On September 23, 2013, I had a regular mammogram, and on Sept. 25, I was told that I had breast cancer in my left breast. I had a lumpectomy on October 25, but part of the margins were not clear, so I had surgery again on Nov. 6. I would have recovered well, but I contracted MRSA and was hospitalized for 3 days in mid-November. From Dec. 23 untl Feb. 5, 2014, I had radiation, and it was entirely manageable. The worst part for me was going for the treatment each day. My cancer was the most common......estrogen & progesterone positive, non-genetic, stage IIB.....and my oncotype score was 17. I started Femara one month ago and have had no side effects at all to date. Getting the cancer diagnosis is scary. Naturally, the first thing that popped into my mind was the idea of dying and of chemo. I was very lucky that I did not need chemo! God bless those who do. Prayer and my faith have gotten me through the roughest times. Today I feel good. I am thankful to the doctors, nurses, and medical staff who were so caring and so proficient.
MarshaLadson, SC
