I have always hated to have mammograms, now of course they are my best friends. I had my mammogram on Valentines day 2014. I did it so my doctor would stop pestering me. Little did I know I would get another call back, a biopsy, and the news that it was positive. Impossible! Not me, i'm 67 and in very good health. I then realized that for the past year I had not felt that wonderful, I felt that something was wrong but I had no idea what it was. I chose to have a lumpectomy and the results showed that I had ductal carcinoma, HER2 and was estrogen positive. Wow, how on earth can I handle this? Tears, denial, and finally acceptance. Everything happened so very fast. Two weeks after surgery I started chemo. When my hair started to fall out I went into the bathroom, took my husband's electric razor, and shaved down the center of my head. I decided that I was not a victim but that I had to assert some control over the situation. My wonderful husband finished the job for me and I took pictures along the way. I have to have chemo six times, every three weeks; two down, four to go. When I realized that I would continue on with Herceptin every three weeks for a year, I decided that this would just be "a year of inconvenience." I still bowl, walk the dogs and go to water aerobics whenever I can. Fatigue is the enemy so the sofa has become my ally. I have wonderful supportive friends and family and my husband is a saint in all this. I discovered how truly blessed I am. The support at Kaiser is phenomenal and so many people are offering support, guidance and help. It truly will be my year of inconvenience, but I will make it through just fine.

Sandy Sellnow
Citrus Heights, CA