I first had cancer in 1998. it was stage 0 and I had a lumpectomy and 6 weeks of radiation. I had turned 50 that year. I started getting my mammograms at age 40 every two years. then at age 50 I was going to be getting them every year. that is when they found something on my mammogram. it was not even a lump. I worked every day and it was in a warehouse and left early each day during the week for my radiation. I thought I was cancer free and I was for 14 years.
in jan of 2013 it had come back in the same left breast. the first time I had cancer I was in denial. this time I was in shock. I had to have somogram and later a biopsy and then later and mri. this time it was a stage 1. it was caught early. the only option I had was to get a mastectomy. I started reconstruction but it did not work out. I had 4 surgeries and two bladder infections. I will not go through this again. I have bras that I put my prosthesis in. I will have one more surgery. in feb of this year I will get the escess skin removed. I am a second time survivor thanks to god. I will have to take pills for 5 years and maybe 5 years more.i am so glad I did not have to have chemo. I have my good and bad times. but I am thankful and grateful and blessed. please ladies get your mammograms and keep getting them god bless.
vinton, VA