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My Journey

My journey began in October 2007. I found a lump in my left breast. Ihad a biopsy of the lump. When I woke up in recovery the surgeon said it was an encapsulated tumor and that he had removed it. I received a call from the surgeon to say that the biopsy had come back positive for cancer.I called Dr. Beth DuPree and I was scheduled to meet with her the next week.
When my husband and I met with Dr. DuPree with were so impressed and much relieved that I would be in such good hands. We found out at that time that the surgeon who had done the biopsy had not done clear margins or checked the lymph nodes. My next surgery was January 2008. Unfortunately, one lymph node tested positive. So now I had to have chemotherapy as well as radiation.
I began chemotherapy with Dr. Reilly in February. It was decided that I would not teach the rest of the school year. I watched my baby granddaughter while out of work. I have to say Emily was my inspiration during this time. I looked forward to seeing her little smiling face each day and was busy taking care of her instead of thinking about my situation.
. I went back to teaching in September of 2008.
However, my journey did not end there. In April of 2012 I began getting pains and a burning in my stomach at night that would last for about 2 hours and then go away. It turned out I had lesions on the liver and bones.
After a consultation with Penn it was decided I would have chemotherapy again with Dr. Reilly and his amazing staff. .
I have had my chemo treatments changed and am doing better.
I am so blessed to have such a wonderful support system with family, friends, doctors, nurses, and my fantastic Metafriends group.
Always keep as positive as possible, this makes such a difference.

Linda Ordini
Ewing, NJ

Bilateral mastectomy, the only way to go!

I am a 3 yr survivor. I was diagnosed at age 47. My mom is a 16 yr survivor. They found DCIS in my left breast. "You have cancer", that was all I heard! I knew that if this ever happened I would remove both my breast. THANK GOD for intuition...I had a bilateral mastectomy (on my poor son's 15th b-day). Two weeks post op I am told they found invasive carcinoma in the right breast when it had been removed. Oncologist assumed it had been there as long as 5 yrs!!! Mind you, I've been having mammograms since age 32 (15 yrs). Back to surgery I went to have lymph nodes removed from the right side. All nodes clear! Thank God, again! I am still taking my chemo pill everyday (2 more yrs:) and a few other things to counter side affects. I am cancer FREE and healthy. Because of my journey I am a STRONG believer in removing BOTH breasts...I could have died not knowing about the other side...and who needs em?! I got two brand new beautiful ones that won't kill me😍 And I got to see my beautiful daughter graduate and now my amazing baby boy too. Life is good. God bless all of you who are just having to begin this journey! Find something to laugh about, it helps!

Shelley Ward
Oregon City, OR

My fight!

On February 10, 2014 my dr found a lump in my right breast, I was scared to death. I was sent to the hospital for my 1st mammogram and ultrasound. I was told its suspicious of cancer and was sent for a biopsy on February 18, 2014. On February 21,2014 I got my call it was breast cancer. Worst day of my life. All I could think of was was my kids, I have a beautiful 11 yr old daughter and a gorgeous 3 yr old son. Ive prayed to God that he leave me here to watch them grow up. This has been so devasting to me. I am 40 yrs old and my lump was found 2 days before my 40th birthday. On March 24, 2014 I had a right breast masectomy with 23 lymph nodes removesd, 14 of them had cancer. I have invasive ductal carcinoma in stage 3 due to the size of my tumor and all the nodes taken. I am 2 weeks post op and slowly recovering. I go next week to meet my oncologist because I was told I have to have chemo and radiation then probably take a pill for 10 years. I pray everyday that I survive this. Right now Im still in the shock, crying everyday stage of my life. Ive got to get strong and kick cancers butt for my kids and my hubby. My heart goes out to anyone who has to go throuh this fight.

Stephanie Buckley
Pomeroy, OH

Stay Strong

They say that everything happens for a reason...I truly believe that and it will become apparent to me....
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in feb 2014 aged 55 and otherwise healthy.....it was like a bolt out of the blue.
In March 2014 I had surgery...a right localised therapeutic mammoplasty and sentinel node biopsy on my right breast. The results came back and they were successfull in cutting out the cancer from my breast and the margins were all clear but cancer cells were found in one of my lymph nodes and learned that my cancer was Grade 2, 50mm in size.
I am due to go for further surgery on 14th April to remove all lymph nodes from under my right arm followed by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone suppressing tablets... Cosmetic surgery on the other breast to give me a matching pair!
In the space of a few months my entire world has been turned upside down but with so much to live for and fantastic support and love from my partner, family and friends.. I remain positive and determined.
I had No symptoms and if it wasn't for a routine mammogram it would have gone unnoticed and untreated . Early detection has saved my life for which I will be eternally grateful
Positive Attitude All The Way. Sharing stories does help to heal.

Susan Scott
Glasgow, United Kingdom

Breast cancer at 29 & 38

I was originally diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, I had lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I have been 9 years free, then late last year was diagnosed with breast cancer again (re-occurrence in the original breast), same type grade 3 and triple negative. This time I have undergone bilateral mastectomy (my choice) and chemotherapy. Luckily the cancer wasn't in my lymph nodes, or anywhere else. It's been a rocky road but I've got through it. Luckily I have managed to work as I have a very supportive ward manager and work colleagues. I may not have wanted to get up some days, but I have a 2 year old who is my little miracle. She has given me the strength on a daily basis to get up and move forward. I have a loving husband and a 20 year old daughter too, they have been my rock. I have also had the gene test, which I'm awaiting the results of. Life is for enjoying as none of us know what is around the corner, but I'm here and looking forward to a brighter future.

Jo Quigley
Falmouth, United Kingdom

Breast Cancer at 45

Went for my yearly check up May2013. Two days later got a call that i need to take another mammogram of the right breast,had that done. Doctor said will wait 6 month to do another mammogram ,that was dec 16th 2014. Was told i needed a biopsy and they recommend a bilateral MRI. The biopsy of the right breast was cancer. Had bilateral MRI and they found a spot in the left breast. Went for an Ultra Sound to locate the spot on the left, but do to my dense breast they could not locate the spot so i had to have a MRI stereotactic biopsy.That came back as stage 1 cancer. I already knew i was having a mastectomy on the right so i decided i would have a Bilateral Mastectomy which i got on March 7th 2014. My margins came back clean and my lymph nodes came back clear. Will have Breast reconstruction in Philly on April18th. There is no cancer in my family, i even did the genetic test and came back good. I was just the 1 in 8 women that happened to. I had no lumps. I can't stress enough to every woman to not miss their annual Mammogram cause that is the only reason they found my cancer. I believe the way everything happened to me was a Blessing because the stage 1 cancer on the left breast never showed up in the mammogram and the Ultra Sound could not locate it either. So who knows how long that could have grown before it would have been detected. I don't need any other treatment for the cancer just a 6month check up (Blood work & Chest X-rays) and 6month check up and then yearly. I also have a wonderful Husband and loving family that made this journey easier for me,also a loving church family that would check up on me bring us food and send get well cards. I was 45 when i was diagnosed with breast cancer. Our first grandchild will be born july 2014 and i want to be 100% good.

Petra King
Washington Boro, PA

In The Way Of Life

I lost my sister to breast cancer 4 years ago. She was 35. Her fight lasted 8 long years and those years were hard for us all but at least during those 8 long and painful years I still had my sister.

Every three weeks we would make the 150 mile round trip to Charring Cross Hospital for her treatment. I would drive us and to beat traffic for the 8:30 appointment we would be on the road at 5:30 in the morning. Those Mondays were incredibly demanding on the healthy people that made it so I cannot think what they were like for my sister. Her youngest son would often accompany us. He was aged between 7 and 11 and visiting the chemotherapy ward was a part of his growing up.

Between treatment and traffic we would sometimes not make it home until past midnight. These trips every three weeks were incredibly hard but they formed part of the fight my sister had with her illness. It was literally a battle she undertook to get herself to London (we live in North Essex) and this fight kept her going. In all the time she was ill she only missed one appointment and that was because she was in a hospice dying. It sounds strange but I miss those trips to the Chemotherapy ward as despite the terrible circumstances and the gruelling schedule of the day we actually had fun. The message my nephew has taken away from it is that life is making the here and now worth talking about later.

We saw her fight and we saw her struggle as we were with her every step of the way. She died on the 9th of May 2010 and a little over a month later my mother also discovered she had breast cancer. By this time she was looking after my sisters two boys. After treatment she is doing well. It is hard to call her a survivor as she just never had the time for cancer. It just got in the way of living.

Anonymous
clacton on sea, United Kingdom

Cancer Stinks but you gotta laugh

I found a lump in early Sept. 2013, 36 years old. Never missed a month doing my self exam. No family history of breast cancer. Exercising. Eating right. So to say I was surprised was an understatement. I bought a new house on Sept. 17 and got the call on Sept. 20 - "Its cancer". We threw everything in the house the best we could and started chemo on Oct. 28th. With the love and support of my wonderful friends and family I have made it through chemo! My last chemo session was on March 17th- St. Patrick's day!

To help my children understand the journey, we named my lump "ART". It was short for A Round Thing. Naming it gave us a focus for our fight! The kids have been wonderful and have learned about so many things on this journey! Things they shouldn't have to know about- like chemo, and ports. They have also learned about family, the meaning of TRUE friends as they see me with the chemo crew that comes every week to send us off in good spirits, and FAITH!

I have found that not only do I have the best husband in the world, but I have the best family and friends in the world too! I am blessed to have each and every one of them in my life! I am also blessed to have many praying for me constantly.

So, we now move on to bilateral mastectomies and lymph node surgery and then on to radiation! Always singing "Every little thing is gonna be alright", because I know it is! In the mean time, we laugh at everything from my bald head to funny hats we wear- because cancer stinks but you gotta laugh!

Heather Edmisten
Concord, NC

Friday the 13th - my unlucky day

I went for my annual mammogram in April of 2011. My Dr. sent me for a biopsy, and on Friday, May 13th the breast surgeon called to tell me I had breast cancer. I was shocked because I didn't have a lump. I had calcification. I had a lumpectomy without clear margins and underwent another. Still no clear margins so had a third lumpectomy. After three my Dr. told me a mascetomy on my right side was my only option, as the cancer was thru my whole breast. He said it would eventually be on the left side if it wasn't already. In August, 2011 I underwent a belateral mascetomy with reconstruction. One year later it came back - stage 4 in my lumph nodes. I underwent six months of chemotherapy, six weeks of radiation, and one year of herceptin infusions.

My family, friends & co-workers were very supportive during my long journey. I couldn't have done it without them. I have been fighting for three years, and will continue to do so. There is life after cancer, and I am stronger than cancer.

Mary Murray
Quinnesec, MI

my story to warn others

i am 30 years old 4 months ago i went to the bathroom and seen i had blood on my nitedress so i had a look and seen i had blood coming out of my nipple so i went to the docs on the monday i thought i beter have it checked out as my aunt had it 3 years ago and my gran did years ago as well. So i seen the doc and sh sent me to hospital 24 dec 13 i had a ultarsound they couldnt c anything so i had a mammogam which i wasnt ment to as oh my age i waited for 20 mins and thats when they showed me the white spots and said it was pre cancer so ihad a bioposy and had to wait for 2 weeks on 2 jan 14 i went back and they told me i have to have a op and i lose my nipple and part of my breast so 27 jan 14 i had my op then waited again 2 weeks 6 jan 14 i had 16 lymph nodes and 1 was cancer and i was then told i need other op as there was still cancer int there so back in again i went 10 march14 so waited again 2 weeks and want back on 27 march and was told they got it all this time and now i got to go backon 17 april 14 talk bout my treatment and have op on my other breast so iwent from pre cancer to cancer grade 3 i like to warn others that it doesnt always have to be a lump to have cancer.

julie roberts
newquay, United Kingdom