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Breast Cancer Helped Me Find My Voice!

In 2006, I received the news that all women dread ... I had breast cancer. While applying fake tan one night, I found a lump the size of a grape in my right breast. From then on, I went through all the gruelling treatment, a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It was a really difficult time for me and my family. I had always loved to sing but one day I started humming a melody and some words came ... it was my first ever song! After that, some more songs followed and having recovered from cancer, I continued to sing these songs until one day while doing karaoke on holiday, I performed one of my songs acapella. The lady running the karaoke told me that I should do something with my songs. This gave me the confidence to get some singing lessons and do something about getting my songs recorded. It has been a long long road as I had no experience of the music industry but my first EP "Rainbows In My Mind" is now complete. Those songs which helped me stay strong and positive during easily one of the worst times in my life, I hope will give strength and joy to others going through difficult times. I hope to go on and record many more of my own songs! And better still, fingers crossed, I hope to finish taking all my cancer medication later this year - what a Christmas present that will be!

Louise Barron
Inverness, United Kingdom

Early Detection is Key

I started having my mammograms at age 35. I work in the field so I decided it was a good idea to start before the age of 40. I went in on October 31, 2012 for my routine mammogram. The next day I was called into my doctors office. He had found something on my mammogram that was not there the year before. He felt it was nothing but wanted me to have a biopsy to be sure On November 9,2012 I had a breast biopsy. On November 12, 2012 I received the news at work that I had DCIS stage 0 hormone positive non invasive breast cancer. The first thought that went thru my head is " How long do I have to live & who is going to take care if my daughter ?" On November 29, 2012 I had a lumpectomy with 33 radiation treatments and I have to take Tamoxifen for 5 years. I.have been cancer free for 1 year and 6 months. All of my doctors told me that me starting my mammograms at age 35 probably help save my life. My message to women out there " Please get your mammograms cause early detection saves lives !"

Nancy
Bakersfield, CA

Florida Hurricanes!

In 2004 Florida had some "Horrific Hurricanes" ......living in Florida and working in the Insurance Industry, this was no secret to me.....However, I avoided my own "hurricane".....With all the commotion going on....along with an impending unsolicited divorce....I "ignored" what my body was trying to tell me.....until a co-worker pointed out that every time she passed me in the hallway, I was "making a face and rubbing my left breast"......she forced me to call my doctor, who then.....forced me to go have a mammogram....I had only missed one annual visit.....it was the "one" I should NOT have missed.....and I could tell by the look on my doctors face when he examined me....and then....the look on the young ladies face who did the sonogram....My worst fears confirmed.....I was a late stage 2 of a stage 3 Breast Cancer. Fortunately, I was put in touch with the most amazing doctors in Central Florida.....Long story short....a lot of chemo, some surgery, and a LOT of radiation.....amazing doctors....positive attitude....powerful friends, family and prayer.....I am telling you my story....in a few weeks....I will go see my oncologist and hopefully....I will get a "9 YEARS CLEAN" report.....stay strong....stay positive....and NEVER lose faith....My name is Mary R. Butcher....and for now....I beat the beast.....

Mary Redman Butcher
Cocoa, FL

Make Yourself a Priority

My first cancer diagnosis was January 2009; I required a sonogram to verify what was causing abdominal pain. My OB-GYN called and said you are overdue for a mammogram. I remember the morning of the tests telling my boyfriend I was more worried about the mammogram than the sonogram. The sonogram identified fibroid tumors; then I headed to the mammogram. My OB-GYN scheduled a hysterectomy for 1 March. Later that week I l got a call to have another mammogram. They told me to wait for the radiologist to review the images. So I sat in the room in one of those lovely gowns and waited. The doctor came in and sat down in a chair and grabbed a box of tissues and I knew. He said there was a 95% chance that I had breast cancer. The day that I was scheduled to have a hysterectomy I had a lumpectomy instead; three weeks later I had a hysterectomy and then 7 weeks of treatment. My second diagnosis was on my birthday in February 2013. Same breast and since I had radiation there was no other option but a mastectomy in March followed by reconstruction of both breasts in July. I was devastated with the first diagnosis, I am a single Mom and all I could think about was my son. I quickly realized how precious life is; it put things into perspective. I viewed the second diagnosis as a blessing, early detection saved my life again. I often remember sitting in the doctor's office getting the results of the stereo-tactic biopsy and I told the doctor to take the entire breast and he said there was no need since it was detected early; yet the cancer returned despite 35 treatments. Trust your instincts, know your family history, make yourself and your health a priority, and never give up hope because Life is incredibly good. I recently celebrated one-year of being cancer free. The scariest part was the unknown; reach out to others they are there to help and support you. EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES!! I am proof.

Rachel Lewis
Havre de Grace, MD

Survival

I always heard cancer doesn't hurt. I had pain in my right breast one day and that night while in bed I started to do a self exam, which I do every month, and felt a huge lump. Still wasn't worried, I mean cancer doesn't hurt right?? We did antibiotics thinking it was a clogged cyst or blocked duct. Did an ultrasound biopsy and still wasn't worried until over a week later I got "the phone call": we need to see you and your husband in our office at 3:00. Working in the medical field I knew that wasn't a good sign. It was only 10:00 in the morning when I got the call. That was the longest 5 hours of my life.
Needles to say it was cancer Stage 2 and my lump was almost 3 cm big!! We did a lumpectomy, eight rounds of chemo and 33 radiation treatments. Then genetic testing was done and I carry the BRCA 2 gene. So from there I had a mastectomy. In the mean time I had a complete hysterectomy because my tumor (Big Bertha as I called her) was estrogen positive. Of course during the expanding process for the implants I got really sick after a second stage incision procedure. I was sicker than I've ever been. I could hardly get out of bed, ran a fever, couldn't eat. So back to the OR. They pulled the implant and kept me on antibiotics which by this time was REALLY making me sick. I was in the hospital by then and on the second day they found out the infection was a yeast infection!! Who gets that during breast reconstruction?!
Eventually I had both implants removed and ended up with a radical mastectomy, which means it's to the bone. As much as this journey was difficult I wouldn't trade it. It's made me who I am today. I AM a fighter

Shirley Spangler
Bellevue, NE

My journey

World Masters October, 2009 Sydney I competed in the 50-54 age group events in both swimming & athletics where I obtained top ten finishes in every event, my best result being 4th in the Javelin throw.
October2009World Masters Sydney competed in swimming & athletics.
November2009 I had serious accident at work injuring both arms requiring multiple surgeries..doctors said I wouldn’t be able to swim again. Gained 20kg in weight due to not being able to exercise.
January2012 After working hard at my rehabilitation given the all clear to commence swimming again.
June2012 I had lost the 20kg thru diet & hard work & started competing again.
July2012 I had routine Breastscreen mammogram which showed a malignant tumor. Immediate lumpectomy showed cancer was very deadly, triple negative, grade 3, only 20% cure rate. 5 months of very strong (FEC) chemotherapy followed.February 2013 I started radiation.
All the while having my treatment I maintained a high level of fitness running, swimming & gym despite being very sick hoping to still be able to compete at World Masters in Italy,August, 2013.
It ends like this:
March2013 Finished radiation treatment & had some serious burns to my chest area which required multiple dressings daily.
March2013 Back in full training to compete at World Masters in Athletics – Shot Put, Javelin, Discus & 2km steeplechase & Swimming – 200 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 backstroke &50 backstroke despite having some breathing difficulties.
May2013Admitted to hospital with heart complications (left chamber of heart only pumping at only 40%).
August2013 Competed at Torino, Italy winning a silver medal in the 2km steeplechase, 4th in the javelin & top ten in my other 5 events.
October2013 Competed at Australian Masters Games, Geelong, VIC winning Gold in the 2km Steeplechase & discus throw, silver in the 100 backstroke & bronze in the javelin throw & 200 backstroke.
My next goal apart from keeping well & fit is to compete at the Pan Pacific Masters on the Gold Coast in November2014.

Pat Lewis
Harrington Park, NSW, Australia

What an anniversary present I got!

I found out I had cancer on my 30th wedding anniversary!! WooHoo! for me, within 3 weeks I had Pet Scan, MRI, appointment with Medical Oncologist and Reconstruction Surgeon, went on a cruise I had booked prior to finding out I had BC. 2 days after getting home from the cruise I had a bilateral mastectomy with DIEP Flap reconstruction. The tumor size when first detected by ultrasound (mammogram didn't catch it) was 0.5mm, after MRI and PetScan 1.7cm after mastectomy it was 2.1cm, it was hidden very well! I also tested positive for trace evidence in 1 sentinel node and score an 18 on the Onco Score. So six weeks after the first set of surgeries I had 4 rounds of chemo (Cytoxan and Taxotere), six weeks after last chemo treatment I had my Stage 2 surgery for reconstruction. Started on Tamoxifen March 2012. Needless to say I'm exhausted. I worked the entire time and have to say my boss was great, he did allow me to work from home on the days I just couldn't make it in to the office. That was truly a blessing.

I now go every 4 months for blood work and to see oncologist, who by the way has shared with me that I will be on tamoxifen for 10 years!!, I see the breast specialist every 6 months. I'm not where I was before the diagnoses, but everyday I'm getting better, will I ever be the same who knows. The main thing is I'm still here and right now cancer free.

mstrouble
Abita Springs, LA

Second round/ Final round

2008 my annual Mammography & Sonogram showed a lump.The MRI showed actually 3 lumps. On Dec. 23rd I secretly had the biopsy performed. One week later I was diagnosed with Stage 2B Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma at the age of 47. The MRI showed 3 tumors in my right breast, and the Pet CT Scan showed that I also had 3 tumors in my Pancreas. A mother of 3 and a grandmother of 1, with 2 more on the way, I knew that I had to fight for my life!!!. The chemo was brutal and with enduring a Right Radical Mastectomy, Lymph Disection, a Pancreatecomy, Splenotomy, & reconstruction surgeries, 2009 is a year that I will never forget!!!. "whatever could go wrong, did", but with love and never ending prayers of my family, friends and neighbors, I won that battle. I was excited about reaching that 5 year mark, but Aug. of 2013 pain & swelling in my abdomen. Sonogram showed that I had multiple lesions in my liver. A biopsy followed, and my Oncologist gave me the news that I now had Stage 4 Metastatic Liver Cancer, with a life expectancy of 9 - 12 months. This month brings me into that 9th month. On May 10th I celebrated my 53rd birthday, and I live with great expectation of celebrating many more!!!. The prayers of the righteous is giving me strength, and my heavenly father is healing me. The doctors are amazed!!! The lesions are turning into scar tissue, the largest lesion has gone from 4cm down to 2.8cm, I've had 22 chemo's thus far. The Oncologist doesn't know how many more will be needed, but my faith in God is telling me, Not to many more. So many have told me "You don't look sick", and I say to them "I'm Not"!! . No matter what your diagnosis, just know that It's not over, until God say's it over!!! I continue to live, dance & sing like no one is watching!!! The attached photo was taken on my 53rd birthday..........do I look sick to you?

Mary Turner
Uniondale, NY

Early detection can be the cure!!

I was 62 years old and had been having my mammograms regularly every year. I had never had ANY issue with my mammograms. When I went in to get this test (2004) the lady at front desk said 'Oh, by the way, we have a new digital machine." I wasn't sure how that would work, but OK. A few days later I received a letter wanting me to come back in for more test. I thought it is just the new machine!

Another mammogram, a biospy, CANCER. A MRI, CT body scan, surgey and I AM CANCER FREE STILL TODAY. 10 YEARS in September.

Caught early, bilateral mastecomy, no chemo, no radiation.

Ladies - get your mammogram EVERY YEAR AND ON TIME. It saves lives.

Marie Clowers
Knoxville, TN

Marie Clowers
Knoxville, TN

Beating cancer was my job

I'd just turned 41 in April 2013 when I found a lump in my right breast on the Thursday night of Easter weekend. I had to wait until Monday morning to call my gynecologist's office to get an appointment. She saw me that day and I was sent for a diagnostic mammogram which showed no abnormalities. That was followed by an ultrasound and a needle core biopsy. I had been told that there was a "very minute area" that was probably removed completely by the biopsy.
April 17, 2013, I got the call. "I hate to do this over the phone ... " my doctor started. I had Invasive Lobular Carcinoma, just 10-15% of cases are this type of cancer. Because of the way it grows, it's difficult to detect.
I viewed my diagnosis as a job and it was my job to get better. While it wasn't going to be easy, my focus needed to be on the task at hand: being cancer free, whatever that took.
I had a bilateral mastectomy that revealed a 3.2 cm tumor. I was stage 3a because it had spread to my lymph nodes. I had 8 rounds of dose dense chemotherapy and 33 rounds of radiation, finishing treatment the first week of March 2014.
It was important to me to have as much normalcy in my life as possible through treatment so I continued to work, pretty much full time except for a day here or there that I needed to rest. I socialized when I could, went camping and kayaking and had fun with friends.
Having cancer has made me a better person. I embrace life more fully now and with a greater level of acceptance.
I laugh more, love more and live more.

Kelley
Greenville, NC