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Challenging years

The year 2008 was a challenge and the year 2009 proved to be more of a challenge. My 72 year old mother who lives in AL was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in Sept 2008 in midst of our move from MD to GA and then a last minute change to IA (military family); daughter decides she was getting married in Dec 2008--she's in the military in NC; and another daughter in the military was moving in Jan 09 overseas for the 1st time--life was hectic.
Moving to IA proved to be a challenge as it was colder than ever--looking for housing tired of living in hotels.
In March 2009 I found a lump in my right breast; scheduled an appointment and was diagnosed with breast cancer; surgery April 2009 right mast and I am now going through chemotherapy.
My mother's tumor has shrunk and she is preparing to have surgery Sept 2009.
This has been a challenging year but GOD has been there every step of the way--my faith has given me strength in the midst of the challenge; a peace during chemotherapy as well as support from family and friends has been awesome.
We are fighters and we will survive Thank GOD, the doctors, nurses, American Cancer Society and all breast cancer support systems out there.
I have always supported Breast cancer research and as I have learned you never know when....My when came and I thank GOD for the resourses out there.

Gina
Waterloo, IA

Breast Cancer in a small Texas town

It doesn't take long for news to spread in a small town. In this case I beleive that is a good thing.
On August 1, 2008 I got that phone call none of us want," Mrs Ayres you have breast cancer, can you come to the office this afternoon?" I was at work so I told Marie, my boss and sister-in-law Becky who also works for the City. I called my husband then my cousin Lou, who is an RN and we all 3 went to the Doctor. It was a good thing Lou went with us because the shock had not worn off and part of what he told us sounded like the teacher on a Charlie Brown movie. The hardest thing was telling my children. Nickie worked at the hospital next door to the doctors office so she was the first I told. Next was Matt who was in Afghanistan so I sent an email. Last was Leah who was only 10 years old. One of her classmates had lost her mother to cancer only 4 months earlier so this was real hard.
By the end of the next week news had spread. I had surgery on August 11th. People brought food every day for 2 weeks. Meals were brought on the days I had chemo. I received many prayers, flowers, cards, meals and words of encouragement. In November the volunteer fire department, close friends and family held a benefit fish fry to help cover medical expenses. The turn out was amazing enough money was raised to pay all the medical bills. You don't realize how many friends you have until something like this happens. My advise is don't be ashamed to tell people you have cancer because you are going to need the prayers and support.

Gerri Ayres
Holliday, TX

The power of a positive attitute

My Sister in law was 28 years old when she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in October of 2004. If was devastating, After the initial shock, she began her first of 22 chemo treatments before having a bilateral mastectomy. I missed going to just one of her chemo treatments with her and although these treatment are very difficult I met a group of courageous and amazing woman who had the will to fight and live. My sister in law included. They all had a positive outlook and they helped me to see that anything is possible if you fight. I salute all the woman who have had to deal with this disease and who have helped others through their ordeal. My sister in law has been cancer free for just over 3 years now and we thank god everyday.

Sue P
Providence, RI

Grit --

My name is Don Burrows. The woman in the photo is my wife, Karin. She wanted me to take a shot of her just before one of her radiation treatments. When you look at the photo, please turn your head so she is laying on her back.

In August, 2004 I was out of the country on business when Karin found the lump. On her birthday. She went to the doctor that day, and he said that he was not as concerned with the lump as he was with the mass he could feel beneath it.

I was home the next day and we began an 18 month marathon. Karin was diagnosed with BRCA-II and agreed to be part of a research study to learn more about the disease.

She had one round of chemo, then a double mastectomy, then radiation, then some more chemo.

Because of the BRCA-II and because she is of Swedish extraction, the oncologyst strongly recommended she have an oopherectomy after her body had recovered from the previous regimine.

The reason he wanted her to have the oopherectomy is that for people (men and women) with her history, there was a significant - I think it was 85% - likelihood that the cancer would reappear "down there." And then she would really be in trouble.

She had the ooph.

It is now August, 2009 and Karin just CELEBRATED her 65th birthday amid family, friends and three of the five grandkids (all of whom are boys.)

The reason I selected the picture is because I love the determination, the grit, in her eyes.

Don Burrows
Marysville, WA

A HER-2 Story

As if spinal fusion wasn't bad enough in 1994, fifteen months later I was diagnosed with HER-2 positive breast cancer. Traditional chemotherapy was a bust, I developed severe bone pain then open sores all over by body - I was allergic to the drugs. I was then started on Herceptin to treat the HER-2 status for 18 months. For those who don't know, HER-2 is a genetic disorder which causes the cancer to be highly recurrent and more aggressive.Two months later, mamo time again.Guess what, positive again but negative for HER-2. Each time I had lumpectomies but the 2nd one is when I got my 2nd surprise -staph infection. Four months later, I did 6 weeks of radiation. Twelve days later it was mamo time again - "probable benign" was the result. It is believed to be in the scar tissue, so the doctors said not to worry. Easier said than done. All I know is that HER-2 is not talked about very much and the doctor doesn't know whether the 2nd tumor was a totally new cancer or if the Herceptin had done it's job. I sit here 4 months later wondering if I have a tumor or not. They did the mamo too soon and created another infection. It is still warm to the touch and painful. I just don't know what to do besides wait and pray. A movie, "Living Proof" was made about Herceptin's discovery. It was helpful and scary. I just hope that the next mamo is negative. I've had so many pet scans I should be glowing. Last one showed some activity in the area of the scar tissue but nothing definitive. Next month it's mamo time again. I believe strongly in prayer, so please pray for all breast cancer patients. CLICK TO GIVE!!!

Julie Bruce
Jackson, GA

Breast Cancer

I was diagnoised with breast cancer in March of 2009 on my birthday I went through all of my emotions. Well I did have 4 rounds of chemo. and then had my double mastomy and now they are saying they are going to have to go back in and remove some more lymphnodes. Then after 2 weeks of more healing and the drains in. I will be able to continue with my 4 more rounds of chemo. and then 6 weeks of radiation. In the mean time I am under construction for new breast. I had a t-shirt made up to let people know that if I did not want to stuff my bra that day I could wear my t-shirt with pink ribbons on it and my hat and people would know that I have breast cancer and would not look at me funny because there are people who do that. My friend she is a nurse that I work with and she picked me up a button that says cancer sucks so I wear that to. But I keep my chin up and know that I will get through this and I keep that smile on my face. I do have lots of support from family and friends. But I do what somebody out there that does have this going on I will be there for you too. I was so lucky to meet my friend that had gone through the same thing I am going through now, she went through it a year ago and her husband it there for my husband it is a great thing.

Susan Dunn
Clovis, CA

Support

My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer at 37, 5 yrs into our marriage, back in 1987. I knew that she was going to be the one to have to beat it, that all I could do would be to offer whatever level of support she was willing to receive. We went together for all her tests and shared all the results together. Luckily (?) for her, the type of cancer she had did not require chemo or radiation, mastectomy was to be her route to a cure. She decide to have it bi-lateral because the chances of that type of cancer recurring in the other breast increased by the year. Smart woman, after the operation, they did the pathology on the supposed healthy breast and cancer was found. Things were different then, no drive through operations like today. She spent about a week in the hospital. I walked into her hosp. room one day and she was in tears. She had finally seen the results from the operation. She thought I wouldn't love her anymore. I bent over the bed, opened her gown and kissed her between the scars. I told her then she was the only woman for me and 22 yrs later, she still is.

Bill Lutz
Elloree, SC

The Fight Goes On!

On April Fool's Day, 2009, I was diagnosed with breast cancer....NO joke! Since my mother died from breast cancer in 1976, I have been faithful about getting my annual mammograms. I did not feel a lump, but the ultrasound that was performed looked a little suspicious. A biopsy confirmed the worst. An MRI showed only one small spot, but my husband and I decided that bilateral mastectomies would be my best shot at not repeating this scenerio in the future. Luckily, the three lymph nodes that were removed were "clean." My oncologist said that, since the tumor was completely removed and the nodes were fine, I would not benefit further from chemo or rediation. She did recommend genetic testing, which showed a mutation at one site on the BRCA2 gene. Well, at least, that confirmed that I had made the correct choice concerning the bilateral mastectomies. That would have been her first recommendation after finding the gene mutation. She did suggest that both of my sons be tested as men can carry the gene mutation, and it increases their odds of having both breast cancer and prostate cancer. My older son has been tested and is negative, which is great news for his two children. The oncologist, also, suggested that I have my ovaries removed as the BRCA2 mutation significantly increased my odds of developing ovarian cancer. Isn't that great?! Well, I am currently recovering from that surgery, which was performed just a week ago. I am waiting to hear from the pathologist on that one. The surgeon said that he would be surprised if there was a problem, but I heard those same words about my biopsy and my genetic testing. Time will tell........

Midge
Midlothian, VA

Mammograms are a life-saver!!!

I have always been diligent with my self-exams and mammograms. In September 2008 I went to my gyn for my yearly checkup. Part of the check up is a breast exam in which the doctor felt nothing. He gave me the referral for my mammogram and I was able to get it scheduled 3 days after my gyn visit. Well, I got the dreaded call back from the radiology group I had gone to. I really didn't panic because in the late 70s I had two cysts removed from my left breast and sometimes the scar tissue throws the radiologist off. Imagine my surprise when I was told that it wasn't the left breat they were concerned about but the right one! I had a 1 cm lump that was very close to the breast bone and could not be felt during a breast exam. In November 2008 I had a lumpectomy and they removed 3 sentinel nodes. Luckily the nodes came back clean and I only had to do radiation therapy. It is coming up on a year for me and I can't stress enough the importance of getting your mammogram.

Lydia
Baltimore, MD

What's That?

In November, 2004 I was awakened for no reason and couldn't go back to sleep. I decided I'd do a self-check. I seldom did them. I started checking my right breast and found something. "What's that?" I thought. Checked my left breast "No, nothing there." Rechecked my right breast. Went to my doctor who felt it was just a cyst but we'd do another mammogram and to not be surprised if they did a ultra-sound. They did both. During the ultra-sound the red flags never went up as the the tech asked if there was a history "No." I had a mastectomy on Dec. 15. They originally had me scheduled on Dec. 8 my 50th birthday. I had 6 months of chemo and to-date Aug. 2009 I'm cancer free. I've become an encourager & cheerleader for any woman facing cancer.

Karen
Spartanburg, SC