I had my yearly mammogram and they saw calcifications I had no idea what that meant but 6 months later I had to have another mammogram.. They found cancer. Intraductal carcinoma. This means none of the cancer nodules were touching the wall of the milk ducts. I was so very blessed. I was eating healthy and doing aerobics and thought I was in great shape so when this news was given to me I was quite shocked. I had a lumpectomy, 13 lymph nodes removed and 33 radiation treatments Early detection is so very important. I thank God for my wonderful Doctor's, my loving family and my fellow employees at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, Florida for all their support.During my career at LRMC a new program opened up called Patient focus.I signed up for this and requested to be placed on the Oncology floor. I was chosen for this position as requested and it was the most rewarding time of my life. Having had cancer, helped me to calm a person's fears when they entered the hospital for treatment .I loved every minute working with the Dr., nurses and the many wonderful patients and their families. I see having cancer as a blessing as it has made me a better, more caring person.That mammogram was in 1999. The mammogram that changed my life forever.

Barbara R. Janzen
Lakeland, FL