Share Your Story

It wasn't pleasant, but it was worth it

I'm 82 and I've had mammograms for 41 years and because I was busy last summer didn't go in when reminded by the hospital's Woman's Health department. I'm fortunate to have good health insurance because we got it when we were doing well and now it is a large hunk of our monthly income, but worth it. I decided to be good to myself and since it was covered, have my mammogram. I click for others who can't pay, so why not get my own. I went in the end, and a wonderful radiologist spotted something suspicious.and after a sonogram and a biopsy, within a week, I had my lumpectomy and one lumph node removed which proved it hadn't spread, I had six weeks of radiation; no chemo and I'm fine and clear a year later. With my little white pill for the next four years, my onocologist has pretty much promised MORE THAN the hoped for five years.. It wasn't pleasant but it was more than worth it.

I wish for everyone who is 40 or who should because of family history, a yearly mamogram and for help if needed to pay for an early easy operation. The earlier, the better. I'll keep clicking if you'll keep going for your test.

Anonymous
Destin, FL

My Daughter

My daughter is Shayna from Brookline NH. For those who read her story
I will simply tell the rest of the story. As my birthday approached after
the worst year of my life she asked me what I wanted-I told her I already
had everything I could want. Her sisters and mother held a yard sale at
our church because I was going on a Church Mission to Bulgaria. The
yard sale raised about $900 for a leukemia hospital in Sophia. Best
birthday ever. Best family ever. A Dad

Frank Turner
Amherst, NH

My story

I am a 36 year old woman who was diagnosed in April with breast cancer. I have three children that i had to tell the news to and it was so hard. I had a double mastectomy in June and am now going through chemo. I only have one more to go!! I will have reconstructive surgery and will have to be placed on hormonal therapy as well. Being diagnosed was so shocking to me. I thought it was just another cyst because i had the fibrocystic breast disease in other breast. Something told me to get another mamo though and am so glad i did. Because i didnt have insurance, the Susan B Koman foundation paid for my mamo, ultrasound and biopsy. I want to thank organizations like these because thats how i was able to be diagnosed and early. This has been a battle and fight i will never forget, but i will survive and it has made me so much stronger.

Laura
Cincinnati, OH

My story....

I am 41 years old and in June I found a lump in my left breast. By mid July I had the needle and core biopsy which had "inconclusive" results. My gyne, along with the radiologist that did the biopsies decided that I should "proceed with caution" and have a lumpectomy. I'm so thankful that I did. Just days later I got the dreaded phone call...You have breast cancer! I had to go back in the next week for the node sampling, which thank God all came back negative. I have stage 1, but grade 3 which is the agressive form of cancer. I started chemo in Aug and will have my last one mid October (4 treatments every 3 weeks) and then I'll start radiation. This has been the scariest thing I've ever done, and I couldn't have done it without my wonderful and loving husband, 2 beautiful children, my mom and sisters! I know that when this is over I will beat cancer...it WILL NOT beat me!!

Darla
White Oak, PA

My Breast Cancer Story

My family and friends and God pulled me through my journey with breast cancer at 36 years young with 4 little children and a wonderful husband.

I was breast feeding my one year old son when I felt a lump. I didn't do anything about it until my friend, who just happened to work in a breast cancer clinic before she was a stay home mom, told me to go have it checked out. She knew. Still I put it off. The actual event that made me have an examination, was my mother's diagnosis of esophageal cancer. We actually had chemo at the same time. What a drain on our family.

After a lumpectomy, chemo, radiation, herceptin, and tamoxifen, I am cancer free and I intend to stay that way. My mother is also cancer free and intends to stay that way. We are grateful to good medical care and great doctors who literally saved our lives simultaneously.

I am thankful for my family and friends who were available to meet all the practical needs in life like food and laundry and childcare so that I could recover. I am thankful to God who put those people in our lives to take care of us when we needed it most.

3 years later I am back to my life with a thankfulness for both the big and small things in life.

Shayna
Brookline, NH

Grieving Spouse

I lost my Cuddels to breast cancer April 2009. She was ONLY 49 Years Old. She gave me the best 21 years of my life. Because of family history and fear she waited to long to get tested. I lost my best friend due to fear. Don't let fear keep you from getting tested. Your family needs you. I was by her side to the end. I am alive today because of her quick thinking and cool head when my lungs collapsed.

Joe Nispel
York, PA

This is my Story........

My name is Denise, I live in Florida and have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Discovery alone took more than 6 months. The county I live in has three different tax districts which work as seperate entities. I have no insurance and live by myself. I did not qualify for any programs in my area or I had not lived in my home (in the same "tax" district) for 6 months (though I lived in all three in 4 years)....leaving me alone, afraid, and scared for my life literally.It is really disheartening to know that my fight for the past 6 months was not against cancer but against the beauracracy and the guidelines that have been set in place to qualify for healthcare when you have none to even get a clear diagnosis. I now face chemo, radiation, as well as 5 yrs treatment to keep this disease in check. If I had had earlier detection, the results could have been different. It is now in my lymph system and I do not qualify for medicaid or disability as of right now. I should be fighting this desease with all that I have but instead I have to fight to keep a roof over my head, electricity on, and other means to keep a quality of life that affords me the focus to fight this terrible disease while unable to work. Women today will lose this fight if something is not done to releive the pressures of healthcare situation and roadblocks in the way of this fight. If I lose my place to live by being unable to pay my bills, this last 6 months spent qualifying for treatments would have been in vane...it will only be taken away and have to to begin again elsewhere. I remain a fighter!!!

Anonymous
New Smyrna Beach, FL

Survivorship

I was 35 years old when I was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer, a single mother of 2 young children. I had a bilateral mastectomy, 34 nodes removed (19 were positive) followed by 6 treatments of chemo, a year worth of herceptin and 30 treatments of radiation.

I just walked in my 2nd Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure. I'm still here, I'm cancer free and living my life in a positive, fulfilling way.

I didn't have to fight cancer. Cancer had to fight me. I won.

Carrie Roberts
Hamilton, OH

Two year celebration

I had a total mastectomy September 18, 2007. I had cancer in both breasts and my lymph nodes. I am so blessed to be here today and cancer free. I thank God everyday. To everyone being diagnosed... believe and never think about the negative. The thought of dying never entered my mind. You've got to fight!

Diane Harbin
Hueytown, AL

Loving Support

In 2003, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. When I started chemotherapy, I told my significant other of 14 years that I did not want to watch my hair fall out and when it started to fall out, I wanted to just cut it all off. He sat me down in the chair, kissed and hugged me and said "Are you ready? I love you". He cut off all of my hair and cried with me through the entire process. I loved him before my diagnosis but loved him so much more during and after the journey was completed.

Shelia Crosby
Detroit, MI