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Cancer will not win

After losing my sister to breast cancer last year, and our mother 6 years prior, after much delay and feet dragging, I decided to get tested for the BRCA cancer mutation genes. While I was sure at least one of the genes would come back positive, when the doctor told me I was positive for the BRCA1 gene, I was heart-broken. When the doctor tells you that you have an 87% chance of getting breast cancer, your world turns up-side-down. But my doctor also told me that I didn't need to live in fear of cancer. After all, my sister left behind a daughter, and I refused to do the same. Though I didn't want to make these "grown up" decisions at 33, I needed to take control of my health.

Since the ovaries produce estrogen, which is linked to breast cancer, we also did a full hysterectomy in August of 2014. I felt better than I had in years! It was like my hormones were so out of balance with the uterus, that now, with it out, I was me again! (results may vary)

We also decided to do a bi-lateral mastectomy and reconstruction. Since I have Muscular Dystrophy, we did not do the hysterectomy and boobs at the same time. I had my "boob work" done on Thursday; but not before any self-respecting woman would change their photoshopped Facebook picture. And while it has taken me several days to feel human again, the outpouring of support from women who have made the same choices is overwhelming. I am so thankful for the women who are willing to share their experiences to make the choices of others so much easier.

I know that I did what was best for me, and that cancer will not win!!!

Kristin Evans
Dickinson, ND

Love Beats Cancer

On February 14, 2014, I welcomed my fiancé and future stepson on their journey from England to their new home with me. The visa process took 1.5 years so we were so happy to be able to get on with our lives together as a family. I took the following week off from work so we could get settled in properly.
My six month mammogram and ultra sound was scheduled for that week also, so I would not have to take any additional time off from work. I was on a six month schedule because I had many complex cysts and my surgeon and I decided to watch in case anything turned cancerous. After several all clear screenings and biopsies, my luck had run out. I was diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer.
My wedding was scheduled for April 5 and my surgeon wanted to start treatment immediately. I was shocked as this was supposed to be the happiest time. I had a double mastectomy on March 13 and the thought of our wedding, which I refused to postpone, pulled me through. Nothing would stop us . My wedding dress had to be altered and thanks to the wonderful seamstress, I felt like a princess though I no longer had my breasts.
The Monday after our wedding, I had my cath put in and in a few weeks time I started 4 rounds of A/C followed by 12 rounds of taxol. I lost my hair but did not lose my fight. I continued to work 20 hours a week. I refused to let cancer control my life. September 2 marked the end of chemo and at the end of September began 35 radiation treatments. I am blessed to be surrounded by my family, friends and co-workers who kept me strong. I feel at the end of the treatment journey, I am stronger, more full of life than I have ever experienced. I know how important love of life is in defeating this disease and no matter how much a cancer diagnosis gets you down, it is beatable. Life is good.

Sue Turner
Exeter, PA

Breast Cancer.

I noticed sometimes in the fall of 2013 an unusual soft and tender area under my right arm. On January 8th visited the Emergency room and was admitted with a sepsis infection under my right arm. That area was biopsied while in the hospital and only the sepsis was found. On May 7th 2014 went back to the Doctor with the same area tender and sore. Was taken to the Operating room on May 20th 2014 and that was when I received the diagnosis of Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Began Chemotherapy starting July 14th, 2014 every three weeks with the last one October 27th. October the 18th had a modified radical mastectomy with lymph nodes removed and a reduction done on the left. Throughout this entire experience thus far my Family and friends have stood by my side attending appointments and sitting with me during that 3 hour chemo infusion. My journey still continues for I will begin 30 days on radiation soon. Never give up hope or yourself, be strong.

sherri kniss
decatur, MI

I've Got Good News and Not So Good News ...

I think the day we are told that we have breast cancer is probably the day that stands out to all of us. It's a day that I will always remember -- July 9, 2014. After numerous mammograms, sonograms and finally two biopsies all within a few weeks I got my diagnosis. I didn't think of anything other than getting myself cancer free. When I saw my surgeon for the first time she told me she wanted me to have an MRI before surgery. The MRI turned up that I did have cancer in my right breast and another mass in my left breast. So once again I had to have a biopsy which was done the week of my surgery. So, the morning of my surgery is when I would find out if I had to have surgery on both breasts or only my right. Lucky for me it was only my right -- the left had a benign mass that will have to be watched.

At 43 years old I never thought I would be told I had breast cancer. I never understood the meaning of "warrior" until I was diagnosed. I just went into warrior mode (which is fully understood now) ... the test, biopsies, surgery, recovery, radiation -- it's something I never want to face again but if I have to, I know I can. In all reality though, I'm not too sure if I could deal with all of this again.

Today I find that I laugh a lot easier, I enjoy life more and all those little things that made me crazy before really don't bother me at all. I often wonder if this happened to me to make me realize that I'm so much stronger than I thought I was. I believe that I can do anything now -- if difficult things happen to me now, I just reflect back on what I've been through and laugh because nothing can make me believe that I'm not a WARRIOR and there's nothing better than a WOMAN WARRIOR !!!!

Lynn Biviano
Brooklyn, NY

Mom - Our Hero

The most strongest and a very kind lady I have ever seen is our mom. She is a very optimistic person, cheerful, highly intelligent and full of life. The most unexpected news in our life is that mom was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2011 as Mom followed a healthy lifestyle and no history of cancer in family. While she was diagnosed it was too late as it was in a very advanced stage. However, she faced 21 chemos, multiple radiotherapy and mastectomy very bravely. I always feel that she chose this difficult path just to meet her grandson born on Jan 30, 2014. She spent her last few days of her life with her grandson which was her last wish. Me and my family are glad that we were able to support her to fulfil her last wish as we had to make travel arangement for her to visit from India to NZ. She is now our guardian angel and will remain so. Happy Birthday Mommy, You are our Hero. We miss you everyday.

To all ladies out there, please look after yourself and do your regular checkups.
Early detection is the best cure.
For people who are going through these difficult times, BE STRONG. This shall too pass.

Priya and Karthick

Priya Sekar
Auckland, New Zealand

my 24 birthday

8 months after my father's death, i find out something on my left breast. my doctor send me to do biopsy. i've got my results via e-mail and there was the answer i never had idea that i'm gonna have at the age 23 and a half... invasive ductal carcinoma.

i can't explain with enough words how i felt that moment, confused, scared but most of all, how am i gonna tell my mother and brother that maybe i'm gonna die right after my father's lost?

i've decided not to tell. first i have some tests, than eho on my organs and when all of that was ok, then i told my family.

i've got my first surgery, my tumor is out, and on my 24th birthday radical mastectomy. after that got chemotherapy, and with health food and a lot of supports, today i'm alive and i've got 26 and a half years. this just make me stronger and full of life.

P.s.sorry for my english.

Fidanka
gevgelija, Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of

Never Too Young

During a routine self breast exam in April 2014 I felt something different, I never noticed that hard spot before. I tried to ignore it but after a few days it was still there. My mom is a survivor and always stressed the importance of early detection. But I was only 26, this can't be cancer. The salon I was working at was about to close down and I was changing jobs, it had to just be a cyst or something. I was just starting to get to a point in my life where things were falling apart but coming together at the same time.
I finally called my gynecologist and he referred me to a breast specialist. He preformed an ultrasound and needle aspiration because the mass was solid. A few days later on a Sunday the doctor called and said "it's malignant". My heart dropped...but I'm too young for breast cancer.
I ended up being BRCA1+ and ER+. Having such a strong family history I decided to go with a bi-lateral mastectomy and reconstruction. I didn't want to worry so much after all this. But I never had kids, I still wanted babies. Fertility was not covered by insurance, so I had to find a way to have my eggs harvested so I would never lose the chance at becoming a mom. Getting through this would have been impossible without friends and family.
I was so unprepared for the intensity of 16 rounds of chemo. On the A/C my whole body hurt more then I could describe and could hardly function for days after. I had a rare reaction to Taxol and ended up in the hospital for a second time. Taxotere wound up being more tolerable and I finished my last treatment on November 11,2014. I am still struggling with some side effects but I'm starting to see glimmers of "normal". But I SURVIVED! Through all the dark days where an end was no where in sight, I made it through, cancer would not win. My final reconstruction surgery is coming up in December.

Allyson Olivia
Philadelphia, PA

Fearless for love

Hi, my name is Karen and I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time. My first diagnoses was 10 years ago. I am now 38 and facing this demon again. I wasn't really shocked as much as I was disappointed that it had come back and I had almost made it 10 years cancer free. I didn't understand why, I was getting my routine check-ups every year, exercising and trying to eat right. I knew this time wouldn't be as easy as the first. I managed to escape with a lumpectomy followed by 37 rounds of radiation and three years of hormonal therapy for ER+ tumor. This time I will be undergoing a double mastectomy. At first I agonized over what to do and would the decision I make be the right one. Having a double mastectomy only seems logical. I have a family and children that need me. There is no way I would go through this a third time. I still don't know how much chemo or what kind I will need. That will depend on the lympnodes they take during my surgery. I do feel anxious and a little scared but I know I will be ok and I will beat this again. As I head back out into this journey, I know that their are others out there like me facing the same battle. I will be forever changed and maybe that's the hardest part but I will still be me and have the same heart. I look at my children and husband and that is the reason I will fight with everything I have. I hope to inspire someone else with my story. This is not the end, only the beginning!

Karen Bertrand
Savannah, GA

The Man in Pink, A Survival Story of Breast Cancer in Men

Married 35 years, a father and now grandfather Mike Davis is loving life. Family comes first, but a close second, his beloved Kentucky Wildcats.
In 2012 during a trip to Baton Rouge to see his Cats that changed his life forever. During that trip the knot on my chest started to itch. At the urging of his wife Diane, Davis saw a doctor and will never forget the look on his face. "As soon as he saw it, he says I know what it is. The doctor said I am almost positive its breast cancer and I'm like no way for a guy, I didn't know it was even possible," said Davis.
While rare, male breast cancer does account for one percent of all new cases. In February of 2012 Davis found himself having a mammogram and then in a hospital having surgery to remove a tumor and three lymph nodes. "The worst part was the helplessness and not knowing and the days he just didn't get out of bed," said Diane.
Davis' Cats would win the national title, but he still had his own battle chemo and radiation.
With the fight behind him, Mike Davis is a new man. On October 4, he proudly put on his bright pink shirt at the urging of his daughter and granddaughter and took his rightful place among the survivors at the Race For the Cure in downtown Lexington.
"I was pretty hesitant at first because I'm going to be the only guy, people are going to stare and some people did take a double take," said Davis. It was an emotional morning, but in the end those stares proved to be a way for Mike to reach out and remind others that male breast cancer is real and his place among those survivors was a loud message to other men.
"It’s short and sweet. Guys can get it too and had I known I would have caught mine months ahead of time," said Davis.

Story by WKYT Amber Philpott

Mike Davis
Lexington, KY

one year survivor

"In october 2013 i found a lump in my left breast, after a mammogram/ultrasound and finally a biopsy on November 11 2013 i got the news i did not wanted to hear from my oncologist i was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma stage 3 breast cancer.

At that time all i thought was will i survive my dr explain to me all side effects from treatment but i stll had my doubts. More test were done i started chemo the following week. My first day of chemo yes i was nervous but the nurses were so nice to me that i forgot about how nervous i was.

During my chemo treatments i just put my headphones closed my eyes and listen to my favorite songs on youtube i remember listening to kelly clarkson song "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger".

I met new friends during my treatments we told our stories gave each other strenght. One of them lost her battle with breast cancer that was a very sad day but she is our angel now.

After nine chemo treatments had a double mastectomy surgery and the removal of lymph nodes. two weeks after i got the good news that i'm cancer free. On december 5. 2014 will finish 33 rounds of radiation and im very happy.

Thanks to my family and friends for their support and prayers. I been blessed with wonderful drs and nurses..god always gave me the strenght in my time of weakness.
I love my new life everyday is a blessing

Claudia
yucaipa, CA