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My battle turned into a business...We KARE to find a cure!

My story starts out like many others. I was a perfectly healthy 41 year old woman who one day finds a lump in her breast. SELF BREAST EXAMS DO SAVE LIVES! The fear, uncertainty, and sadness was overwhelming. I was terrified for my husband and children. I was terrified for me. Things got easier for me, once I knew what the course of treatments would be. I prayed ! Then made a plan and a promise to keep a positive attitude. I shared my news with family and friends and accepted help graciously. I had to to make sure my children had the happy mom they were used to. I took it one day at a time. I made sure to remember that whatever I was going through... someone, somewhere was going through something worse. I caught it early so a lumpectomy was an option. I needed 4 sessions of Chemotherapy, radiation, and various other medications and procedures. It was going to be a long road but I was going to win in the end. When I learned I was going to lose my hair to chemo, I could not find anything comfortable and stylish to wear. The one thing I could take control over I did. With the help of my sister, we designed the most comfortable, fun, stylish head scaves for me to wear. When I wore them, I felt so free and pretty. I felt fun! I felt special! I felt like myself. I lived from my heart ~ not what I saw in the mirror. I lived my life and looked great doing so! Everyone loved them, so I decided to start my own business to help others dealing with hair loss. We are called Kare~Chiefs. www.karechiefs.com
We "Kare" to find a CURE !

Barbara Manni
Cranston, RI

Jan's Story

Believe it or not I cannot remember if I left my story here before but I had just been to the race for the cure and was talking to a chemo nurse that I did not know and she told me that i should share the story i told her.

My first chemo my younger daughter came with me. I had a port put in becasue of bad veins, so we're waiting for the nurse, here she comes she has this big blue apron on blue thick gloves of course hat and blue booties like she just came out of surgery. I looked at my daughter and said if she has to wear that what is going in my body, WOW I just realized You have breast cancer, as my daughter and I watched the red devil drug come down that little hose, when it reached my port all me and my daughter could do was CRY this is it I said to her, I'm on my way.

thanks for listening, Jan

Jan
Eastlake, OH

Living and Enjoying Today

On July 20th, 2005. I felt a sharp pain on the outer side of my right breast. It felt like someone just shoved a pencil into it. I found a lump. My doctor sent me for a mammogram, then an ultra sound. I was told I should see a surgeon for a biopsy. The surgeon did a needle core biopsy. This result came back negative for cancer. The surgeon recommended removing the lump because it was constantly painful. He removed the lump and had it biopsied. The results came back positive for breast cancer. The lump was 7.5 cm in diameter and only 2 cm (the very back of the lump) was cancer. My husband and I took 3 days to cry and feel sorry for ourselves. After that it was time to fight and to live. I had a mastectomy (one of many surgeries), and then started chemo, (I became the poster child for side effects) . With the help of my amazing family and some great friends I was able to get through this and get on with my life. I was there when my son and daughter each married the love of their life and every day I get to tell the man of my dreams (in the pic with me) how much I love him. I now work with developmentally disabled adults and I love my job. I don't worry if it will come back, that is tomorrows problem. I am too busy living and enjoying today.

Laura
Beulah, MI

Genetic Testing Saved My Life

My sister died at 38 after battling breast cancer for 6 years. A few years later, my (now late) cousin was diagnosed with breast cancer. My brother rang and suggested I have genetic testing. After the testing came back positive for a Jewish breast cancer gene, I opted for double mastectomy and tram flap reconstruction. My husband and children were incredibly supportive. Two weeks before the surgery I had both mammogram and ultrasound. Both came back negative. A few days after the surgery, my doctor told me that the pathology had found 3 cancer tumors in the removed breast tissue. They do not know why it did not show up in the testing. It is nearly 6 years later and I have absolutely no regrets. Indeed I feel very blessed as the doctors said that, in my circumstances, the surgery definitely saved my life. I cannot speak highly enough of the doctors, geneticists and support staff at Price of Wales Hospital. Their support and level of caring is amazing.

Anonymous
Sydney, Australia

Still here not going anywhere!!!!!!!

My story is fresh as my battle started when midnight struck for 2009!! It was New Years Day and the school holidays.I just came back from the swimming with my two daughters aged 6 and 10. I was walking up the driveway and had a massive pain in my right breast later I examine myself and felt not one lump but four!!! Headed to my GP followed by ultrasound, mammagram and a week later the news.. You have grade 3 aggressive cancer and will have to have your breast cut-off.Yes that is how the GP told me. I ran out of the office into my daugheter's arms. My husband later feel to his knees I thought I was a dead woman. So then I had an appointment wih my specialist who handed me a book Breast cancer information book which saved my life!!! It had all the information needed and helped me through the next 9 months. I had three surgery's full mastectomy, full lympos nodes removed, reconstruction all this happened in Feburary. Followed by six months of chemo and today just finished five weeks of radiation.
I feel like crying a river I am so happy and hope it is all over. So now at this moment I am helping a lady that I meet in the hosiptal that is having a mastectomy on Thursday. All is that I can say is don't worry how your body looks like be happy that you are still here!!!!!

Sandy
Melbourne, Australia

I Found My Inner Pink

Early on Mother's Day, my husband took me to our local bagel shop for a quick nosh before our family celebration. The courtyard was full of people and families. We picked a table outside in the sunshine and began a conversation with the table next to ours, a mother and son. She was wearing a pink ribbon visor and since it was the day after The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in SLC, we struck up a conversation about the general feeling of camaraderie experienced there. This led to a deeper discussion of the 'what kind of cancer' and 'how long ago' variety. We discussed treatment and swapped surgery stories. A younger couple came and sat just behind me at a nearby table but deep in conversation with my new friend I took little notice. Suddenly the young man stood, confronted us, and began to loudly protest our conversation. He claimed he was disgusted and outraged to hear such a discussion on Mother's Day. After more heated words, he stormed inside. My new friend and I decided not to let this ruin our celebration and resumed our visit. A young mother at the far side of the patio who witnessed the attack walked over. I quickly apologized if we had offended her. She leaned over to us and said, "Way to go - I'm part of the Sisterhood too, a five-year survivor." In that single sentence I saw an example of what could not, should not, be shut out. If we don't talk about it, if we don't share our experiences, we have not truly celebrated our survivor-ship. After a quick hug my new friend and I parted with words of encouragement and love. I went home to my children, and celebrated the most meaningful Mother's Day yet.

Wendy Holmes
Sandy, UT

~I won the fight once & I will win the fight again~Help me God!

Should I say, I had a very hard life when I found a mass in my right breast. I was diagnosed of Stage 1 Breast Cancer in May 06. I was working overseas with no insurance, living in another country where the majority of the people can't speak English and was the first one who had cancer in my family. As hard as it was, I told myself that I have to fight and live because I was only 32 years old with lots of dreams that are still unfulfilled! I underwent lumpectomy in my right breast. Then, four shots of chemotheraphy. I finished my chemotheraphy in this country then, I had to move here in the US. I got married with my wig on in Dec 06. My very supportive husband didn't mind a bald wife who will share with his life. In February 07, I started my radiation theraphy for 1 month. I was like an obedient student who never missed my doctor's appointments, chest breaking mammograms for 2 1/2 years not to mention the pap smear that I have to do once a year. It was April 09 that my husband noticed the severe cough that I was going through! I went for check-ups got some pills but it didn't work. So, I got a second opinion from a general surgeon from the military based! I had a CT SCAN done! I had a biopsy done! It's a positive reoccurrence of my breast cancer that spread in my chest bone. I'm having series of treatments to detect whether there are tumors in my other systems. For sure, I will have new rounds of chemotheraphy which means I'm fixing to get bald soon after I grow my hair back for 3 years.

To Be Continued

Godbless us all!

Fight to Live
Colorado Springs, CO

My Journey with fighting Breast Cancer---1 year survivor---

I started having lumps in my breasts when I was 15 and started my menstrual cycle. The lumps would come and go away each month. But in July 2009, the lump in my right breast did not go away. I scheduled myself a mammogram appointment after seeing a doctor about my breasts. I had my mammogram done and sadly to say on 9-17-08 I was diagnosed with Stage II A Breast Cancer at the age of 34. I had chemotherapy treatments done, two lumpectomies done in my right and left breasts, lymph nodes taken out of my right arm (surgery), 36 radiation treatments ...But by the grace of God, prayers from family, friends, and church family I made it through. James 5:16 help me to be a Breast Cancer Survivor.... "Pray ye one for another, that you may be healed." In my time of sickness, I prayed for others with this same disease and other sicknesses and God healed me. Special thanks to my mom, Betty, daughter D'Ara, and fiance Ricoe.. I love you guys so much.... September 17, 2009 marks my 1 year of being Breast Cancer Free....Praise God!!! Amen!!!

Tara Thomas
Athens, GA

Congratulations, You Have Breast Cancer

"Congratulations! You have (the best kind of) breast cancer."

That's not exactly what the doctor said, but it's pretty close. It started with a routine (but my first digital) mammogram, then a diagnostic mammo, then a stereotactic needle biopsy. The diagnosis of DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma in Situ) was given (by a very sympathetic and kind radiologist) and followed with "and if you have to have breast cancer, this is the kind to have." (Very treatable and survivable).

After the shock subsided (of hearing my name and cancer in the same sentence), I knew I wanted a mastectomy, not a lumpectomy. After more tests, doctor appointments and tortuous waiting, I had a unilateral mastectomy on June 16.

Fortunately, I have an excellent breast cancer surgeon and a top-rated plastic surgeon who worked together on my mastectomy so my reconstruction would also begin that same day.

Post-surgery pathology revealed not only DCIS, but also a small area of invasive cancer; however, I won't have to undergo radiation or chemo. I'm still weighing the options of drug therapy for the next five years.

Although I have a full plate in front of me with the reconstruction process (it will take another 3-4 month plus another surgery), I am thankful that 1) I had a digital mammogram; 2) a skilled radiologist interpreted my mammogram and performed the stereotactic needle biopsy; and 3) my invasive area was small.

However, I'm most grateful for the example set by my Mom, who at the age of 72 (7 years ago), was diagnosed with breast cancer. She endured not only a mastectomy, but also chemo, radiation, congestive heart failure and more recently, a stroke. After all that, I've never heard her complain, question her faith or ask "why me"?

That's a hard act to follow.

Patty Bible
Stillwater, OK

A Mammogram changed my life

My story begins as most do.
In 2006 I had my mammogram done. A spot on the film that was not there the last time. I was asked to come in and have it done again. A report was sent to my doctor.

Before my husband and I sat down, the doctor said this is what we are going to do.

The appointment was made for a Core Needle Biopsy. A sample of the lump was taken, and a small pin was inserted to pinpoint the lump.

The results were sent to the doctor. You have Stage 1 Breast Cancer. When we were told about the breast cancer we went through all the stages:

This cannot be true!!
Why me?!?!
We will get through this!!

We had found it early. We were going to take care of this. We were told about a procedure called MammoSite. The surgery took place on June 7th. 3 lymph nodes were removed along with the lump. A balloon was inserted and filled with saline solution and inflated. This is how the radiation would be delivered, only in the small area where the lump had been removed.

Within a week, I started the 5-day, 2 times a day MammoSite treatment. Because of the distance from our home, we decided to stay in a motel for the 5 days, after each treatment I was able to rest .

I was told how the procedure would go. The staff made me comfortable and told me they would be there if I needed them.

As I lay there with my eyes closed I went to my comfortable place. Here were the hands of my family and friends surrounding me,

After the five days, No loss of hair, just a little sunburn.

I'm cancer free since June 22, 2006.

sharon Lewis
Queen Valley, AZ