At age 59 I was diagonosed with invasive breast cancer. 2 weeks later my friend of nearly 30 years was diagnosed with the same thing. We do a lot of things together but we never thought we would have breast cancer together! Our gynecologist, Dr. Marion Pandiscio, found the lumps on both of us and we both used the same team of doctors for treatment. She & I had a lumpectomy and I followed with radiation. She followed with chemotherapy & radiation since she was triple negative.
If there was one thing I would tell women it would be to get checked by your doctor. Nothing showed up on my mammogram or ultrasound. Only my doctor felt the lump. Thank goodness she insisted that I see a surgeon before dismissing it as nothing.
Having Valerie to talk to every day made the journey so much easier.
We are both on the road to recovery now and look forward to a lot more years together.
Chris Rudacille
Holmes Beach, Fl.
Holmes Beach, FL