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This is a great time to be alive !

This month I am an 11 month Breast Cancer survivor.
I’m sending thank you notes to all my family and surgeons who have been such an enormous help and support during this surprising time in my life. Chocolate is also part of the celebration.

One day at age 55, I happened to discover a small lump during a breast self-exam. Since I had small breasts the lump was easy to feel, and not painful.
My father had died 3 months earlier, work had been hectic, so I thought stress had probably caused the lump.
Since it was time for a mammogram, I went in, and upon finishing the exam I was told that I was fine.

There was no family history, and yet for some reason which I cannot explain, I felt I needed more testing.
Additional scans and biopsies showed multiple cancerous areas in one breast. What a shock that was to me! Like my body had betrayed me !
I asked to have the other breast checked also, which revealed lots of questions about whether it might also be cancerous.
Instead of taking a chance, I decided on a double mastectomy.
I was truly more scared than ever before in my life. And now I’m telling everyone - The surgery wasn’t as awful as I had imagined !

Since I had a small-sized chest, we got the cancer so early, I didn't need chemo or radiation.
And now I am cancer free ! And able to talk about the blessings of self-exams and trusting your instincts.

My message is to push for further evaluation if you’re not sure what’s going on.
Because there is so much that the medical profession can be do for us these days !!!

Johanna
Memphis, TN

Where Breast Cancer Has Taken Me

In October of 2008 I was diagnosed with Invasive breast cancer. This came as a total surprise. In November I had a masectomy and began chemo. Six sessions of TAC, one every three week. Then came 28 day of radiation. It has now been 22 months and I am starting a breast cancer support in my home town of Mobile, Al. I was going through a bout of depression and my counselor suggested that I find a support group to join. Much to my surpirse I founf that Mobile did not have a breast cancer support group. I called several doctor's offices, and the American Cancer Society. I was told there use to be one but it fell apart. The ACS put me in touch with a group that sent me information on starting a support group. First I put together a borad of directors and we have meet and decided to call this group BFF (Breast Friends Forever). We have set up goals and a vision for the support group and have set our first meeting for August 3rd. We have a second meeting on July 20th and will go from there. We have made arrangements to get this in the local paper and to inform thelocal Doctor's to let their patients know. This group is for every breast cancer suvivor from first diagnosis to being cancer free for 50+ years.

Darlene Chavers
Mobile, AL

A Friend's Inspiration

I received a phone call from my best friend and I heard the dreaded words, “I have breast cancer”. I couldn’t believe this disease had entered my little world. We cried together and talked about all possibilities. After months of chemo-therapy, a double mastectomy and more chemo-therapy she is only half-way through this horrific journey. She will begin radiation within the next few weeks, then reconstruction. The inspiration comes from her. We don’t cry together anymore, we now laugh together and take each day as a gift. While traversing this path that lay before her, she always keeps a smile on her face and has positive words to say. When asked, “How are you feeling”, she always replies, “I’m good, I’m doing pretty well” (even if it isn’t the complete truth). She is a strong amazing woman and whenever I feel like complaining or whining about something, I remember her positive outlook and think how lucky I am to have the life I have and how thankful I am to call her friend.

Regina Dumas
Dora, AL

A Friend's Inspiration

I received a phone call from my best friend and I heard the dreaded words, “I have breast cancer”. I couldn’t believe this disease had entered my little world. We cried together and talked about all possibilities. After months of chemo-therapy, a double mastectomy and more chemo-therapy she is only half-way through this horrific journey. She will begin radiation within the next few weeks, then reconstruction. The inspiration comes from her. We don’t cry together anymore, we now laugh together and take each day as a gift. While traversing this path that lay before her, she always keeps a smile on her face and has positive words to say. When asked, “How are you feeling”, she always replies, “I’m good, I’m doing pretty well” (even if it isn’t the complete truth). She is a strong amazing woman and whenever I feel like complaining or whining about something, I remember her positive outlook and think how lucky I am to have the life I have and how thankful I am to call her friend.

Regina Dumas
Dora, AL

My Breast Cancer

I received the news that i had breast cancer. I would need to have the lump and breast removed.I was given step by step information and help all along the way. I had a year of chemo and 2 months of radiation.I was forunate that i have two loving daughters who went to ev doctors appt. and every treatment with me. I would lose my hair gain weight and feel sick most of the time, and be tire alot. Every thing they said was true. Every doctor, nurse and receptionist was very nice, understanding and cared. I would never want this to happen to anyone, but since it did to me i was very lucky i had such great care. The most important thing to remember to me was attitude means alot. i stayed upbeat and never gave up. I saw a few people who refused the treatments cuz they didnt want to lose their hair or be sick, their cancer wasnt as bad as mine, but they gave up, and they are no longer with us. To those of you who are told u have cancer., my words to u are few. Fight with all your might never give up and when u feel u cant fight any more think of your loved ones and friends who r there for u and would miss u . U will fight and u will win, i m still fighting, and each day is especial cuz i m still here. God bless u all. Pat L.

pat
bloomsburg, PA

Bottle Caps

My granddaughter was 5 years old when I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She was such a grown up little girl and she was so close to me. She called me Granny Griggs. I still don't know why. Anyway, I had told her before I got so ill, that we were going to go to Disneyland. Well I had to give up my Assistant Manager job at the store I worked for because the chemo made me so ill, and she understood that we were low on money. One day she walked in the house with a handful of money and bottle caps. When I asked her where she got the money, she told me that she was going door to door selling bottle caps to the neighbors so we could go to Disneyland. She must have been doing a good job because she had over $5.00. This so broke my heart and inspired me at the same time. I knew that day that I would get through the chemo, beat the cancer and survive for her. I had a long talk with God after that, and here am 8 years later. A survivor!


My Favorite Charity is Susan G Koman Foundation

Valerie L Lambert

Valerie Lambert
Colorado Springs, CO

You Can Have an Impact

I'm sure my story will be different then most. I have not experience the first-hand affects of cancer by being diagnosed myself. My mom was the 2nd youngest of 10 kids, and the 3rd to die of cancer. Our family has felt loss at a young age due to this terrible disease.

When my Mom lost her battle to transitional cell carcinoma on November 18, 2003, I wanted to make a difference and not just be someone that was sad on the anniversary date each year.

In November of 2004, Dotties Cause was founded. We hold an annual craft show where each booth donates a portion of the proceeds to the American Cancer Society. I am a strong supporter of their mission and feel they are one of the great cancer organizations that is making measurable strides in that fight.

If you are reading this and you don't want to stand on the sidelines, I greatly encourage you to join a local Relay for Life team, run a 5K or start an event of your own. The American Cancer Society and other organizations can't do what they do without support from people like us.

If my story is chosen, I wish for the winning money to be given to the American Cancer Society.

Thanks for reading!
Sarah

Sarah Schumacher
Loretto, MN

My Moms

My Moms
I was born on March 24, 1961. On July 27, 1962 my 1st Mom lost her fight with breast cancer. My Dad remarried and his 2nd wife lost her fight with Breast Cancer on July 2, 2000.
My Mother in law is currently cancer free (Breast) for 6 years. She had 1 breast removed.

My husband gets a laugh at all of the "pink" that I wear from your site. If it is a pink ribbon anywhere - I try to buy it.
He has joined me to do "Relay for Life for @ 9 years now.

I can only hope that my small part will help bring awareness and save someone's Mom.


Their Daughter
Marilyn
Muskegon, MI

Marilyn
Muskegon, MI

One Day At A Time

My motto is and will forever be, "one day at a time". My doctor called me and told me it was stage 2 breast cancer. When you hear those words, you freak. I had a double mastectomy 5 weeks later, with a DIEP flap reconstruction (they used my lower belly fat to make me new boobs). I went back to work after 2 weeks. Started 6 chemos in October which I think, was the worst part. Every time after receiving chemo, I programmed my mind to think, if I could just make it through this day, tomorrow will be better. Sometimes I would think, if I can make it through the next minute, the next will be better. It worked! The minute/day motto helped me. A staph infection opened up my boob on Christmas Day and I eventually wore a "wound vac" for six months to close my breast. Had radiation for 6 weeks, then finally could start to heal my body with no chemicals and lots of rest. For me, I am stronger now emotionally. I look at things differently now. The sunny days, the rainy days, I see and enjoy each one of them in a different light. Even if you are alone, you can survive this! To keep my positive attitude, I would think to myself, "there's someone out there who has it worse than me". I am lucky to be alive! You will eventually look back and it will all be a blur. Believe in yourself, keep your mind strong, and rest your body!

Sarah J.
New Braunfels, TX
Fish Out of Water

Fish Out of Water

The life I knew was forever changed.
As I was driving home with my two daughters in the back seat singing songs on the radio, my phone rang and a voice on the other end said “Kelly I’m so sorry, but your test results came back from your biopsy and you have breast cancer.” My life suddenly flashed before me through the eye-wrenching glare on the windshield. The voice continued as all I heard was silence as she continued to tell more details of my test results. The world and everything around me was in slow motion and all I could hear were haunting voices whispering in my ear.

I had a million emotions hover all around me, like hands from a gravesite pulling me under not able to breathe. Like, emotions from standing on a cold empty stage with bright lights shining only on me, but the crowd was empty. I whispered to myself, breathe, this is all you can do now. Questions racing in my mind, as the voice continued to talk on the other end of the phone, telling me the scientific name of the cancer, what I need to do and to act fast because it was aggressive. These words left the door wide open for opportunity for the terrifying words “what if.” What will happen to me if I die or live, what will happen to my innocent daughters, my husband and questions of “why me” racing through my completely empty mind. I was suffocating like a fish out of water.

11 months later and the answers are clear. To Live differently, not so scheduled and worried all the time, but to LIVE YOUR LIFE! Enjoy all the little things you have in your life. Breathe!

(Susan G Koman Breast Cancer Foundation Dallas TX)

Kelly Garrett
Canyon Lake, TX