I'm 61 years old and I have been doing self breast checks since I was a teen. I know what my breast should feel like and when I found that little lump in my right breast, I couldn't believe it. I called my doctor right away and she had me come in that day. She checked my breast and sent me for a mammogram and an ultra sound. Sure enough, I had DCIS with 1% invasion.
The doctor didn't feel the lump that I felt, because it was so small, and I wasn't due for a mammogram for another 6 months. How invasive could it have become in 6 months. I am so thankful that my mother taught me in my teens to be very aware of my body and any changes.
My doctor then sent me to a surgeon, who also could not feel the lump, but the tests showed it was there. He performed a lumpectomy on me that week. Unfortunately the test did not come back with a 5mm clean edge, so he set me up for a mastectomy. Within a month, I had my mastectomy as well as my lymph nodes removed. That did test with a clean margin.
That was in April, 2013, and since we caught it so early, I only had to take hormone treatments instead of chemo and radiation. I have been a cancer survivor for 7 months and truly believe I have a long life ahead of me.
I'm telling this story because I want everyone who reads this to realize that self breast checks are so important to survival. If one person who reads this, saves their life by following my advice, then I am happy.
Clarkson, KY
