I went for my normal mammogram, and thought all was fine, until the called the Dr in and she did a CT scan and said she could see malignant Invasive Ductal carcinoma. And called my PCP immediately. She sent me into Boston. I had 3 lumpectomies they couldnt get margins clear. It had gone into my lymph nodes. It was diagnosed as a stage 3b SITU ductal invasive cancer. Finally after being probed enough I sought another Dr. They suggested a double mastectomy, which should have been done first. I had a bad infection in my right breast from the lumpectomies and had to have the VN every day to pack it before they could even do the operation. After the double mastectomy, I was unable to have reconstrcution because of the depth they had to go. I had chemo and then radiation.Then put on a 5 yr pill "Femara" . I will be done with the 5 yr pill in Dec. I am glad to be alive. Yes I have to admit the 5 yr pill does cause joint and bone pain and other side effects, but so far I have been lucky it has kept cancer away. I try now my best to help other people with Breast cancer to understand or tell them what happened to me and hopefully it might help them. It's a Horrid Disease that needs a "cure" I think Mammograms should also start @ age 30 NOT 40. So many young people get breast cancer. And arent allowed mammograms, unless they pay, until age 40. I encourage Insurance companies and hospitals to let people have them at an early age to save their lives. Bless everyone thats read this. Joyce

Joyce J. Lawson
Whitman, MA