Share Your Story

All About Breast Cancer

I am all about breast cancer as I am a 4 year survivor. How wonderful it is to be alive and able to tell and support others as they go through the different stages of being told they have breast cancer on through the surgery and therapy.

When doing my clicks each day, I see the other tabs along side of the breast cancer (hunger, child health,literacy, rainforest, and animal rescue). These represent a large need as well as the breast cancer. I do give more clicks each day to the breast cancer site than the others as I do about 5 clicks on each of the other sites after having clicked on the breast cancer site. It takes so little time and can make a huge difference to each of the causes represented.

I would encourage each of you to consider clicking on each of the other tabs when doing your clicking for breast cancer. As survivors or supporters, we are so fortunate to be able to still make our voices heard through these daily clicks.

Frances
San Antonio, TX

Missing my mother

I am the only girl and the youngest of five children. Since my mom and I were the only two girls in the house, I was very close to her. I'm not sure exactly when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, but it was either 1998 or 1999. She had gone through everything, trying so hard to fight this horrible cancer. Ofcourse, we all supported her as everything got harder. After she had surgery to remove the cancer in her breast, we had found out that the cancer had went around to her back bone. By then, there was nothing else to do. On February 11 of 2000, my mother died of breast cancer. I was seven and I didn't really understand. I have always missed her, but now that I am seventeen, it has hit me a lot harder. It's hard to believe that it has been ten years. I always wish she was here to help me when I need advice or if I'm in a bad situation. Since I was younger, I don't really remember her and I hate it. I have many friends and family who are here for me, but it's not the same as my mother. I feel like a huge part of me is missing. I hope children who have mothers know how blessed they are for having a mother's love. It's hard not having your mother there for you as you grow up. I hope they find a cure soon because I don't want a child to go through what I had to.

Lacey
Stephens City, VA

my survival story

I ws diagnosed with brest caner six in a half years a when i found a large
lump under my arm and i had to do four and half months of chemotherapy
followed by a mastactomy then two months of radiation treatmens

Lydia Wendell
Tacoma, WA

My reasons for fighting 4/18/2009

This is me on the left of the photo with my beautiful daughter on Christmas night 2008. She is only a part of my reason for fighting the beast. This awful disease called cancer took from me my sweet, beautiful mother who lost her 4 year battle with colon cancer March 7th 2004. I also lost the father to my children to stomach cancer when he was only 26 years old on November 15, 1990. Also lost my my Grandmother Lackey in 1972. Cancer is strong in my family and has taken a great deal from us all. It has touched just about every life on this earth in one way or another. I try not to worry for my beautiful family. They are all at risk and I hope with all I am, that the experiences they have endured with cancer has woke them up, so they will get regular physicals and take care of themselves. I was diagnosed with breast cancer May 25, 2006 at the age of 38. That was almost 3 years ago. I underwent a double mastectomy and chemo. I'm doing well, and I will continue to fight this disease until the cure is found or the good Lord takes me away. So to all of you out there, forgive yourself and others, love freely, laugh often, eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, keep your scheduled check-ups with the doctor, keep the faith, never stop fighting and remember--The glory of each morning is that it offers you a chance to begin again.

Vickey L Matthews
Talladega, AL

My MOM, My HERO

My Mom Natalie just had a radical mastectomy and lymph node removal on Thursday April 16, 2009. She had the aggressive kind of cancer, so she has already gone through 6 months of chemo before her surgery. Due to the lack of medical insurance the past couple of years, my Mom went without a mammogram for 3 years. Undetected we had no idea she had breast cancer. Once my mom was able to receive coverage from the state, they found the tumor which in turn had already spread into the lymph nodes. Throughout all this, my Mom's spirit has NEVER been broken!! She takes life day by day, and couldn't wait to "get the surgery over with" so she can take the road to recovery!!! Never once did I hear any kind of words that said she was quitting!!! I belong to an organization called Soldiers' Angels, we provide support to our troops, and when I told the other Angels what was going on in my life, they made sure my Mom was well taken care of with "angel love" She received literally hundreds of cards from around the country giving her hope and prayers and strength!!! Every day I click here on the site, in hopes that other women will not have to go without the necessary health care, mammograms, etc. Cancer Sucks, but it doesn't have to take your whole life away. Thank you for letting me share my story!!!

Kim Souza
Fall River, MA

My Mother My hero

I am writing this little note to tell all of you NEVER give up the hope. My mother has had Breast Cancer since 1975. In my eyes SHE is my Hero. She has been to hell and back and keeps fighting. I myself have seen alot of things that she has had to go thought, But she never lets it get the best of her and does with a smile everytime... As I said She IS MY HERO.... I lOVE YOU MOM. LOVE Tricia

TO ALL YOU FIGHTERS OUT DON'T EVER GIVE IN. REMEMBER YOU CONTROL IT AND DOES NOT CONTROL YOU.....

tricia
clermont, FL

My daughter-in-law "Wendi Ratliff"

I have the most positive minded daughter-in-law, Wendi Ratliff, and must share her story. She is forty-three and going through her second bout of breast cancer. The first time she went through removal of tumor and had two types of treatment continuing to work and care for her family throughout treatment.
This round she just completed her double mastectomy and is waiting to hear if she needs more treatment. During this time she was taking care of her Mother with cancer, her family and working. My heart goes out to her and anyone experiencing breast cancer. She is the most positive person I know in her daily life, as well as in dealing with her health issues and her family health issues. I am so proud of her. She is a beautiful person inside and out.

Debra Ratliff
Greenfield, IN

No family history...and then there was my mother.

My mother was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast Cancer in 1987. She underwent an immediate double mastectomy and removal of numerous lymph nodes, followed by 6 months of chemotherapy. After that came great news: SHE WAS IN REMISSION! That was a true miracle because from the onset her prognosis hadn't been very good. For the next 6 years she lived a normal, happy life. She continued to get regular screenings and scans but remained cancer free. That magic "7-year Mark" was getting closer and we were confident that she'd managed to beat cancer.
We were wrong. In 1993 she started to complain of pain in her legs. At first we all thought it was arthritis...but a bone scan and CT scan proved otherwise. It was the Breast Cancer again. It had metastasized to her bones, liver and lungs. Once again she underwent months of drastic chemo. Her hip and thigh bones were riddled with Cancer and it was feared she'd eventually end up in a wheelchair. Voluntarily, she opted for hip-replacement and the insertion of rods in her femurs to prevent the bones from breaking. It was a long, painful healing process but she never lost her ability to walk. For 5 years she led a relatively normal and pain-free life. She still needed chemo every month but she wasn't having horrible side-effects. She used to think it wasn't much different than living with Diabetes. Every 6 months or so her body would become resistant to the chemo so other drugs needed to be tried... but as long as there were other drugs available she would keep Cancer at bay. In 1998 they ran out of drugs to try and on January 14, 1999 my mother lost her 12-year battle against Breast Cancer. She was 56 years old.

Daniela Troiani
New Rochelle, NY

What Else Can Happen?

In 2006 I had a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. I am now having to have a bilateral mastectomy due to a recurrence in the same breast. If any prayers are allowed, please say them for me. Now I am even more glad that I have been clicking for a long time. Never give up - go under, over, through, in, or on, but never give up. Never surrender. This is my new mantra, given to me by an old friend: "With God all things are possible".

Mary Long
Newport News, VA

Hope and Courage Can Make a Difference

When I was 39 years old I developed cystic breasts. Cystic and dense breasts can indicate a high risk for breast cancer. (Visit breastcancerchoices.org for more information.) My breasts became very dense, making tumor detection by mammogram difficult.

In December of 2003 I had a lymph node removed under my arm. Five days later I learned I had breast cancer. After more tests I was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer. I had one tiny lesion in one breast, one infected lymph node and the cancer had migrated to my liver. I was told to put my affairs in order and was put on a hormone blocking aromatase inhibitor.

I responded incredibly well to treatment and went into complete remission. However, the cancer returned, this time only to my liver. I went through a year of chemotherapy and again, went into complete remission. Through all of this I continued to run a socially-conscious business and traveled to six countries as well as saw my two beloved grandsons born. I wanted to live as long and well as possible.

However, the cancer returned once again to my liver. Quite remarkably, there was only one tumor with no other lesions in my liver. In May of 2008 I had 40% of my liver removed along with the tumor. I now have a 20% chance of a cure and am currently cancer free. I live each day in gratitude.

I share my story to give hope to women who are diagnosed with advanced cancer. It is not an immediate death sentence; we can live for many years. It is crucial to get mammograms, but it is also important to know that cystic or dense breasts are a potential red flag and to be vigilant if you are diagnosed with either of these conditions.

Patricia Rain
Santa Cruz, CA