Share Your Story

Ten years and counting.

I lost my mam to cancer in 1976, she was 48.
My dad was diagnosed with cancer in 1999.
My son was born in 1999 and was diagnosed with ASD in 2003.
I found out in 2007 that my daughter aged 15 then, had Mild CP with Intention tremor.
I'll be 10 years cancer free in August. I had a mastectomy after 5 tumours were found.
Since then I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Arthritis BUT my dad is now 89, my son will be 15 in August and my daughter will be starting Uni in September.

Even though some days are a struggle, I'm still here to moan about it lol. And every day with my FANTASTIC family is a blessing.

They say "NEVER GIVE UP" and I'm proud to say that I HAVEN'T. This year I celebrate being 10 years cancer free, 30 years with my AMAZING partner, Steve and I will be 50 in December. Bring on the celebrations xxxxxx

Jackie Clark.
South Shields, United Kingdom

Time for a new journey and forget the old

I had never been the type of girl to check herself on her own. I figured that I got checked yearly by my doctor so I was fine till the next time around.

Well it was 5 months after my yearly checkup, October 18, 2013 a lump was found by accident. I just turned 27 ten days before.

I had told my mom about it and she was worried. She told me breast cancer runs in our family. So it worried me enough to schedule a appt for a untra sound. My insurance required a referral so we went to see my family doctor and after she examined me she said I was TO YOUNG to have cancer, that the lump was just a cyst.

She knew of my family history and still insisted that it was nothing to worry about. We got the referral anyways because we insisted on getting it checked out.

Good thing because after getting a ultra sound, mammogram and a biopsy done in the same day, I was called that very next day and told that the lump was cancerous.

I was a wreck. I had cancer inside of me and I didn't know if I was going to die because of it. I knew nothing about breast cancer. But what I found out was that I caught the lump early and I wasn't going to die .

I was stage 1 triple negative, brca1 and 2 negative and had no cancerous lympnodes. I was given 2 options, I can get a lumpectomy and go through 5 months of chemo following radiation. Or get a mastectomy and just go through chemo. It was my decision as hard as it was but I choose to get a double mastectomy with reconstruction. I did not want to have any chance of something like this happening again.

Now on May 2nd 2014 I am a survivor! Also, I get to say that my boyfriend of 4 years proposed to me on channel 6 news! Making this the best day ever!

This is the link to my proposal.
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/html5/video?id=9525113&pid=null&section=null

Crystal Deslauriers
Hatfield, PA

The day my life had changed forever

I am a 52 year old, healthy woman. Over the past 17 years I have been having yearly mammograms. My mother was diagnosed 17 yrs ago and unfortunately her cancer returned 10 years later. This had changed my way of thinking forever. I said to myself, "If I ever get BC I will choose a double mastectomy so I do not have to go thru what my mother did". Well, February 21, 2014, my life changed forever. I was diagnosed with IDC. The doctors were very confident that I had stage 1, very early and very treatable. I wasn't in denial, but in disbelief. My surgery was successful, but the pathology report changed so many things, esp my course of treatment. My tumor was not 1 cm, it was 2 cm, I had a positive lymph node and I'm triple negative. They also found DCIS in the other breast, which had not shown up in my last mammogram. I was re-staged a 2a, still very treatable. I am an extremely upbeat positive person, but I have to admit, was down about all this negative news.
So now my treatment is ACT. 4 rounds of AC for 8 weeks, and 12 round of Taxel. Followed by 5 weeks of radiation.
The good news is I have an army of support. My family and friends, even strangers of my little community, State College, pa has been a wonderful blessing. I begin my treatment Monday, May 12th. Please keep me in your prayers, and continue to have your yearly mammograms, thank you for reading my story.

Trish Riley
State college, pa, PA

A Smile and A Lot of Hope!

I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006. The cancer was early stage and non-invasive and in one breast but because of a family history I made a decision to have a bi-lateral mastectomy. I was 51 at the time, a single mother of 3 with a busy life and I didn't have time for this. After a divorce a year earlier I had gone back to college and was working on a Masters Degree. A full time job, 3 children to raise, working on a graduate degree AND breast cancer - I had no idea the journey I was about to begin. I fought hard always with a smile on my face and a positive attitude.

Five years later I found myself sitting in my Oncologists office – again. A scan was done because of a cough that lingered for a month. It showed a questionable spot on my lung that was biopsied and confirmed as cancer. The cancer was back and was now Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer and was incurable - but treatable. It was now in my lung and my bones. A lifetime of treatment - until a cure is found! I started treatment which was taking an aromatase inhibitor. It worked for 10 months before the cancer outsmarted the drug and I had to start a different treatment. The second treatment is two chemo shots every month. The side effects are bothersome and sometimes painful but I seem to find the strength to handle it with a positive attitude, a smile and hope!

My priorities have changed in the two years since being re-diagnosed. I value the time I spend with family and friends and take more pleasure in simple things. It’s okay if the house is not as clean as I would like it to be or if it takes a little longer to get chores completed. The most important thing is to fight hard, stay positive, have faith and keep going - always with a smile and a lot of hope!

Barbara Williams
Gilbert, AZ

My bonus surgery that turned into a nightmare!

I am an RN specializing in infusion, chemo, wounds and peds for 17+ years. I have been bedridden for 5 years starting with failed back surgery, RSD in left arm from infected IV site that nurses would ignore my complaints, 3 titanium rods in SI joint left hip and huge labral tear in left hip and pain pump implanted in abdomen bigger than hockey puck that goes up into my spine called intrathecal that gets filled with morphine every 3 months. Things have been getting better but no pain meds work anymore frustrating. So have wanted a breast reductuction for years so this was my bonus surgery and 2 weeks after got a call saying your tissue samples came back Lobular Carcinoma it's the kind that is not picked up by mammogram till it's in advance stages 3 or 4 and I would be dead aost always goes to other breast. I lost my sister, brother, niece and recently my dad. I have 5 grandkids and wonderful husband of 23 yrs and an amazing mom, also 6 kids including in laws and a nephew who is more like my son. We can't have anymore loss in this family so on May 29 th going in for bilateral mastectomy with immediate expanders process will take a year. Question is will my kids be able to stick by me through it all it's always by me and my mom even though I am doing it for them and my grandkids. I guess I am blessed it was found early and so far no chemo or radiation. But missingy dad who always madee feel everything would be ok and I know he is looking over me and will never leave my side! I have friends and a sister on law and rest of my family for support they just can't understand the otional trauma you go through but one surgery and procedure at a time and with God we can do this! But still in shock....

Stacie Kinman
Edina, MO

Within 24 HRS.

Worked on a Fri. was fine, Sat. morning right underarm large knot size of tangerine, hurt, ran high fever. Waited til Tues. to go to OBGYN, treated with antibiotics 10 days, don't worry its not cancer just infection. Ingrown hair, or sweat gland, 10 days go by antibiotics not working, sent to Thoracic surgeon,says same thing don't worry its not cancer. Whatever it is though needs to come out cause it hurt. Well it was removed, went back 7 days afterwards, Dr. "E" takes me to his office closes door,He advised that he consulted Oncologist,& Cancer Surgeons and everyone said there is no way Cancer doesn't work that way, well guess what it did.Even took my file to Cancer Conference in 2005 they couldn't believe it. It showed up in Lymph Nodes first not the Breat. Sorry "Toni" you have CANCER, yeah thats all I remember him saying. Had modified rad. mastectomy,right side Chemo-4 doubles, 4 singles, and 31 days of radiation. Mind you only 8 1/2 mos prior I had lost my husband to stroke and prior to that 9 1/2 mos prior to his death lost my Mom. Besides that lost her the day before Mother's Day yep just like this wkend. So I had to tell a 12 yr. old daughter after loosing Nanny, then Dad I had CANCER. Well she is now 22 yrs. old and I have made it 10 1/2 yrs. Just positive outlook, LIVE EVER DAY TO THE FULLEST. This is my story.

Toni Cox
Stockbridge, GA

It's all in the family

When I was 18 I lost my grandmother to metastatic breast cancer. She fought for 9 years. I still remember my mom crumbling to the ground and sobbing uncontrollably. On February 2nd of this year I lost my beautiful mother to metastatic breast cancer . She fought for 3 years. I was holding her hand and telling her how much she was loved as she passed. When I was 32 I tested positive for the BRCA2 gene. So, on April 14th of this year I had my breasts removed. I am adjusting to the reconstruction and the loss. Staying positive is a big thing right now. It's a blessing to know that my family will not have to go through the pain of loosing me . I have the gift of saying this disease goes no farther than me. So I say, get tested!!!! Do everything you can possibly do to fight this terrible disease. Don't ever give up.

Anonymous
Rantoul, IL

A journey to discovered inner strength.

January 10, 2012 was the day I received the results from my biopsy. My doctor began to explain that the biopsy showed to be cancer. The minute I heard the word cancer, it seemed as though the world stopped. I was diagnosed with triple negative, evasive ductile carcinoma that day & it forever changed my life.
For the next 10 months, I went through 8 rounds of chemo, a double mastectomy & 22 rounds of radiation.
There was nothing that prepared me for the immense physical pain, or the emotional lows that I endured those 10 months.
I kept hope, prayed & with the love & support from my amazing fiancé, family, & friends I made it through my darkest days.
I was officially discharged as a patient from the Cross Cancer Institute in February, 2013 & I could not have been happier.
However, 6 months later one of my
blood tests came back irregular & because I am a also a BRCA-1 carrier my dr. thought it might be ovarian cancer. So, back to the Cross Cancer Institute I go for more scans & blood work.
Two days before my wedding (to the most incredibly loving, understanding & supportive man) I received the results from the scans. It wasn't ovarian cancer, unfortunately, it was the initial breast cancer. It metastasized to three different areas in my lymph nodes.
I tearfully told my fiancé the devastating news & after talking it through we decided that the cancer was not going to take any goodness or magic away from our weekend. (We had a very love filled & special wedding!)
I started chemo a month after our wedding & had my last treatment this past March. My body responded well to the treatment & to the changes I made to my diet & way of being. My last scans showed that my lymph nodes have returned back to normal. Yay!
Very thankful for answered prayers, and very blessed to have my amazing husband, family & friends with me on this journey.
Here's to continued health, hope & faith.

Geri
Edmonton, Canada

This to shall pass

My story starts 2007 at the age of 26. I felt a lump and doc sent me for sono. Results were negative. With no order for follow up and being young I didnt think much about it. I got married, bought a house, had my son..then dec 2011 I noticed lump again In same spot. New doc ordered mammogram. Results once again negative. Follow up in 6 months. By the follow up testing I had found out I was pregnant so I could only get sonogram. Sono came back no suspicious findings but since lump was quite noticable I was sent to specialist. She ordered biopsy to be done. A week later there I was sitting in my doctor's office thinking this is a waste of time all prior reports were negative...with my 2 yr old son with me and while 28 weeks pregnant with my daughter I got my biopsy results...you have breast cancer. Me? I'm 31. I'm about to have a baby! The next few weeks were exhausting. I was sent to univ of md due to needing to be monitored closely since I was pregnant. I would need mastectomy. I was a nervous wreck. Will my baby be ok. But at 32 weeks pregnant I went into surgery. I had a 10 cm tumor and 4/9 nodes involved. My baby and I did great we recovered. I delivered a healthy baby girl 7 weeks later. Had pet ct scan and medport a week after delivery. I was diagnosed stage 4 bc with mets to bones. With a toddler and newborn at home I started my treatment. 6 cycles chemo, 33 treatments radiation to chest, hysterectomy with bilat oopherectomy, radiation to femur, monthly shots and daily pills... 18 months later my Reconstruction begins May 9, 2014! Its been very challenging but I am praising the Lord thru the storm!! I'm so thankful for my family and friends who helped me thru this journey. Please be your own doctor and insist on testing if you notice anything unusual!

Gale
Mechanicsville, MD

last chemo

Diagnosed in Nov 2013 with IDC breast cancer. After 1st surgery discovered I had another DCIS tumour plus in lymph node. 2nd surgery to get rid of as many lymph nodes as possible, 11 in all. My last day of chemo todsy it has been a difficult time and still have to go thru this cycle so will be truly celebrating in 3 weeks. Next steps radiation and 5 years hormone therapy. To all that are just starting your journey, take each day as it comes, dont say no to help, people are genuine when they offer and there are many more but most importantly be kind to yourself, this is your time to heal (no pressure is allowed). Photo taken with my boys, these guys are my reason for staying strong, love you guys.

wendy roberts
frankston, Australia