gods Healing Hands and we are all so grateful. My Mom will always be our Hero💕

Stephanie Rubio
Colton, CA

Pat's Perserverence

I was diagnosed with 3 types of breast cancer in 1988. Two were average and the third highly aggressive. With much faith and supportive family & friends I survived 2 mastectomies. I was on TAMOXIFEN for 8 years before it was discovered there was no benefit beyond 5 years. I've been cancer free for all these years and are grateful to caring medical personnel and those close to me. NEVER LOSE FAITH !

Pat Chandler

Pat Chandler
Grants Pass, OR

Absolutely Stunned

After having my mother, grandmother and great aunt (all maternal side) diagnosed with breast cancer, I decided to take the BRCA genetic testing in 2009. My results came back negative. Little did I know, in October 2013, I was diagnosed with stage 3 HERS 2 breast cancer at the age of 26. I underwent 5 months of chemotherapy, 28 days of radiation, a double mastectomy with reconstruction and currently on herceptin until December. After my mother being diagnosed at the age of 30 and passing away at 41, I was determined to kick cancers butt. So far, so good. I am so thankful for all my doctors and my family for the support they have given me. It was a rough road but just keep your head held high and stay strong and you'll be able to get through anything.

Jacquelyn Ferraro
center moriches, NY

Povestea mea

In 2012,la 54 de ani,am fost diagnosticata cu cancer san stadiul 3.In doua saptamani am fost operata(mastectomie+ 9 ganglioni limfatici axila).In aceasta perioada nefasta am trecut prin stari de nedescris,dar cu ajutorul familiei,medicilor si mai ales al Domnului, le-am depasit cu bine.Sunt o femeie activa, duc o viata cat pot de sanatoasa,merg periodic la clinica si sper din tot sufletul sa devin soacra si bunica.Dumnezeu sa fie alaturi de toate femeile care sufera de aceasta boala,sa nu-si neglijeze sanatatea.Nu uitati ca o mamografie va poate salva viata!

gabriela sprinceana
Constanta, Romania

Fighting for my life

A few months ago, while in the shower, I felt a hard mass. It didn't feel like a tumor or a cyst so I didn't think anything about it. I kept having a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I needed to go have it checked out so I found an OB/GYN. During my appointment, the doctor made a comment that concerned me. She said, "it's probably nothing but we need to do further testing." The very next day, I found myself going through 2 diagnostic mammograms, an ultrasound, and a vacuum core needle biopsy. When all the test results were in, I was shocked to learn that I had stage 2 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.

I was sent to a breast specialist next and after talking with her, surgery was scheduled for August 9. I was to have a bilateral mastectomy performed with lymph node removal. My surgery went well, but when the lymph node pathology report came back, there was evidence of metastatic carcinoma.

With no history of Breast Cancer in my family, I am still in shock over my diagnosis. The doctor has said I will definitely need to undergo radiation treatments and anti-hormone therapy. We are currently waiting on test results from an Oncotype DX to determine the probability rate of recurrence in the future and whether or not chemotherapy would be effective. Waiting is the hard part but I should know something next week. I am determined to win the battle with Cancer! I have my survivor's cap on, my support team behind me, and I just know I can do this!

I am thankful for the brave women who've already traveled this path ahead of me. Their strength, determination, and wisdom give me hope for a bright future. I'm proud to be part of the pink sisterhood!

Bonnie Annis
Newnan, GA

Super Twin Power

Back in March 2013 my twin Diana was diagnosed with breast cancer she had a lump in her breast for over 3 years by the time they found her cancer it was in stage two. Two days after her surgery her Dr ask me to get check because we are indentical chances are that I will have it to. My mom and my family insisted to get check in the back of my mind was the question of what if? finally I told my mom once my sister is done with chemo I will get check because I did not wanted my mom to suffer wirh both us being sick. Exacly 3 months and the day of sister last chemo I was diagnosed with breast cancer stage 3 the news were devastating because I had so many things I wanted to do and now my life will change forever. It happened to be we both have the same type of cancer mine was a little more aggressive than my twin the road for recovery has not been easy and every day is a challage but having the support of my family and friends and the love of my kids is what keep me going . Every day I thank god for a second chance because I will be able to enjoy my family and friends and finally do all those things that for one reason or another I was not able to do.
I am happy to report that my twin is doing great after 6 chemos and 1 1/2 month of radiation she is well yay! as for me I end up getting 21 chemos 1 1/2 months radiation 3 surgeries I still have more treatment to finish plus one more surgery like i say before the road of recovery is been super hard but at this point in my life the only option I have is to "NEVER GIVE UP"

Ruth Braaten
San Diego, CA

The Second Half of my life had just begun…

When I turned 39 I knew my life would change drastically, it was all planned out. I returned home after a six month deployment, faced a much needed hysterectomy due to endometriosis, shared my retirement with my family, started to attend a supportive and loving church, found a job at an amazing library, and watched my son complete first grade. This was enough change for me and I settled into it all with grace and looked forward to the second half of my life. I turned 40 in February and received a reminder message from my insurance company that I should have my first mammogram soon. Months later I made a routine check-up appointment and thought to mention it to my doctor. I was scheduled for the end of May and had to change my appointment due to a family emergency out of state. On June 5th, 2014 I had my first mammogram. I was called and asked to come back for more films, an ultrasound, then a surgical consult, a biopsy during an ultrasound, and on July 1st my husband and I received the results, Stage 1 Invasive Ductal Cancer. My life stopped but the world did not. I felt interrupted, this isn’t on the schedule or part of the plan. But it is, here and now I bare the lumpectomy scar and a breast that will never be the same, I will never be the same. I served as an Airman in the United States Air Force for over twenty years and now I have joined an elite group that fights breast cancer every day. So the second half of my life has begun with more focus, more fight, more life than I could have ever imagined.

Angela Simmons-Jones
Perry, GA

Cancer Changed Me Forever

Last year Sept/2013 I went for my first ever mammogram which is what you do when you turn the big 40, Right? . It was explained to me that I had a few scattered microcalcifications which is pretty common (these are usually only cancer in 20% of women), however my radiologist wanted me back in 6 months just to be certain nothing had changed. So, now fast forward April 2014, I am in my 3rd semester of Nursing School (second career) and I had that follow up 6 month appt nagging me, so I did go. I am so glad I did...... I was getting that one spot redone, I had the tech come get me several times for a redo of the shot. You see my radiologist is awesome and you get your mammogram done and the report the same day from her with a one on one appointment. I knew right then something was wrong. So sure enough the radiologist came and got me and told me that my calcifications had clustered and multiplied pretty quickly, she was almost certain it was early stage cancer. So in May 2014 the day before my final exam in nursing school I had a sterotactic Biopsy done and sure enough the next day I was told it was indeed DCIS. After much back and forth I decided, against my surgeons wishes to have a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. I had the BMX done on June 25, 2014 and as of yesterday I am 5 weeks out. I feel great and have no complaints. Surgery went well and I am exercising already. I feel such a weight off my shoulders.

The results of my BMX also showed an additional tumor with microinvasive cancer that was never picked up on the mammogram, just by the MRI before surgery. So I am at peace with my decision. I was also just informed last week that I need no treatment. No hormones, no radiation and no chemo. Lymph nodes were clear. I am lucky. Cancer has given me a new outlook on life.

Shelly
Pasadena, MD