When I discovered my lump right after a negative mammogram, I was a little shocked, but since I had been typing about breast cancer research for a continuing medical education company for about 10 years at that time, I wasn't surprised. That was one poster child I never wanted to be. At the time, two of my friends from church were also having biopsies and I actually prayed that if one of us had cancer that it would be me, because I knew I was armed with all the information I needed to make a decision that was right for me. My prayers were answered.I believe that any cancer diagnosis is harder on the family than the patient, because while we are allowed to go through all the stages of dealing with the diagnosis, they quote-unquote have to be strong for us. That's hard to do when you've lived a lifetime with someone and you are terrified of losing them. In the beginning, I let the diagnosis take over my life, but quickly realized that I didn't want to live "with" cancer every day that I have left, so I threw the diagnosis to the side of the road and moved forward with my life. I still type about cancer research and the cutting edge technology and therapies that are being tested and I pray that my three daughters, if they have to experience breast cancer, will have a better road to travel than we do today. Keep clicking for those free mammograms. They are sorely needed.

Anonymous
Miami, FL