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Wrong house

I resorted to wearing a wig when I lost all of my hair. At first it was scratchy and uncomfortable and was the first thing that I removed when I came home.
One afternoon I walked in the door, flung my wig across the room and the telephone rang. Wrong number, but at that moment someone knocked at the door. I was nicely dressed, had all my makeup and jewelry on and thought, "What the heck?"
A very nice repairman had the wrong address and needed directions. He was so flustered and taken aback to see a bald woman open the door that he could hardly get his question out of his mouth acting very nonchalant. After he left I nearly died laughing because he was just as bald as I was!

Juley Hoffmeister
Lakewood, WA

The Promise

When I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in May of 1998, I was 42 yrs old . married and the mom of three boys, ages 22, 12 and 5.

I found one lump during a monthly breast check, which turned out actually to be three lumps. Two were non-invasive and one invasive. I was told that ten years earlier that even a mammogram would not of picked up the latter one.

I had a mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation and reconstruction . The mastectomy I wanted. I felt that when the breast was gone the cancer would then be gone.

When I was told I had cancer , that one small word, controlled all my waking thoughts. Every second, of every minute, of every hour, of every day the only thing that went through my mind was the word ,"cancer".

Cancer is a powerful word. If you let it, it can as it did me control your world. You stop living your life and you concentrate solely on the treatments and the "what if's". I realize it didn't have to be like that. We didn't have to give it that much power over us, and our lives.

Even harder than the chemo was telling my older sons. The oldest accepted what had to be done. The youngest didnt understand.

But I will never forget the day that I told my middle son , that I had cancer. He was 12 but he always has been my sensitive son. Over eleven years later, he has never forgotten what I promised him on that day and neither have I.

And on Saturday, October 3 2009, I fulfilled The Promise that I made to my son. That I would live to dance with him at his wedding.

Anonymous
Griffin, GA

I'm a SURVIVOR!!

I had been getting mammo's since i was 40. I didn't get one in 2006 or 2007. Finally, in June 2008, i decided i needed to get one. Well, they spotted something on it and had me come back in 3 months for another one. I went back, and the spot was bigger, so they did an ultrasound. I then was sent for a biopsy. The biopsy proved i had a Grade 4 cancer. I was devastated when i found out because there is no cancer that i am aware of in my family. Surgery was scheduled for 4 days later. I also had 4 lymph nodes removed from under my left arm....which all came back negative! On Nov 10, 2009 i will be a 1 yr survivor!! I will NEVER miss another mammo!! Do those self exams, have regular visits with your GYN, and GET THOSE MAMMO'S!!!!

Lori Higgons
Kissimmee, FL

I never thought it would happen to me...

I was due to have my baby in a few weeks time and discovered a lump in my left breast. The doctors told me it would only be a blocked milk duct and to breastfeed for 6 weeks.
I had a beautiful baby girl. Breastfeeding was a joyful time for me only to find the lump ballooned to a 9 cm tumour from a 2 cm lump.
There was no history in the family, I was young (23), healthy and supposed to be enjoying my new baby.
The specialist confirmed after a fine needle biopsy that I indeed had cancer. My world felt like it was falling apart so I held on tightly to my girl and was determined to see her grow up. My oncologist said not to have anymore kids, undergo chemo, radio, and have a lumpectomy. I was given a life sentence of 10 years to live.
Im a survivor and a stubborn one at that. No one was going to give me a life sentence or tell me not to have anymore kids. I love kids.
My baby girl is soon to be 16 yrs old and I have 2 more girls and a boy.
I am currently awaiting tests for genetics from Melbourne as there have been 2 other cousins in my family diagnosed at an older age and I want to give my children the option of finding out their chances of getting it so they can be proactive about the decisions they make for their own lives.
Im happy to talk to anyone who needs support too.

Sharon Lammas
Te Awamutu, New Zealand

Twins

I always felt very special because my first child was really 2, I had a surprise set of twins. Kimberly and Candice were born in1973 and sonograms were not routinely done.
As they matured, they became closer than ever. One day Kimberly called Candice and told her she should get her baseline mammogram done, since they are both 35 now. Candice had her mammogram just like her sister suggested. After a few weeks Candice received a call from her gynecologist asking her to come in to discuss her results... I went with my daughter and the most horrible words I ever heard came from the doctors mouth - Candice you have breast cancer - I couldn't believe my ears, my daughter was crying, it took everything I had in me to try to stay strong for her...
Candice had a lumpectomy done, and did very well. When we first went to the surgeon she asked "what made her have a mammogram done at 35 since the guidelines are for 40" ? She told the doctor, my twin sister told me to go, and all I can think is what if we waited until my daughter was 40, what if her sister didn't tell her to go, what if her gynecologist tried to talk her out of having that mammogram done, I'm sure I would be writing a different story.
I am a nurse, now I tell everyone I see, go get your mammograms done early, and I thank each and every day that my twins are so close and concerned for each other's well being...
I use to belong to a Twins Club when my girls were little, and I felt very special, but now I feel special because my daughter belongs to another "club" that of Breast Cancer Survivor...

Jacqueline
Ronkonkoma, NY

What a journey!

One Friday in Sept. 2007 while showering I felt a lump in my upper right breast. I wasn't too concerned until I looked in the mirror with my arms up and saw that my breast was dimpling. I told my mother what I saw since she was visiting while my husband was away on a 1 year remote to Korea with the USAF. She made me promise that I would call my doctor on Monday. So I called my doctor on Monday and within a week I had a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI and biopsy. On Oct 1, 2007 I was given my diagnosis of stage IV invasive ductal and lobular carsinoma. After 6 rounds of chemo, double radical mastectomy, 25 rounds of radiation and reconstruction, I am happy to say that I am free and clear of any cancer.

I knew I had to beat this cancer, after all, I have two beautiful girls, ages 10 & 6, that need their mommy and an awesome husband that needs his wife. This disease is sometimes a blessing, it shows a person what they can do with their trust in God and wonderful friends and family that support them all the way.

I am a huge believer of early detection. I had a baseline mammogram less then 11 months before my diagnosis. I had no other risk factors except for being a woman. No family history at all. Just goes to show that everyone needs to get an early baseline as well as doing self breast exams. I pray that they will find a cure for this horrible disease, but until then we need to make sure we are proactive in our own health care and don't let insurance companies dictate what we do to get better.

God Bless!

Kelly H
Oklahoma City, OK

I thought I was too young

In April 2009 I thought my body was just going through so changes but not necessarly for the worst I was only 27 with a birthday coming up in July. Then I felt a lump in my breast but I thought it was just that time of the month so I waited a month to see if the lump would go away. One month passed the lump was still their the next month my sister was begging me to go the doctor. My grandmother on my mom side passed away when I was young child and my aunt on my dad side passed away from breast cancer so I had some concern because of my family history. So my sister told me to make an appoinment with my OB/GYN so she called me every day for a week. I went in to my OB/GYN assured me that she thought it was just a cyst but she still refererred me to get a ultrasound. Taken that I was 27 the doctor thought it was just a cyst within looking at the ultrasound within 5 min the doctor sounded concerned and told me that she wanted to do a biospy because it didnt look right. I had my biospy on a wednesday and I got a phone call from my doctor that I had cancer on june 12 2009 a month before my 28th birthday. One week later I had a parital mastectomies with partial lymph node dissection.I have stage two invasive cancer. I am currently going through chemo with radiation to follow. I am lucky that i caught it early and that it didnt spread. I have learned that cancer doesnt care your age or where you are in your life. Self examination saved my life and can save yours too.

Rachel Peterson
Washington, DC

I had the knowledge

My Aunt Elsie died of breast cancer. When she was originally diagnosed she was already in stage 4. Then my cousin got breast cancer. I discovered my lump in July 2006. I scheduled my doctor appointment and went in for my exam making sure the doctor clearly understood my family history of breast cancer. The doctor could not feel the lump at first, then I showed him where it was. When he felt it he said it was nothing more than a normal breast cyst and wanted to stick a needle in it and drain it. I said no sir. I need you to tell me if I have cancer or not. Well reluctantly he wrote out orders for a mamogram and ultrasound, but he assured me they would not find anything. A few days later I went in for my mammogram and ultrasound. They did the mammogram.. At first they were not going to do the ultrasound, but after a twenty minute wait, I knew something was definitely wrong. They called me into a room and explained they had to do the ultrasound after all. After the ultrasound was done, Dr. Johnson, whom I love, said it was 90% chance it was cancer. I came back the next day for my biopsy. The original doctor who did my first exam, Dr. Hunter Hollingsworth, who said I had a cyst, would not even contact my regarding my results. After 5 days I contacted the biopsy clinic and it was Dr. Johnson who confirmed that I had Invasive Ductal Carcenoma. Since my diagnosis, another cousin has been treated for breast cancer. We have to take proactive measure with our health. I just underwent a 2nd biopsy on another lump. It was negative for any cancer cells. Thank God.
Joan Nicholes

Anonymous
Houston, TX

Pink is my color..now

First let me give a big shout out to "self breast examinations" and the relentless push the media has done to remind women about this simple act. That one measure has kept me alive today. Every year in April I have a mammogram, I have since my first baseline one at 35. Every year the radiologists have given me a clean result. In July I was in the shower utilizing my self breast exam tool and i found a large marble size lump on my left breast, which turned out to be stage III invasive ductile breast cancer. Since the moment i found out, that very moment, I knew I could not be in charge of this journey. I had to give it all to God, and so I did. It was a simple decision, and because of that decision it's been a loving experience. God has not only surrounded me with people who love, love, love me, but he has also put me in the hands of skilled, caring, and even funny medical professionals who are using the best, most up to date knowledge to save my life. I had a bilateral mastectomy September 30 along with the beginning of reconstruction. I had a PET scan this week and everything else in my body looks cancer free. Those little shits are sneaky though, so next Wednesday I start a round of chemo treatments. One every three weeks for 18 weeks. People ask me if I'm scared and as crazy as it sounds, I'm not. In my heart I KNOW this is only a part of the plans God has for my life and in some way in the future I know I will use the experience from these moments to help others on their journey's, whatever they may be.

Nita Loveland
Columbus, IN

Story of April 11th,2009 continued

This is an update of my original story. We had our 10th Annaul Dance for the American Cancer Society on October 18th,2009. It was our largest fund raiser so far, First of all we had a crowd of 260 dancers, and our total for the day was just over $8000. It was a great event.
Emil Welden
Laguna Woods,Ca

Emil Welden
Laguna Woods, CA