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Faith,Hope and Love

I am writing in regards to my aunt who is 40 who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 I believe. She had an abnormalty in her left breast and went for a mamogram.
When she got her results back the Dr. said she was fine and put her on antiobiotics. Well 3 months later she went to get a 2nd opinion because her left breast was growing bigger. They then looked at her mamogram and told her she had breast cancer. She then was rushed to get a masectomy and her lymphnodes were also removed in her left arm. She then started chemo and she's at stage 5 cancer also. Well in 2008 she was suffering from really bad migranes and ended up in the hospital to get an MRI only to find out she had multiple brain tumors, and that the cancer has spread to her lungs,bones, and blood. She is still fighting off this monster that is attacking her and other women. About a week ago she got put into the hospital again for having bad migrains and only to find out more tumors grew in her brain. Sadly she was told by her Dr and Hospice that she now has 2-6 months to live. I dont understand how such great people could go through such horrible things. I am writing this so for everyone who reads this will pray for her and hopefully would make a miracle come true. Please I dont want to believe that she has only 2-6 months to live, I really dont. Thank you for reading and may god bless everyone who is suffering.

Anonymous
lake wales, FL

The second time around

In Oct. 1999 (I was 45) I had a mammogram which revealed microcalcifications. The subsequent biopsy confirmed LCIS and DCIS, stage I. I had a lumpectomy and 8 weeks of radiation therapy then 5 years of Tamoxifen. Since having the radiation, I have not been able to have mammograms because of the pain and edema that I experienced. So for the past 9 years have opted for breast MRIs. In Dec.08 my MRI revealed a new suspiscious mass (same breast). A follow up biopsy confirmed that I had breast cancer again. Right after the biopsy they inserted a clip and then I had to get a mammogram to make sure the clip was in place. To my astonishment, the tumor did NOT show up in the mammogram but was very clear in the MRI. So in my case the MRI may have saved my life. I think more needs to be done to help high risk women with the cost of getting breast MRIs. They are very expensive and some insurance companies don't cover them but they usually do if you are high risk such as I was since having had it previously. If the high risk woman does not have insurance they will not be able to afford these expensive but life saving tests.
It has been 2 months since I had my bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction. I am still healing but am so happy with my results. I wasn't scared this time because I already had a wonderful oncologist who connected me with the best surgeons. One surgeon to do the mastectomy and the plastic surgeon who used my own tissue, stomach fat/muscle to reconstruct beautiful breasts (known as DIEP). You get a tummy tuck as an added bonus.

Pamela Castillo
Fountain Valley, CA

Feeling Blessed

I found out that I had breast cancer on December 17, 2007 after being called into my surgeon's office to get the results of a breast biopsy. This was a big shock to me and my family. I had gone regularly for yearly mammograms. Now only a few days before Christmas I was being sent for an MRI, a second mammogram, sonogram and biopsy to be told that it was in both breast and I must have surgery immediately to remove both breast. It was so hard to make it though the holidays but with a great family and strong faith in God, we made it. My surgery was done on January 11, 2008. After a few days, test results showed I had stage 1 cancer in my right breast and stage 2 her 2 positive in left breast with tumors in four nodes. I completed 5 months of chemo and 30 treatments of radiation the summer of 2008. It was pretty tough and I could not complete my year of herceptin because it was causing me to have heart problems. My last pet scan was done a few weeks ago on September 2, 2009 and it was good, no sign of cancer. That was a night of celebration for me and my family. We have had many celebrations through all of this as I have completed each phase of treatments and test.
I could never have made it through such a terrible ordeal without my faith in God, and my wonderful family and friends. I am considered a high risk cancer patient but I do not dwell on that and just feel blessed with each and every day that I am alive.

Linda S. Carr
Lucedale, MS

Young women too

Just wanted to share my sisters story to inform people that young women need to be more aware of breast cancer. My sister was 23 when diagnosed and passed away on her 25th birthday. She fought to the end and never gave up. Breast cancer in younger women can be very aggressive and spread rapidly. It is so important that younger women do breast self examinations and follow up any lumps with their GP's. Sometimes they are told "your too young to worry about breast ca", so second and third opinions are sometimes necessary. GP's can get it wrong. Fine needle aspirations can also get it wrong. Do not let anyone or any test tell you otherwise if you truly believe and have a gut feeling that something is indeed wrong. Please tell all your daughters, nieces, friends daughters to check themselves. My sister would probably be alive today if she had followed her instinct and got another opinion.

Kristine White
Perth, Australia

You Have Breast Cancer!

I lost my dad to a rare form of cancer on January 16th, 2009 and was still mourning his death when I was told I had breast cancer (IDC..invasive ductal carcinoma, stage 1). It was June 17th, the day before my 52nd birthday and I had the lump removed June 19th. My only question at that moment was how do I tell my family. I was told the cancer wasn't hormone receptive and I would have to have 6 chemo-therapy treatments (every 3 weeks) and 24 radiation treatments. My 1st chemo treatment was August 24th. I wasn't sure how I would feel after the treatment but, by listening carefully to my onocology team and having a positive attitude, I've been able to handle most of the side-effects so far. I still have a long way to go and with the support of my family, friends and the cancer clinic I will beat this disease and live a long, prosperous life.

Christy Desrosiers
St-Maurice, Canada

Twins, but not identical!

May 14, 2007. That is the day that everything changed.

My twin sister had a biopsy done on her right breast, I had one on my left breast. Her biopsy was fine, Mine was not. The doctor called and said I had Breast Cancer. Two years earlier I lost my mother to ovarian cancer. I was scared, but informed; and I had the support of my sisters, my children and my husband to hold me up. I had the support of my whole church, and of my community.

After a lumpectomy, and chemo, and radiation, it was time to get back to normal. Only normal is now different. I am a changed person. I was able to experience what it is to know how much people care. I don't look at my experience as a bad thing, but a stepping stone to who I am now. I try and help other women understand what to expect, I forced another sister to go for a mammo (told her doctor on her) and my sister-in-law to go as well. Early detection is the best way to beat cancer. Don't be afraid to have a mammogram. Just do it, and live.

Jean Tjornhom
Dingmans Ferry, PA

Third Time's a Charm

I was first diagnosed with breast cancer on New Year's Eve 2003. I had suspected the diagnosis was coming, but that didn't temper the fear and grief. We had adopted our daughter the same year, and had only had her home 10 months. I could not get my mammogram scheduled before our adoption travel, and being an overwhelmed new mom I'd postponed it twice after coming home. Of course leading up to the diagnosis were exams, scans and a biopsy in December. It was the worst Christmas I ever had.

I filled 2004 not only with being mom to a toddler, but a double mastectomy, chemo and radiation. I was tired and sick, lost all my hair and discovered some women are pretty bald, and I am not one of them.

Following 2004, I had clear scans for 3 years! I was over 1/2 way to the 5 year survivor mark when a routine bone scan found the cancer had returned in 2 vertebrae. I underwent a vertebralplasty--a procedure I'd never heard of before, but one that stabilized my back and helped kill the cancer. I underwent radiation, then 8 months of a different chemo--no hair loss and minimal sickness!

Following that bout with cancer, I had clear scans for 16 months, when pain in my leg and another bone scan revealed the cancer had returned, this time in my hip bone. I'm currently undergoing the same chemo regimen I did last time, preceeded by radiation on the hip.

I've learned so much through all this. Life is unpredictable! Every day is a blessing. Listen to your body and trust your instincts. Everyone is stronger than they think they are, and can do whatever it takes. And I can never repay the medical professionals who have literally saved my life.

Kathy Fuhler
Conway, AR

To be a woman

I don't have a particular story to tell, but reading all your stories makes me feel so proud to be a woman. I admire so much all the courage and the strength that each experience represents.
Hope and love means so much.
Please don't give up!

Eleonora
Rome, Italy

Here I go again...

After going through MULTIPLE tumultous events in my life in a very short time period, 9/08 I had a mammo that showed a spot in my rt. breast- the same one that I'd had a lumpectomy (& chemo & radiation) in 16 years earlier. I was going to a county clinic & after a series of delays & total messups on their part, I contacted my insurance company & got the phone number of a breast surgeon/specialist & things started rolling. Late 2/09 I had biopsies on the original spot & another on a small calcification found during the testing. Both were positive- the spot was a recurrance of the original ductile cancer, & the new spot was a different type that had just started. A precancerous abnormality was also detected in the left breast.
3/9/09 I had a bilateral mastectomy, stretchers placed for rebuild, & 3 more surgeries because of skin changes from radiation. I am redoing chemo due to the high number of receptors on the cells & facing at least 1 more surgery. (To place the new "girls" after the chemo ends)

I have a RIPPING sense of humor & figure I could teach people how to fight for timely medical care when faced with beurocratic delays, and how to get through adversity & life-struggle with humor & self empowerment. I talk to people and joke about my 'experiences' & teach people that life is to LIVE, as there are no guarantees. I'm no stronger than anyone else- I CHOOSE to fight this way. I CHOOSE to laugh, joke, play, & sometimes cry. If I can help even ONE other person get through it & come out on the other side of the fight with as little stress as possible, then it's worth every second of discomfort.

SUE
R, NY

only 5 years to live

My name is Janis and I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer with metastatis to both lungs in October 2004. I was 44 years old. I did not feel a lump but I noticed that the outer edge of my left breast was caved in and dimpled. A biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of cancer. At first, the doctors thought it was caught early and that the outcome looked good. However my first CT scan brought the news of "too numerous to count metastatic nodules in both lungs." The lung surgeon predicted that I would not be alive 5 years from then. Wow...Since then I have had chemotherapy, radiation a lung biopsy, total hysterectomy and bilateral mastectomies with reconstruction via DIEP flap. I have been cancer free since January 2007 and have not had a reoccurance. I am so blessed and my oncologist calls me her "unusual case". I have 2 children, 25 and 21, who have been supportive throughout all of this. I also have a very supportive mother and father, however my father passed away in May 2005 from Multiple Myleoma (which was diagnosed the same week as my diagnosis). I know this was hardest on my family than it was for me. I wake every day thanking God that I am here to enjoy another day and try to reach out to others to let them know that there is hope, lots of hope and love to make it through. Keep fighting, keep a good attitude and keep smiling. I can't wait for each birthday to come around, what celebrations we will have!!

Janis
McConnellsburg, PA