I was diagnosed in November of 1998 when I was 33 years old. I will never forget that moment. I felt 2 lumps and I also had a white discharge coming out of my breast. My. Dr. tried to say that I was too young to get a mammogram. However I ended up getting a mammogram and biopsy. The mammogram didn't show the lumpshowever they found 2 lumps and a calcium deposit positive for cancer.. My Dr. called me on Wednesday night to tell me. He then told me he was going out of town, so I requested another Dr. and was scheduled to come in the next morning for surgery. I didn't want to take off work..lol..crazy right. I ended up having surgery that Friday and whi had to wait to weeks to find out if it had spread to my bones or major organs which was a long wait. My Dr. came in and told me that it had not gotten outside of the lump and it was 1 centimeter in size. He then suggested chemo for 4 months with a 5 year Tamoxifen pill. I called my job and told them that I would have to be off work. I didn't have enough sick time at that time and my job donated over a years worth of sick time so I never went without a paycheck. I only took off 2 months, and used the rest for regular follow-ups and my chemo appointments. I went to work every day and only took off Thursday and Friday for my chemo appointment. I continually prayed to God for healing and kept my faith that it wasn't my time. Part of me kept sinking into doubt, but I just kept laughing and smiling all the way through. I never gave up I promised to fight if not for myself for my son. It was not an easy fight. People have no idea what you go through once you have been diagnosed with something so serious. Early detection is the key and keep the faith & smile ;)
Jacqueline GShaker Heights, OH
