Hi, my name is Rachel Thornton.
I am 33 years old and It's been 4 months since I was diagnosed with invasive ductile carcinoma and I am so thankful to be on my way as a breast cancer survivor. My life will never be the same, but it's mine and it's a gift!
My lump was first detected during a self exam. I immediately scheduled an appointment with my primary care physician. Within one week I underwent many test and exactly seven days later I was diagnosed with grade 3 breast cancer. My treatment plan was very aggressive which included chemotherapy a double mastectomy as well as radiation.
My prognosis is very good as I am doing all that my doctors are telling me to do.
Breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in women, and is the leading cause of death in women younger than 50 in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society.
My biggest hope out of this whole experience is that I can spread the word, don't ignore any signs or symptoms. Early detection can save your life.
What I learned from this experience is that no matter how afraid you are, when something does not feel right to you, you need to go to the doctor. Your health is too valuable, and although the doctor might tell you something you don't want to hear, it is better to hear it now before it's too late to do something about it.
Queen Creek, AZ
