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Mammograms save lives

So thankful I had a mamogram done. Some time had lapsed since my last one and I knew after losing my Dad to cancer I better get back on track. A suspicious spot was found and a magnified scan was done. That too showed the spot in question so I was headed for a biopsy. Biopsys are most unpleasant but I knew it was necessary. Then the wait for results. Doctor called and said no actice cancer but I have pre-cancer cells present and they must come out. Thursday I will be having a mini lumpectomy but no radiation is needed. So may I reiterate that MAMMOGRAMS SAVE LIVES! If I had not had one we would be looking at a different situation. Treat your "girls" with kindness and save the "ta tas" Have faith & believe.

Anonymous
Huntington, TN

life doesnt stop

When I was 30 I felt a painful lump in my breast. I blew it off thinking I was too young for it to be serious, probably just another cyst. My grandma just survived breast cancer 2 yrs prior and I had lost my mother just months before to ovarian cancer. At 31 with a 2 yr old son I was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. We do NOT carry the gene. 3 surgeries and 8 months later I found out I was pregnant... Now I am due in June with my daughter. When I was diagnosed I thought I would share my moms fate and I couldn't imagine life with the scars. Boy was I wrong, so much life to still live and give. Stay strong and check ourself. Never stop fighting!!

Jessica Duval
Blue Springs, MO

BRCA1 + working Mom of four with breast cancer

I am a young working mother of four young children ages 4-11. I eat healthy, I exercise, I don't smoke, and I get regular checkups. I also breastfed all four of my children for a total of 5- 1/2 years. I get regular mammograms. I had practically a "zero" chance of having breast cancer in my mind. Last year, my mammogram was apparently "clear" with dense breast tissue. This year, I have a 9x9cm linear calcification area consistent with ductal/invasive carcinoma. I was in shock. The news kept getting worse, it seemed. The biopsy indicated grade 3 aggressive type cells(but ER,PR positive, HER2 negative). Because of my young age, I was tested for the BRCA mutation. I have had no ovarian cancer in my family or young women with breast cancer. We do have cancer on both sides, but not those. I was convinced I did not have it. Of course I did- BRCA1- the worst one. I chose a double mastectomy. I could not find anyone locally to do NSM, so I flew to California for surgery. It was bad enough to have cancer, I did not want to be mutilated. I did not realize how much I liked my breasts until they were going to take them. Even though the nipples may stay (depending on frozen section), I will not have sensation. I did get to keep my nipples, but unfortunately, I had three positive nodes, no clear margins against my chest, and my invasive portion was >5cm, all indicating that I need radiation in addition to chemotherapy. Eventually I will have to have my ovaries out which I am not happy about either. I had my port placed and will start chemotherapy soon.
Distraction from my busy life with my children keep me grounded, my wonderful husband, and praying keep me going. My fantastic friends and family have been making us meals, supporting us, and praying for us as well. I have a long, bountiful life ahead of me & plan on sticking around for many many years!

Anonymous
Buffalo, NY

my struggle

In "07" my husband was diagnosed wit stage 3 colon cancer while takin care of him i found a knot in my left breast wit so much on me i convinced myself it was a swollen lymph node when i finally got some time for me i went to the dr only to b told i had stage 3a breast cancer my husband&i ended up doin chemo side by side i lost all my hair i did 16 wks of chemo & 35 treatments of radiation they removed my left breast& 18 lymph nodes under my arm in 2012 i went bk n 2 have my right breast removed due 2 another knot they did a tummy tuck 2 reconstruct i lost my husband of 13yrs on July 20 2012 it was his 35th bday im n remission@ this time i was dealt a horrible hand but its what u make it cancer will either break u or make u strongr i appreciate u takn the time 2 read my story r.i.p. Jason ward fly high bby 7/20/77-7/20/12 "we only part 2 meet again" i love&miss u boo

Cynthia Spann
Burns, TN

Tickled Pink

Last chemo treatment, made the sign the night before, happy, happy day! Remember, early detection is still our best defense, mine would not have been found without it. The phrase “Fight Like a Girl” takes on a whole new meaning after this. Although a difficult journey, you see things in a better perspective as all survivors know. Blessings to all who have fought the fight and are continuing to do so.

Cathy
Lowell, NC

WHERE ARE YOU?

I'm right here, standing beside you--holding you up as the tiredness of your last chemotherapy treatment is taking over. Now is the time to lie down and rest, and My Angels will be watching over you. Rest is healing. I am right beside you.
I'm right here, behind you--giving you gentle pushes forward since you are not feeling as strong in yourself today.
I'm right here, in front of you--leading the way over this rough cancer road for you, helping to make it a little more bearable.
I'm right here, inside you--as difficult as your journey is for you, you can still reach out and help others. I will help you to accomplish more than you thought possible.
I'm right here. I am your boss. I am your father. I love you like no other can.
And in the fall of 2010, while I was in treatment for breast cancer, He was right there in answer to my prayer--I wanted to help other women as they, too, traveled their own unique cancer journeys.
He is here when I ask Him to help me author special letters and testimonials.
He is right here, answering prayers that I have not even thought to say yet.
He is right here, meeting every need I have in order to administer The Sparkle Caps Project, as we uplift, empower, love and pray for other women through sponsored Sparkle Caps gift bags.
He is right here, helping me to tell other women that, in spite of our hair loss, we are HOT CHICKS.
WHERE ARE YOU? I am in you! And I am in you! And I am in you! I know your pain. I know your fears. Trust in Me and trust the plan that I have for you!

Susan "Victorious" Heimbigner
Sumter, SC

After loosing 3 sisters to breast cancer, Marshall becomes the "Pink Fireman".

When 3 of My sisters shared they had breast cancer, I took the news hard. I was angry, confused, and regretful at times, but most of all I was sad; sad to face the reality that I would lose 3 sisters to breast cancer. Nevertheless, my fire department shift stood by my side. Despite missing meals, secluding myself from my shiftmates, and terrible mood swings, 6B-shift kept a weathered eye on me. After Vicky (2/2008), Penny (6/2010), and Valessa (9/2010) passed away, I found a ray of hope when a breast cancer walk used my fire house parking lot as a pit-stop one brisk September day. Amazingly enough, after all I had been through, my shift didn't hesitate a minute to pitch in and join in supporting the walkers as they passed through.The pink faded from the parking lot after that September weekend, but not from my heart. Over the next few months, my shift would watch me evolve into a... well... turn into a... ummm... well just turn PINK! In Feb 2011, my shift and their families continued to show support for me and for breast cancer awareness by attending a local Bowl for the Cure Event. I was decked out in pink from head to toe - not as The Pink Fireman - that would come later! Not long after the Bowl for the Cure, my wife received a call from my captain. A retired Chief from the department, along with equipment representative, came up with the idea of presenting me with pink fire fighter turnout gear. The Chief and company, along with my shift wanted to surprise me with all pink gear and a matching helmet, to recognize my efforts towards raising awareness about breast cancer. My wife was in - the plotting began. It wouldn't be until April 2011 that I would be surprised with the pink gear. In front of the media, family, co-workers, and shiftmates, I became The Pink Fireman. I have also started my own nonprofit helping fighters and survivors.

Marshall Moneymaker
Bethesda, MD

Together we can do anything!

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in late October 2013; the same year, in fact, that she lost her daughter and her sister. It would turn out to be the toughest year of our lives. My father and I both battle with diseases of our own, but we have always lived by the notion that, “together we can do anything”. And so, together we fought! We did our research, we cried, we laughed and we did more research. My mom saw a video online of a woman who danced on her surgery day. She looked at me and said, “Dan, I want to do that”. So on the day of her surgery, we danced. Her nurse joined in and as staff walked by, they danced too! It was uplifting and my mom went into surgery with a song in her heart. The recovery processes was long and full of uncertainty. Today, she is cancer free! We started 2014 with new adventures in hormone therapy. My mom is a fighter and one of the strongest people I have ever had the privilege to know. It’s still a battle, but “together we can do anything!” I love you, momma.

Danielle
Stockton, CA

"April 2014 Will Make One Year"

I am a 34 year old wife and mother of three boys. I have always been used to being the caregiver in my family. My youngest son has downsyndrome and was later diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and my middle son has sickle cell c disease. It came to such a shock when I received the news that no longer kept me as caregiver but that I would soon become the patient.

In July of 2012 I was diagnosed with stage 3b breast cancer (inflammatory breast cancer). My whole world changed in just one day, and my life has never been the same. I did 6 sessions of (TAC) chemotherapy, which lasted 4 months. In January 2013 I underwent a modified radical masectomy of the left breast and removal of over 24 lymph nodes in my armpit that contained cancer. Then I did 37 sessions of extensive radiation to my left chest wall and arm pit. In April 2013 they rescanned me and the news was that all the cancer had been removed!!! God is awesome! I have been going through my reconstruction phases since August of 2013 when I had a mastectomy of the right breast, along with the latissimus flap procedure with the insertion of expanders. In January 2014 I had the expanders removed and implants put in along with liposuction to the chest and back area. The next phase is nipple reconstruction.

I said all this to say that you can make it. Early detection is critical.

Davetta Greene
Arlington, TX

Silver Lining

I am a 3 1/2 yr survivor, yea!!! I was in an emotionally and abusive relationship for 17 yrs and 2 weeks after I had the courage to finally leave him I was diagnosed with breast cancer. While at first you think why me, why now?? I learned very quickly that it happened that way for a reason. God knew I was going to get cancer and he knew I never would have left that relationship if I had been diagnosed first. So while I was learning to take care of myself and my daughter, I had 2 surgeries and treatment. I am proud to say I did it, yes I was angry, hurt and scared but the experience taught me to look for the silver lining in everything! My daughter and I learned to rise every morning and thank God we had each other, thank God that we were breathing. There were many hard days, days you think that you just can't do it but I had amazing support thru family and friends. I learned to love myself, I learned to like myself, I learned that I am special...I survived breast cancer

Janeine
Sumter, SC