Share Your Story

Early Detection is important!

It was time for my yearly mammogram....at age 44, I had only had one done. It wasn't as bad as I had feared, yet it still wasn't the most pleasant thing and so I see-sawed back and forth about making an appt. to get my next one. Finally, the fact that it was free w/my insurance decided me and I went. Never in a million years did I expect to get a phone call asking me to come back in for more pictures and possibly a sonogram. I was really nervous, but kept telling myself, it was nothing. My friends told me it was probably nothing and I wanted to believe this. I went in and had the pictures taken, then had a sonogram and the technician told me "I am concerned." My heart leaped in my chest. She said "we need to do a biopsy". I had the biopsy and was told that I would have to wait at least a week, but that I would be hearing from my regular doctor. I was on pins and needles for four days when I got that fateful phone call....Cancer. But I have a message of hope in that it was caught early enough that it was only stage 1. I had a lumpectomy and then only had to have radiation; a fact that I am still praising God for. I am on hormone blocker therapy and, God willing, that will be the end of that. God took me through that journey and brought me through it to the other side, and along the way, He blessed me in the comfort and support of my sisters in Christ and my sisters in Pink. I am a survivor!

Lenny Lee Sanders
College Station, TX

Celebrating Me

My life began at age 47. Meaning I had to focus more on myself than I had with raising kids and a 28 year marraige. I had put off having my mammogram until then. I was having terrible left leg and hip pain, and could no longer stand for long periods of time. My GP sent me for all kinds of tests for my leg. MRI, ect. Everything was fine. The last thing I had to do was a Mammogram. No longer could I put it off!. Mammo was easier than I thought, didn't think anything of it until I was opening mail in the car one day. Hmm it was from the Radiologist to come back for additional scans. I immediately stopped at my dr.'s for a script, and made an appointment. My Dr. Started talking about Breast Cancer. Breast Cancer? Me? , but my leg hurts not my breast!. Back for scans and ultrasound. Appointment with surgeon. The waiting game is not fun. Lumpectomy, then back for clear margins. Er/Pr positive, Her/2. So chemo and radiation it is. Pills not to get sick, white blood count shot, back for fluids. Weeks of radiation. Herception IV after. Tamoxifen for awhile.
Finally feeling better except the muscle pain I went back to work.
This month it will be 5 years cancer free. I celebrated with a few cupcakes and vacation time. Thought I had won the battle. I went to the ER for a swollen stomach. Don't know what caused it. They took X-rays to check and saw a spot on my lung. I go to the lung Doc in one hour. A little scarred of course. I am not sure. Everything runs through your mind at this point. But I said my peace five years ago.

Anonymous
Sewell, NJ

So thankful

In 2007, my mother was diagnosed with Stage 0 DCIS in her left breast. Her prognosis was excellent-mastectomy with reconstruction, no chemo or radiation. Her recovery was long due to reconstruction with her own tissue, but she was cancer free. There was no history of breast cancer in my family, and I was only 32, so my OBGYN was not overly concerned, but he suggested that I begin getting yearly mammograms just to be safe. I went for my yearly exams and did self exams diligently for the next six years. It was my mammogram from August 2013, at age 38, that changed everything.

I got the call that I needed to return for a follow-up mammogram on a Tuesday. By Friday, I was having a biopsy done to rule out cancer based on 5 tiny spots, no larger than a dot from a pen, in the exact same location that my mother's cancer had been found 6 years before. I was mentally preparing myself for the worst, but hopeful that it was just a precaution.

On September 11th (this date now has a whole new meaning), I received the news that I also had DCIS. I met with the oncologist the next day, my husband by my side, and discussed the options. I decided that I wanted my risk of recurrence to be as small as possible, so I opted to have a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. This decision turned out to be the right one when weeks later I learned that I carried the BRCA-1 gene. This led to some other important decisions as now my risk for ovarian cancer was higher.

On October 22, 2013, I had my bilateral mastectomy and a bilateral oophrectomy at the same time. The recovery was long, but I was cancer free. No chemo, no radiation. Just reconstruction which was completed on June 13, 2014.

I have been spreading the word about getting mammograms! It saved my life. With my history, If I had waited until age 40, I would be telling a different story...

Laura
Burlington, MA

my mom. .

my mother in law who is more a mom to me
she is 83 and she had breast cancer . she is doing great
is is always on the go i have to find out all the
time what she will be doing that week because
we talk to each other ever day at noon. her name is
kathie easton from decatur ill to my mom sue easton

sue easton
Las Vegas, NV

In memory of my Mother in law

My mother in law, Dorothy, was 58 when she lost her battle with breast cancer. It was a battle that she fought for 7 years. At one point the cancer had spread to her bones. She had just married my father in law and about six months later she was diagnosed. When I was pregnant with my daughter, she insisted on throwing me a baby shower, even though she was in treatment and the cancer was in her bones. She pulled off a great shower, even making me a homemade three layer cake. She fought her battle with grace until the end. Because of her, I make sure to pay close attention to any changes, and to always get my annual mammograms. I have had some scares, but thankfully nothing has been cancer. She is truly an inspiration.

Christina Crill
Waterville, OH

Two Time Winner

3 years ago after my mammogram I was diagnosed with stage four non Hodgkins lymphoma.I under went 6 treatments of Chemo. During this time I stopped smoking which was the best thing. Started recovering and was doing great. Then I started getting depressed with all the weight I had gained, just to find out this February I had stage 1 breast cancer. I know other women go through a worse type but I was so not ready for this again, I was not sure if I had the fight in me, only my family and daughter was my reason to fight. After a partial lumpectomy and six weeks of radiation I have now defeated cancer once more. My prayers and respect to all cancer patients who must fight longer and harder battles. Never underestimate what you can accomplish when you put your faith and trust in God I had so many wonderful people praying for me and Believe me God hears and answers all prayers. I know the prayers and the powerful love of my family pulled me through. I now love life more and take nothing for granted.

sandra wary
clover, SC

No Stomach, No Breasts…No Cancer!

I carry the CDH1 genetic mutation, which puts me at a very high risk (80%) of developing a hard to detect form of gastric cancer (Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer), but three years ago, at the age of 40, I decided to do what the doctors recommended and have my stomach removed as a preventative measure. Adjusting to life without a stomach was a challenge, but things improved over time.

With the CDH1 mutation, in addition to the high risk of stomach cancer, the risk for developing lobular breast cancer is 40-60%. So for the past five years, every six months I alternated between having a mammogram and a breast MRI to screen for potential abnormal areas.
In late March of this year, following my most recent breast MRI, a suspicious spot was discovered, and a biopsy showed it was indeed a very small spot of invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast. But, since it was found very early, I was truly fortunate. Because of my high genetic risk, I decided to have a double mastectomy with reconstruction.

The surgery itself went smoothly with no complications. The cancer did not spread beyond the breast tissue. But there were areas of lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) In areas of both breasts. So my decision to have a double mastectomy was justified. And on top of that, I will not need any chemo or radiation therapy!!!

I am a board member of a great organization called No Stomach For Cancer which works to increase awareness and support families affected not only by the CDH1 genetic mutation, but all types of gastric cancers which are in desperate need of more research. I look forward to continuing my work with them, staying healthy, and loving and cherishing the people in my life.

Anonymous
Merrimac, MA

This Can't Be Happening To Me!

In May 2010, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My worst nightmare had come true. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, I heard the words but my head was spinning, this wasn't really happening to me! Because I had lost my mom to this horrible disease I was probably the most "pro-active" person I knew when it came to breast cancer awareness. I started having annual mammograms at the age of 35. Every little calcification...I had checked, rechecked and biopsied if necessary. I did self-breast exams often (not every month) but every couple! After every mammogram I would wait for that letter...the one that says "We are pleased to inform you that there is no evidence of breast cancer on your recent mammogram." Whew...clear again!!

I received one of those letters on November 2009 ahhhh....I'm good! So, in April, 2010 while lying in bed reading a book and my hand brushed up against something in my right breast...I thought this can't be anything...5 months ago I had a normal mammogram!! It takes years for something this big to grow...there must be an explanation. I saw my doctor on Monday at noon. I had the feeling that this wasn’t going to turn out well! Not only did I have one tumor, I had two and both tested positive for cancer with one lymph node involved. 10 days after the biopsy I had a bi-lateral mastectomy followed by 8 rounds of chemo, then had my reconstructive surgery.

Now, I've talked to many doctors asking the same question to all of them. How did 2 tumors, 1.1cm and 1.7cm go un-noticed by mammograms all this time?! The only consistent answer I get is "Mammograms are the best tool we have right now...but they are not a perfect science." 15-20% fail...I fell into that percentage group.

My words of advice- ladies, check your breasts. It might just save your life!

Tracey Sherman
Valencia, CA

50 changed my life

I had turned 50 on Dec. 1 2012, I was happy, they say life gets better at 50. Well, in January 2013 I just finished taking a bath, while I was drying under my arms I felt a lump on the left side. Right away I called my daughter and asked her to check to make sure it was a lump. She didn't want to touch it, she right away got scared. I went to the doctor the next day, had a mammogram done on January 13, 2013, right away I was told I had breast cancer. It was devastating, I have 4 small grand kids that I love so much, I wanted to be here for them. I asked god, why me, cried so much, my family didn't understand either. I had always been here for everyone else, I never imagined I would be the one that was going to be needing someone to help me. After months of tests and biopsies and doctors visits, I had a double mastectomy, was in ICU for two weeks, went thru Chemo and six weeks of Radiation. With faith and power of god and help of family and friends, still a struggle, but thank god I am still here.

Andie Ramos
Austin, TX

Breast cancer @32 years old

Hello, I'm 32 years old I have two beautiful girls 7 & 5 years old, i find out the I have breast cancer on May 27,2014.
I will have a double mastectomy on July 9..... I'm scare, I have a lot of ups & downs..... I know I will be fine but it just to know the something of my body will be gone is hard.......

Eliet
Dallas, GA