One year ago this month after my second mammography and ultra sound in a two week span, the radiologist recommended I get a biopsy.
August 2013 I went to the breast surgeon, she recommended 2 biopsies, one on the left side of my left breast and one on the right side of the left breast. The ultra sound showed some shadowing on the right side of the left breast, I also had some dimpling in that same area too.
Waiting two weeks for results was agony, I think my husband aged 10 years waiting. September 2013, I received the diagnosis, you have breast cancer. You could have knocked me over with a feather, I had no history to draw from as my mom had passed away when i was just 5, my oldest daughter was with me and the look on her face was as if someone kicked her in the gut. Fast forward to November 2013, I had decided that with no history or knowledge of breast cancer in my family, a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction was my best chance to come out the other side. I had to think of my family first, I grew up without my mom and I wasn't going to let that happen to my kids, even if they were grown adults. Turns out that there was more cancer than originally thought in my left breast, so I had made the right decision. It wasn't an easy recovery, I was angry and cranky but I made it through with the help of my family. I felt like I got through this ordeal with courage and grace, even if I was a little cranky. My second surgery for the reconstruction was in April 2014 and the recovery was much easier, thank goodness. I have one more surgery to complete the reconstruction at the end of this year, I feel like one of the lucky ones, as I don't have to have chemo or radiation, I will only have to take tamoxifen for 5 years. This former NY girl is going to kick cancers butt!!
Canton, GA
