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Cancer Knows No Age

My name is Kylie Romb, I am 27 yrs old and I am in remission. I was diagnosed at just 24 only a year after having my son. The hormones from the pregnancy caused the cancer to form in my milk duct, giving me Ductal carcinoma In situ, which in most cases is precancer and easily removed. In my case it got worse, had spread to most of my lymph nodes and became stage 2 breast cancer. At just 24 I was a mother, wife, and now cancer patient. All I could think was I am too young for this, why did I let it go? Why didn't I follow my instincts and get that lump checked out? Why God, Why? Then I picked my head up and realized that sticking my head into the sand and crying about it wasn't going to make it go away, taking action will get rid of it. So, we were aggressive!! I did 4 rounds of chemo, a lumpectomy followed by a radical right mastectomy, 6 weeks of radiation, then a left mastectomy followed by full reconstructive surgeries. That was a lot to put my body through ,but worth it cause now I am in remission and I get to spend the rest of my life with my son! My advise to every woman I talk to is when in doubt, check it out. It is much better to find out it's nothing than to wait and have it turn into something like I did. I noticed the lump and waited 9 months to go to the doctor because of that it got worse and ended up being the size of an egg. Don't wait and don't ever let anyone tell you it can't be cancer, cancer knows no age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, etc. Cancer is a horrible disease and I pray that one day we will find a cure!!

Kylie Romb
Sharon, SC

My Breast Cancer Story

I was just recently diagnosed with Medullary Breast Cancer stage 3. I found a lump on my right breast and went to the doctor to have it checked out, only to find out that I had cancer. It came as a shock since last years mammogram showed a clean bill of health. I received the call on the 9th of April 2014. Since then I have had a mastectomy and some lymph nodes removed, along with a port that was surgically implanted. I will start chemo and radiation once I have recovered from my surgery which should be in about four weeks.

My first thoughts were "How will I take care of my family?" I have a 9 year old who is on the Autism spectrum and I have always been his go to person. I thought of my siblings, my husband and my sons. How was I going to tell them? How would they react? My mother, God bless her. She is 85, she took it like a trooper. She said. "You will get through it. I have Faith."

I refuse to let this get me down or change my way of life. My family and friends are amazed over my overall attitude and how accepting I am over all the changes I will face. They also all know that I am a tough cookie, and will not give in or give up. I just see this as a bad curve ball. In order to be able to bat, you have to know that you are going to hit it out of the park. With a positive attitude and loving support you can hit that ball out of the park and make a home run.

I just want women to know that even though we were given a bad call, we can and will get over it. God only gives us that which we can handle and I know I will be able to get through this.

Millie
Nashua, NH

25 years old against breast cancer

I was traveling the world with my dream job for the past year before my diagnosis. I am a 25 years old healthy, non smoker, drank responsibly for my young age, and walked 1hour a day with my dog. I felt a lump in my left breast and told my boyfriend to feel it. Since his aunt had breast cancer, he insisted that I checked with a doctor. ALL the doctors I saw were confident it was a fibroadenoma. There is no cancer in my family at all! I insisted to have a needle biopsy, and I could hear in my doctor's voice that the news were bad. She told me I had cancer in December 2013, I was diagnosed with IDC, triple negative...a tumor that doubled in size only in 3 months. I started 2014 by freezing my eggs, I have no children but dreamed to have 4 since I was little. Then a week after that, I started chemotherapy, every 2 weeks, a new protocol that shrank the tumor after the first treatment. I am now 3 weeks away of finishing chemo, the day before my 26th birthday and I want every person diagnosed with cancer to have hope and strength. I waited for my boyfriend 8 months while he was in Afghanistan, and I know how anxiety and depression can impact our lives when we are sad, but there is no time to be sad. You need to be positive you will beat cancer, and not be afraid of crying if you feel too and to keep a "normal" life. I realized life is really too short to be complaining about little things that don't deserve our energy, and you have to tell yourself you are beautiful even if chemotherapy is affecting your image. Surround yourself by people that tell you that you are beautiful with a wig, without or with a scarf. Don't be afraid to do your self-exam, to let others take care of you while you beat cancer's ass...Early detection do save lives, it saved mine, you know your body best ladies!

Vicky Reinoso
Quebec City, Canada

Thankful

August 11, 2013: I rolled over in bed at 2 in the morning and my left hand slid between by breasts. I felt a large walnut sized lump right in the middle and I said " and what are you doing there?" I knew it was cancer. I had been a nurse for 36 years. I was in my doctor's office the next morning. He told me he would arrange for me to see a surgeon but that he was optimistic that it was not cancerous. I knew differently and was prepared for not only the diagnose but also the chemo and radiation to follow. The diagnosis followed a needle biopsy and a further biopsy after ultrasound. I had had mammograms every year since I was 35 due to my older sister having breast cancer at age 35 but my mammogram in February of 2013 did not show any sign of this tumour. I had a lumpectomy the day before my 64th birthday in September. 12 lymph nodes were removed. Now to wait for the hormone receptor and HER status and staging. I had so many friends and family praying for me. And in my case, God was closer than ever throughout this journey. He gave me the strength. Finally, the results: ER and PR +,HER 2 -, stage 2A, all nodes clear and clear margins. I chose to have the Oncotype test done, paid for by me because our province does not pay for this test. Weeks later, the result of 7/100. No chemo necessary. Just radiation. 35 treatments including 5 boosts on the scar. I completed my radiation on Feb 3, 2014. Now I am taking Letrozole for at least 5 years. I have felt so relaxed and positive throughout this whole journey. Until now. Now, I wonder , will I remain cancer free? Most days I am still very positive and oh, so thankful. But I suppose that it is normal to wonder once you have had a cancer diagnosis. I will not let it define me.

Bev More
Brandon, Canada

Towards The Fullness of Life

With God:s grace and healing hands + the wonders of science + arrows of prayers from family and friends, I survived 11 years of Stage 4 Breast Cancer (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma-Metastatic/Progressive) and battled 5 recurrences! Whew! That was tough!

Y2014 presents another twist in my cancer journey. "God draws straight with a crooked line!" Reality seeps in..I had seizures not knowing it is the start of another journey! I was at Neuro ICU for a time to check possible metastases. I got brain metastases and have to undergo Radiation Surgery as per doctors recommendation. What a costly procedure to prolong life!

Am I running against time? Of course not! In God's time, everything will fall in its right places and I will be well soon once again!

There nth reasons to celebrate life and I would like to celebrate it with all of you.
Cheers to a celebration... To Life!

My prayer: ":To Smile in spite of the odds, find Joy amidst the pain and suffering!:

So.. here I am..."Turning mourning into dancing and sorrows into Joys!"

I have to fortify my soul so that pain will never break it!

"May the Sword of Suffering never break me!"

My journey is a "Victory of the Cross!"

All my unity and prayers...

Haidee R. Ala
Manila, Philippines

Stay Vigilante!

I come from a long history of breast cancer on my mom's side of my family, and although she died 4 years ago after complications from a bad fall, she was a 26 year BC survivor. Like her, I too, had a bilateral mastectomy. I have been cancer free for nearly 3 months now, and thank God & my husband as well as support from family and friends for their love and strength. Although I did not require chemo, nor radiation, the experience was more challenging than I expected. Over the years I had many yearly mammograms but deep down suspected the day would come when I would hear the diagnosis I hoped would pass me by. By remaining vigilante as suggested by my primary and gynecology doctors' my cancer was detected very early; it was tiny and encapsulated. Nevertheless, my oncologist suggested removal of a couple of lymph nodes to be on the safe side as well as removal of my other breast which up to this point did not show cancer. Agreeing to removal of both breasts has been a relief to me, and I am thankful for following her advice. An added plus was the discovery that the cancer had not spread.
This experience has changed me in ways I never imagined. I now am more selective in what is important and what is not. I also value and understand more readily what my mom, grandmother, and aunts went through. And I have made a firm commitment to speak openly to as many women as I can, encouraging them to take an aggressive approach with their health.
The first and most difficult Christmas after my mom's passing, which was 9 weeks after losing my dad, one of my daughter's-in-law told me she tried to focus on what she has, rather than what she doesn't. Her mom died 11 days before my dad. And so, I often reflect on her words of love and support. It is my hope, others will, too.

Rebecca Barbosa
Irwindale, CA

Earlier Testing

My story begins 10 years ago. I was 29 and just had my first daughter. A lump appeared under my arm, so doctor gave me antibotics and said I was fine. Four years later, second daughter and repeat story. Then again four years later, younger the idea. When my last baby was 9 months, I felt a lump in my right breast. It was October 2013 and pink was everywhere. I made an appointment. The nurse said she actually felt two and gave me an order for an ultrasound. Finally! At this time I was 38, and needed an order for any test.
The day of the ultrasound everything happened fast. I ended up getting the ultrasound, mammogram and core biopsy one after the other. I was too clueless to know this was it good. Four days later, I got the call. Three spots were found and all were cancer. I went into hyper mode because I KNEW now without a doubt the lymph node under my arm was also involved. Five days later, the day after my 39th birthday, I went into to surgery for a bilateral masectomy. I was in battle mode!
The doctor confirmed that it had spread into my lymph nodes. I was at MD Anderson three weeks later. Once there, I was found to have an internal lymph node close to my lung that was cancerous as well. I was official diagnosed Stage 3c invasive ductal carcinoma. I have been traveling for the last six months for chemo. I have the wig thing down:). I have my last infusion May 14th! Radiation follows for another seven weeks. It is all worth it though! I have to do what I can to be here for my three girls. Life will not be the same, but that doesn't mean it had to be worse. I get more joy in simple things now with my sweet girls and husband.

Jodi Pipes
Monroe, LA

The Shock of 2014

My cancer journey began February 27, 2014 at 1:59pm when I received a call while at work that my pathology report showed stage 0 DCIS. When I heard, stage 0, I thought to myself, “well that is strange, how cancer can have a stage 0”. Basically, it’s noninvasive, meaning it has not spread.

I have undergone test after test and got a second opinion from U of M as my first opinion was with MSU. I choose U of M as they are known to be the best in the Mid-West when it comes to breast cancer. The lymph node biopsy was negative which was GREAT news. I will be having a double mastectomy May 30th. With just removing the one, I was told I have a 10% chance of it coming back. I am having two-stage reconstruction. It’s easier than the immediate operation since my skin and chest wall tissues are tight and flat. An implanted tissue expander, which is like a balloon, is put under the skin and chest muscle. Through a tiny valve under the skin, the surgeon injects a salt-water solution at regular intervals to fill the expander over a period of about 4 to 6 months. After the skin over the breast area has stretched enough, a second surgery will remove the expander and put in the permanent implant. I have a long road ahead of me and am so very thankful for great family and friends.

My advice to all women is to always go with your gut feeling as you are the only one that knows your body!

Anonymous
Lansing, MI

Last thing I thought would happen to me

I have always done my own self breast checks. I found a lump in my right breast in early March. No family history that I know of either.
I have strong faith so I am keeping a positive attitude! I am in between Stage 1 and 2. Game plan is 4 rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, and then 6 weeks of radiation 5 days a week. I have alot of people supporting me. My husband is not taking the news well. I understand that he is worried but I need him to be strong for me also. I pray for him that he can do this. My prayers go out to all of you going through
this and fighting this disease. I know God will see me through to the end. I intend on beating this!!

Anonymous
Woodhaven, MI

This too Shall Pass

n January 2013, I had gotten my paper from my family doctor to get my mammogram scheduled. Literally the same week, I was in the shower drying off and looked across in the mirror thinking to myself, "I need to soon dye my hair again". As I am looking, I see an indent on my left breast. I felt it and discovered it was a large lump that was causing the indentation. I immediately called to schedule that mammogram that I wasn't even late for. The findings were as I suspected....cancer. Throughout the next months and year, I went through several needle biopsies, PET Scans, mastectomy, removal of 26 lymph nodes ( 20+ already cancerous), chemotherapy, radiation, Herceptin for a year and Tamoxifen for several years to come. Apparently I have dense tissue and the lump did not show up in previous mammogram. I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Metastatic Breast Cancer but it could have been worse, had I not went and had the mammogram immediately upon finding the lump. I was not a candidate for reconstruction but I have learned over the past year that there are some things you can learn to live without. During the time of my surgery was when the bombing at the Boston Marathon took place last year and I thought to myself, I am very fortunate to only have to go through my life without a breast and not lose a limb like those precious people.
None of us ask to go through these battles in life. And we often have to wonder why. I have learned in the past year, that its ok to wonder why. A year later, I am on the road to recovery. I still consider myself a fighter and hesitate to use the word survivor yet, even though I know I can. I tell others so often the words that I need to remind myself of daily, "This too Shall Pass"! It does get better and there is life on the other side of your cancer diagnosis! Hang in There and Be Strong! Fight Like A Girl!

Arlene Miller
Glen Rock, PA