Share Your Story

Behind every storm cloud is the sun waiting in anticipation.

Hi my name is Linda. I am an eleven year breast cancer survivor. My story is very simular to all the brave ones out there that have endured this and many other challenges in life. Instead of telling about the cancer I want to give recognition to my sisters that helped me through all of this.
My sister Barbara was with me when I found out about my breast cancer. She cried. I didn't but as scared as I was things needed to be dealt with. I remember the night before my surgery I was having difficulty falling to sleep. Hearing a voice call out to me asking "Do you want us to take over now?" I answered aloud yes.The feeling of peace and serenity came over me and I knew from that day forth all would be fine. I wasn't in this alone. After the surgery of removing my left breast I had alot to do and alot of decisions to make. Barbara and my sister-in-law Kim were beside me throughout my entire ordeal. They cried with me. Hurt with me and helped me decide that I needed to follow my heart with what treatments I ended up not taking. I never felt ugly having lost a breast. Instead I feel blessed. Love, laughter and the most wonderful feeling of serenity is all that matters to me. I love you Barbara, thank you for being there for me all of my life. I love you Kim, thank you for being there for me when I needed you the most.

Linda Bradford
Coatesville, PA

How do you ever move on??

I was diagnosed with breast cancer on Feb. 2nd, 2009...2 days before turning 50. I had a mastectomy on March 3rd of the right breast and my life has changed forever. Not only did I face cancer, I came back to work and faced having my health insurance terminated and having 30 days to find coverage. I was denied by 13 companies and was told by one they would take me for $1200 a month. I have insurance now that will not cover any of my generic meds and I have had to change 3 times to find a med that is a cancer preventive. I have had to change medicines for hot flashes and depression due to medicines working against each other. I have had to stop medicines cause I cannot afford them. I have had to limit my doctors visits due to no coverage or I cannot afford them. I am facing insurance bills from my surgery where my insurance company is in litigations and no one wants to pay them. I have faced alot of things in my life, but beating cancer was easy compared to moving on. I struggle everyday just to leave my home and come to work. I have had people whisper about my only having one breast cause of swelling and cannot wear my bra. I never would believe that a person who loves life like I do and so afraid of death like I am feels things I feel.

Bekky Jones-Ludwick
Waynesboro, VA

Reduce Your Risk

After being diagnosed with breast cancer 1 year ago, Oct. 2008, at the age of 44, I began reading and learning about the various contributors to breast cancer risks. Many of them I never knew before my diagnosis or didn't believe it could happen to ME. Some of them were not within my control, such as a family history 2 generations back. Others were in my control while I was younger but it was too late (such as a diet high in sugar and red meat and use of birth control pills for long term). Yet there are things that I was able to change in my lifestyle NOW to reduce my own risks of a recurrence such as exercising (sweating every day), changing my diet to be more vegetarian, eating hormone free meats & dairy, whole grain and low sugar, and changing my deodorants, perfumes, lotions and any products I use on my skin, as well as doing my monthly self breast exams. I had a mastectomy and full year of chemo therapy and am now finishing my last three months of treatment stronger than I ever was! I hope to help other women learn early on that maybe they won't have to go through what I did. I launched a web site called Reduce Your Risk at www.ReduceYourRisk.wordpress.com to help young women know how to help themselves become more educated about breast cancer. I pray that one day my 16 year old daughter can live in a world free of the disease.

K. R. H.
Northern Virginia, VA

I had many Earth Angels

In September of 2007 I was diagnosed with stage 4 mestastic breast cancer. My family and friends rallied around me with love and support. I had a bilateral mastectomy, 12 weeks of chemo, and 7 weeks of radiation. My sister and niece threw a fight like a girl party and we had a blast. My cousin Terri made me a blankie that went to all my chemo treatments. My Mom went to every appointment (and still does). My friends JoAnn, Debra and Gisele, drove me when family could not. Kristy and Nancy brought meals and fun stuff to make me laugh(like a no hair towel). When I felt like I could not make it to the end of a treatment week, I would get a call of support from my Aunt Sandy( a survivor herself ) or a card from Terri, a wispered prayer from JoAnn, a phone call from Debra to ask if I had boogers today. I'm sure I must be leaving someone out because there were so many Earth Angels around me. With the grace of God and all their support I am a year cancer free. My wonderful sister is now a volunteer for the ACS and helping woman going through treatment feel beautiful. I love you all.

Becki
Santa Ana, CA

Stay Strong

I haven't experienced Breast Cancer myself, but I grew up with it. When I was 4, my mom was diagnosed. Being at that age, I didn't exactly understand everything that was going on, but I knew it was something that would change everything; I just had that feeling. I remember one day coming home from school and she had shaved her head. She looked entirely different and I remember being so afraid that she wasn't my mom and she was someone else. Of course, I got over that . I remember her getting sicker and sicker and having to go all over the state to get treatment and us four kids would have to stay with family. My oldest brother always was the strong one, taking care of us while they were away.
I remember the day exactly. I had woken up the normal time, and my mom wasn't in her usual place on the couch. I went into her room, and there she was with my dad. She called me over, her voice was no more than a whisper now and she said something I'll never forget. "I love you, I always will. I'll always be by your side with whatever you do. Remember that and always believe. I will always be here for you. I love you." I sat there as she slowly closed her eyes and slipped away. I don't think it's right to say she was defeated in her fight, she just looked so peaceful afterwards. She was free.
I think of her all the time now, nearly 12 years later, and I can feel her presence.
So for all of you fighting and for all of you supporting, thank you so much. You're the reason some people have survived. You're angels.

Anna Petersen
Rockford, MI

Breast Cancer Thriver

Anyone who has experienced breast cancer knows the fear you have when you are diagnosed. I hope to encourage everyone facing breast cancer that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I was diagnosed in January of 08 at the age of 38 and have been through it all: chemo, double mastectomy, expanders, radiation, reconstruction with a lat flap, nipple reconstruction, and am waiting for my final tattoing to be completely done. I told myself from the beginning I would make it through and be normal again. Even though sometimes it was harder than I expected and I now know I will never be the same as I was, it is ok. I am better than before. The doctors told me when I had lymph nodes removed and radiation I should not lift over 8-10 lb and when I had the lat flap reconstruction they said I may lose some range of motion in my shoulder. I am very active so that thought was very discouraging but I chose to do something about it and found a great trainer who has helped me gain strength safely and I am on my way to getting in the best shape of my life. I turn 40 in March and plan to be "40 and Fabulous". I consider myself a breast cancer "Thriver" as well as a survivor. If you too are facing the battle just know that the war is tough but victory is oh so sweet!

Christie Sproba
Conroe, TX

My breast cancer story

I was incredibly fortunate that my bresat cancer was discovered early. With no family history of breast cancer, although used to frequent lumps and cysts (always benign) through the years, it was a shock to say the least to learn I actually had breast cancer. I also had ductal carcinoma in situ.
My primary care doctor discovered what he referred to as "striations, calcifications" in my L breast. I had no idea what he was talking about. I had become accustomed to monitoring lumps for changes in size and such but this was new terminology to me. I am so grateful for his knowledge and quick action. Before I left the office that day, he had appointments set up for me to have a mammogram and see a surgeon, because he thought we better have it checked out. I had my first lumpectomy on May 12, 2002 and another one on June 15, 2002 because they were "unhappy with the margins". I had no lymph node involvement, so following my surgeries, I had 6 weeks of radiation, spent 5 years on Tamoxifen, (which threw me into instant menopause), am now a 7+ year survivor and to celebrate breast cancer awareness month this year, I had my hair dyed pink! I know that treatments have come so far and I believe early detection is key. I also had the BRCA testing and do not have the cancer gene so my 2 daughters do not have that worry. They will need to have mammograms at age 30 due to having a first relative with breast cancer. I hope all are aware of family memebers needs for follow up in those cases.
I am so happy to be here and loving life as a survivor!

Lynn Anderson Oppelt
Tacoma, WA

I got by with all the help from my girls.

I didn't know a Breast Cancer Survivor would of been part of my resume. Being a 6 month survivor has not only made me one strong woman it made me realize everything happens for a reason.
My life is busy, I raise my two fantastic children have a wonderful husband and bartend for those great patriots we all love. Now in between this schedule I am a gym rat. I am at the gym 5-6 days a week with the most wonderful group of friends one could only dream of having. We boot camp, we spin, we run, we lift and we laugh.
Till the day I got that phone call to come back till I had to have a lumpectomy I was in denial. Not me I am the healthiest chick I know. Once I was told that a mastectomy with reconstruction was the only option I knew denial was not a option anymore. It was time to kick some butt and more than in the gym. Don't get me wrong 3 weeks before my surgery I kicked my mental and physical self. My girlfriends would go with me to 5:30 spin class when I couldn't sleep, go to the 9:00 class when i would be crying and go back at 7 class so i could punch a bag to take my anger out. I had my surgery 6 months ago and I can almost say I am done. I feel fantastic thanks to my friends, family and myself. My mental and physical health brought me to the place I am now. Happy Healthy and a new more appreciative person.
Don't give up my fellow survivors don't ever give up. You don't know how strong you are until being strong is the only option you have.
Michelle Barr

Michelle Barr
Mansfield, MA

Mammogram

I had my first mammogram at age 48. My husband and I had moved from Canada to California for his job. I had never been for a mammogram as there was no family history and I had been told I wouldn't need one until age 50. Upon meeting my new Doctor she was a bit alarmed as she recommended mammograms start at age 40. We joked about it, she told me I was eight years late and I replied I was a whole two years early! When the results came back we were both shocked. There was a pea sized lump, very deep in the tissue of the right breast. It was a shock, living far from family and friends to be diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy and five and a half weeks of radiation. I would never have found the lump on my own. It was extremely tiny. I emailed all my friends and relatives, get a mammogram!!! Mammograms do save lives, I'm living proof.

Eleanor McLaughlin
Surrey, Canada

It's Been Almost a Year

It's hard to believe that it has been almost a year since I was diagnosed with breast cancer. October 11, 2008 was "C Day" for me. It's such a surreal experience when the doctor tells you "It is cancer." Those three words started my journey. Not a journey one wants to take, but I knew I had to face it head on. I am happy to report after 6 months of chemo, a bilateral mastectomy and 6 weeks of radiation that I'm still here! I am doing great thanks to my wonderful medical team, my loving family and awesome friends. It was a long journey, but I've made it through. To any woman just starting "your journey" stay strong, you WILL make it. To all other women, please do your self exams and get your mammograms--- this is one "trip" you don't want to take.

Cathy Armstrong
Houston, TX