Share Your Story

No more old man's PJ's for women after breast cancer surgery

My name is Cherie Mathews, I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 40.
It doesn't run in my family and I'm a health freak. Sooooo after shock and fear tried to strangle me I fought back with researching all my options vs feeling helpless. I had a double mastectomy and had trouble getting "dressed" in the man's hoodie because any movement was very difficult so after the nurse got irritated because I apparently brought the wrong clothing to wear I started to get mad that I wasn't given proper equipment to go home in. After all a sprained elbow gets a sling so why do women having life saving surgery have to go home and try to make something work from their closet. grrr
We need to concentrate on healing not on what to wear. As I was being wheeled down the hall to go home I vowed to myself to change this for other women. I designed a healincomfort shirt so women can heal in comfort and dignity. I do events and give as a gift to local hospitals and breast cancer centers my healincomfort shirts. Other breast cancer patients have told me they had to wear old man's PJ's!!
Well self image is already a battle so men's PJ's aren't helping.
I ride a Harley and use it to raise money to give the hospitals healincomfort shirts for future patients. I'm a 9 year survivor ! Thank God.
I guess the strange thing is because of cancer I am so focused and grateful for everyday and truly enjoy making a difference for other women that I am proud to have had this trial and come out a stronger more enlightened soul. NO MORE OLD MAN'S PJ's for our women warriors!

Cherie Mathews
Austin, TX

They're Only A Couple of Boobs!

I was diagnosed with two types of breast cancer in April 2007, exactly 10 years after my mother died of the disease. I was speechless when an Oncologist from a local hospital called and told me the news. I just sat down trying to gather my thoughts since my mind was racing. What am I going to do? What about my children? What about my husband? Can I cope with what I will have to go through? I had so many questions and no answers.

Following the initial shock, I settled down and decided to do exactly what I did for my mother and try to find out as much as I could about my specific diagnosis. After all, my life depended on it. I read Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book, did research, and got three medical opinions (each varying slightly). Afterwards, I decided to get a double mastectomy, even though the cancer at the time was limited to just my left breast and opted for immediate reconstructive surgery.

When I'm asked how I went through this with such a positive attitude, my response is that "they're only a couple of boobs" and I'm not ready to give up on life yet. I have learned many things by going through this experience 1) early detection is extremely important, 2) research your diagnosis and find out what options you may have, 3) get at least two or three professional opinions so that you can be sure you have all the facts, 4) a positive attitude can make all the difference, and 5) talk with your family and close friends so that they can be there to support you, give you advice, and help you back to a happy, healthy life.

Joanne Stecker-Butzier
Bloomfield Hills, MI

Have faith

I will never forget March 2, 2010 when my doctor called and said those three words I never wanted to hear, " You have cancer." I cried for two days. I was numb with fear. I prayed to God to heal me. I asked him to let me see my 12 year old son grow up and to let me grow old with my husband. I could not stop the tears. Then I prayed that God would take my anxiety and my fear and carry it for me. That he would hold me in his arms and carry me through this terrible time in my life and suddenly I felt a calm wash over me. I have not shed a tear since. The next morning when I was driving to work, I asked God to send me a sign. I turned on the radio and heard a song playing and the words were " You will be safe in his arms".
I had a lumpectomy/partial mastectomy and am now waiting for radiation treatments. I hear that song on the radio every day and know that God will keep me safe in his arms and get me through this. Never lose faith and trust in the Lord. I will survive this chapter in my life because my faith will carry me through. Don't ever give in to cancer, fight with everything you are.

Barbara Shelanskey
Washington Mills, NY

I am blessed to have beatin breast cancer!!!!

I can remember the day that my doctor told me that I was diagnosis with breast cancer...I was 36 yrs old when I was told, I really didnt know what to do or say at the time but all I know is that my eye's started to water up, all I can think about was to start to pray to my heavenly father above. I was thinking of how I was gonna tell my children and the rest of my family once I arrived back home. My family was really understanding and caring of my health, I went through kemo, radiation and surgery the doctor's were talking about taking my left breast but I had a second oppinion I ended up having an lumpectomy, you know the lord would only put on you no more than you can bear, so I think that he was giving me a test to see if I was a stong woman and if I really beleive in his undifing word,well as you can see I beat it, I'm 41 yrs old and I'm gonna live my life to the fullest....Thank you lord.

Melva Johnson-Miller
Pontiac, MI

Cancer Vixen's Journey at Age 50

It has been a fascinating journey for me. I have been embraced by an amazing community of women who are survivors or who have lost loved ones to cancer and who have shared their personal stories and cheered me on. I found I still had humor even in the toughest of circumstances and discovered my strengths and weaknesses and figured out that positive thinking is essential. Because the breast is the "nurturing" part of the body, my biggest lesson has been that I have to nuture myself and let others help me (something I thought was beneath me...because as a wife, mother, daughter and social worker that was my job afterall). I work with teen parent clients...and if that's not nurturing, I don't know what is! Cancer taught me that I have to take care of myself and let others help me even though it is the most challenging thing for me to do. So, I took 7 months off work to heal and am now getting into yoga again and learning to play the bass guitar. I am also learning that I am complete and beautiful and sexy without breasts, hair or a perfect body. I am a cancer vixen...sassy, sexy and alive. My experience was about letting go. It was about really experiencing all that was happening at the deepest lemotional level. That is where the biggest life changes occur! I don't believe that you have to be diagnosed with cancer to come to these lessons, but sometimes the catastrophic moments in life force you to focus in on the immediate. I am happy with who I am and happy to be alive.

Miichelle Smith
Beaverton, OR

I GIVE GOD ALL THE PRAISE...

My name is Gina, I was born an raised in the Bronx NY. Growing up was normal for me, I had lots of friends and I was loving life. I was never really a girly girl I would even say I had a lot of tomboy in me, most of my friends were guys and I thank God because my friend is the one who found my lump when I was 21 years old. We were horse playing oneday and he accidentlly grab my boob, I was just about to lay five knuckles on his face when he stopped me in the midst and said, no wait there's a big bump in there. Well I continued to swing on him and later on that night when I was alone I felt myself and there was a lump about the size of a golf ball. That lump also made me think of the brown stain that was on all of my light colored shirts. Needless to say I wen to the Dr and after the exam he wanted a biopsy. Making a long story short when the test came back I had breast cancer at 21 years old. I really couldnt understand how this could happen to me I was 21 and I had no insurance, and I had to have a left radical mastectomy. The Dr schedule it for the following week, once I can out of surgery the Dr said I will need treatment also. Well a radio station sent me to The City Of Faith (Oral Roberts) They prayed with me and took some test and sent me back to the Bronx..Well when I went to my Dr he couldnt find any reason to give me treatment. I will be 47 years old in September.

Gina Reyes
Tulsa, OK

I beat it.

Hello I was 30 year old, when I diagnosis with breast cancer in 2006. It was the hardest thing I had to go though. But one thing I did was not to give up. I went though test, surgery, chemo, and radiation. Guess what I beat it. I am 34 years old now. I take one day at a time.

Jaime Lyn Province
Saint Albans, WV

24 years of fighting BREAST CANCER, it didn't win we did!

Twenty four years ago, when I was 14 yrs old my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. As I struggled to watch her fight for her life, with chemo, a mastectomyand losing her hair.I struggled to live a normal life as a teenager. As a grown adult I watched my mothers cancer return in her in her bones 13 years later. Another 5 years later it reoccured in her lungs and then two years ago in her liver. My Mom surrendered to this battle on March 2,2010. Yet, the cancer didn't win! She did!!! She showed cancer how to live...she showed cancer how to gain strength....she showed cancer that you can still live your life filled with happiness. You can give to others what cancer tried to take away. She gave me strength, hope and courage. On May 8,2010, I will walk in the SLC Komen - Find A Cure for Breast Cancer walk. I will have my mothers spirit with me...I will walk with courage and help to find a cure. Thank you Mom for teaching me how to live life to the fullest. I love you and may you rest in peace!

Life is not measured by the amounts of breaths you take....but by how many moments take your breath away!!!!

Anonymous
Roy, UT

life changes in an instant

The day started just like any day .I went to work at 5am and I got home around 3:30pm. I made dinner as usual ate with my family. I went to take my nightly shower not realizing that my whole life would change in a split second.I felt the lump under my left arm and just knew that this was not good.
My husband and I went to the breast surgeon and found out that I had a lump in my lymph node and also my breast. It was considered Stage IIIa cancer.
2007 ended with my cancer removed and 2008 started with 16 weeks of chemo, losing my hair,and feeling so weak. My wonderful family had to help me do all the things that I used to do. My children Marissa & Joey found out what it means to grow up so fast and try to absorb all the things that their mother was going thru.My husband and soul mate Mark just jumped in to help with the housework, his job, and most of all loved me with such tenderness. He never let me lose my dignity during this whole time. He never missed a doctors appointment, chemo session or radiation treatment with me. He was and still is my rock.
Well 27 months later, 16 weeks of chemo, and 36 days of radiation I am now cancerfree. I AM A SURVIVOR!!!!!
Never feel like there is no hope don't give in to cancer. There is a great and wonderful life after cancer.

cheri
brooklyn, NY

43 and Breast Cancer

At 43 I was diagnosed with breast cancer in one breast. My mother had had it and I knew it would get me, so i chose to have a double masectomy. The Doctor did not want to cut both of them off because the left one was clean. GO WITH YOU GUT INSTINTS! It is your body do what you feel is right. The procedure of the Double Masectomy was done and guess what, the left breast had a slow undetectable different kind of cancer in it. So it would have got me if I wouldnt have stood up and taken control of my body. I didnt have to have any treatment, but did choose to have breast reconstruction. Beautiful work my Plastic Surgeon and his team did. . I am 3 years cancer free and live life to the fullest. May god bless all those out there still fighting for their lives. REMEMBER IT IS YOUR BODY AND YOU ARE IN CONTROL. DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU. My prayers are with all.

Gena
safford, AZ