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Ya gotta laugh

after years of mammograms in lumpy breasts, in 2001 i felt a lump in my armpit. i had hub feel it, but i did nothing about it, because it was in my armpit. A year later, i felt a tiny lump in my breast, and went to the dr. I had a mammogram, then was called back for an ultrasound. Met with the surgeon, had a surgical biopsy. The biopsy turned out to be cancer. i was 44 and had breast cancer! The big lump in my armpit? cancer. i also had a 5cm lump that I never even felt. May 8th, i had a sentinal node biopsy (which failed when the dye wouldn't travel). So i ended up with 14 lymph nodes taken out (4 were positive for cancer).The dr removed 3 lumps. i found out that i had stage 3 cancer, ER positive.

i was scheduled for a/c chemo and 33 radiations. Lost my hair (which i lost my mind over. i have terrible hair so i don't know why i was upset). The first day of chemo i cried like a baby. BUT after that, i chose to fight cancer with a sense of humor. i worked through my entire treatments. never missed a day. my work friends laughed with me, at me (my request). Everything was funny and it made having cancer so much easier. I never got sick. i wore baseball hats and ugly scarves. it's been 13 years and even though i have had a couple of scares, i'm still cancer free!

Debbie
pine valley, CA

My story surviving Breast Cancer

I had a mammogram in March of 2009 and it was normal. In May 2009 I found a pea size lump in my right breast. Watched it for a couple months, it didn't go away or get any bigger. I asked my boyfriend at the time to feel it, he's like maybe you should get it checked. So in August of 2009 I went to my family doctor and she referred me to a surgeon. The surgeon did a biopsy but it came back inconclusive. She scheduled surgery to remove it. The results came back I had Stage (1) invasive Breast Cancer. Fortunately I did not need chemo, but I had 6 weeks of radiation. Then I was placed on Arimidex for 5 years. I'm happy to say as of today I'm a 5 year survivor. I'm so grateful to my boyfriend to have encourage me to have it checked. My surgeon said had I waited for my next mammogram my prognosis wouldn't have been that good. So I encourage everyone if something doesn't feel right have it checked immediately I'm so glad I did.

Karen
North Olmsted, OH

Go With Your Gut

You may have heard it before, "Go with your gut!" Well I am glad I did because before a doctor diagnosed me with breast cancer, I knew I had it. I found my lump in the summer of 2013 and scheduled an appointment to have a mammogram within weeks of finding it. If I did not do self exams, I would have waited till December when I go for my yearly, which waiting could have made the cancer progress farther in my body. After the mammogram, even thou they did not tell me it's cancer, I could see it in their face. They asked me to come back for a biopsy. The next day I received the call from the doctor that it was invasive ductal carcinoma (stage 2). WOW! Even thou I had the feeling it is still a shock at first, but as I had the gut feeling that I had cancer, I also had the gut feeling I was going to be OK. I did not dwell on it, I cried, wiped my tears and said lets do this. I am a single mother and my kids need me. I went through a double mastectomy, 16 rounds of chemo and weeks of radiation, which I completed in June of 2014. I am now cancer free because I listened to my gut instead of being afraid.

Jill
Canton, MI

I Am A Warrior

At least that's what the quiz I just took said I was in a past life and I am going to be in this one.

I found a lump in my left breast at the end of October/beginning of November. I had been back home for a little over a hectic year so far and hadn't found an OB/GYN. In July my husband, our son and I had begun volunteering on the Tall Ship Elissa in Galveston and we needed to have physicals so I arranged them. That morning I was hungry from fasting for the physical, so I decided to distract myself by finding an OB/GYN. As soon as I put in the call, I was squeezed into the schedule and from there, they squeezed my in for a mammogram and ultrasound. Then that doctor squeezed me into the schedule for a biopsy all in the same day. It was December 18 and I got the results the Monday after Christmas. I had actually already read them for myself on Sunday, but I didn't say anything. I wanted to hear it from the doctor because I wasn't sure what I was reading. After a bunch of tests, and consultations we are ready to begin and my surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning. My battle has just begun, but I believe I will win and I know from previous experience I won't give up without a fight. So congratulations to those who have preceded me in victory and good luck to those that follow, we will keep fighting and we will win! Eventually, we will all have provided information and knowledge that will defeat this enemy once and for all!

Teresa
Houston, TX

Mammogram Found Early Breast Cancer

I went in for my yearly Mammogram last November. My grandmother died from Breast cancer and my older sister was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer 6 years ago, so I never miss my yearly mammogram! Within an hour after my mammogram, the doctors office contacted me and told me I needed to come in for another Mammogram because they found breast calcifications on the first one. After having my second mammogram, I met with the radiologist who strongly suggested that I have a biopsy. Following his suggestion, I had a biopsy two weeks later. It came back positive for non-invasive and invasive ductal carcinoma Stage 1. I had a fantastic surgeon and he removed all of the cancerous tissue during the biopsy. Because the cancer was so small and the margins around the cancerous tissue was clear, as well as my lymph nodes, I only need to have 21 radiation treatments. They used to do 30-33 radiation treatments, but the new thing with early breast cancer is 21 treatments. I will have radiation in a prone position where my breast hangs through a hole in the radiation table, so they only radiate the breast and not the heart, lungs and ribs!
I am so blessed that the mammogram showed the calcifications and my cancer was detected early! I believe every woman should have a yearly mammogram, no matter what the cost, or what their insurance companies tell them! It not only saved my breast, it saved my Life!

Sandee Jorns
Sturgeon Bay, WI

Celebrate My Life

I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2006 and am lucky now to be a survivor. I finished all my cancer drugs in December 2014 and am grateful that I found my breast lump in time and for the fantastic doctors, nurses who had the expertise to save me. I started singing and writing songs when I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and recently won 6 commendations for my songs in the UK Songwriting Competition which was judged by well known songwriters and producers. Here's one of my songs, "Celebrate My Life". I wrote this about trying every day not to take things for granted and to enjoy the life that I have been given to the full. https://soundcloud.com/louloub/celebrate-my-life

Louise Barron
Inverness, United Kingdom

My Mother - My Hero

Hello :) I just wanted to share a photo of my breast cancer tattoo. My mother was diagnosed 5 years ago with stage 2 cancer. During her chemo and radiation treatments, my 92 year old grandfather passed away. The wings are for my grandpa. My mother is a survivor.

vegasmade87@yahoo.com
Silverdale, WA

Thirteen Years and Counting!

I found a lump in my left breast in January 2001; I was 41 years old. I immediately went to my doctor, who ordered a diagnostic mammogram. The lump was not picked up on the mammogram; I was told to repeat the exam in 6 months. During my second mammogram, the technician remarked that she could see and feel the lump--so could I! But the results of that mammogram showed no abnormalities. I went back to my doctor and said, "You know something is there, and I know something is there. I want a biopsy." My doctor sent me to a surgeon, who performed the biopsy on a Monday. By that Friday I was on the operating table undergoing a lumpectomy, having been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. After 10 months of chemo and radiation and 5 years of Tamoxifen, I'm still cancer-free today. I continue to have yearly mammograms, but I also do monthly self-exams. I also see a dermatologist regularly to make sure that the radiated area of my chest and neck stays cancer-free. Yes, you can develop melanoma years after radiation! I'm positive that I wouldn't be alive today if I hadn't been proactive about my health, and I urge everyone to do the same!

Sandy McRoy
Murphysboro, IL

im a breat cancer survivor

Hello everyone.
It's my 3rd year but be telling people it's my 2nd by mistake as it has gone so fast.Today I'm at the stage that I am so far along the path where I feel much better within my self ,I am a very positive person and always will be .My story starts from when I was diagnosed I couldn't believe the impact it caused to me an my family,just didn't think it would ever happen to me at all.I knew I had to deal with it and at the same time was to keep a smile on my face where really I was crying in side .My surgery was major I was cut 8 inches down my right side lumpectomy with reconstruction could go to work for 6 months,I had drains coming out of me which was painful no one could ever know in my family what I suffered unless if you was going through it.Some days was worse then others I had to have radiation for 5days for 6 weeks which made me very tired.but I survived all this it isn't at all easy but I got there ,with the support of my husband I would not had got by so I thank him for the care and support .My self at this very moment in time is barring together some days are bad other days I can't stop laughing life goes on and I am one of the lucky ones.I am in remission for 5 years and I know I will be okay....Thanks also for the support from breast cancer buddies,McMillan Wrexhampark,kingEdward hospital.
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karen baker
slough, United Kingdom

The Judy Story

Oh, what a year, but we are thankful for another one. This past September 2014 I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Ductal Carcinoma-In Situ Breast Cancer. God has surrounded Tim and I through this journey one day at a time, with some tears, and a tremendous uplifting of prayers and support. God guided the surgeon to remove the big tumor on September 18th on our 4th Wedding Anniversary. A special day when I woke and my Timmy D told me no lymph nodes were affected. I remained strong through it all and my fears were always taken away by prayer. It’s amazing the amount of people whom I’ve met through this and who fight like girls to win victory over this dreaded disease. Treatment is always one of the hardest phases of the process and it was anticipated by my oncologist that I would have to have 6-8 Chemotherapy treatments. I blew him out of the water by testing out with a 0 on a test that they do to see if that type of treatment is necessary. With a 0 level I did not have to have it! So Yay….I moved on to just 33 Radiation Treatments. I’ve been told over and over God has a plan for me. It makes me teary eyed when I think about it. I’ve always said “I don’t know who holds tomorrow, but I know who holds my hand”. Just wanted to wish each and every one who is faced with breast cancer that to take one day at a time and always look up, because when things seem glim God is there and look around another CANCER SISTER is as well.

Judy Hanna Deaton
Charlotte, NC