I was hospitalized for a blood clot. While I was there I did my breast self exam like I always do after my period.. No lump ,but, upon squeezing my nipple I noticed an orange discharge. I mentioned it to the doctor doing the rounds and he said (without examining me) Oh, it's just a papilloma ,which is just a growth in the milk duct...nothing serious we'll remove it in May. This was the end of December! After not being satisfied(my gut told me not to listen) I finally found a surgeon who listened to me and decided to order a mammogram, That showed nothing,so an MRI was next. It showed a slight shadowing. Next was the needle biopsy. I had that on a Monday and my doctor called me on Friday and said you have breast cancer! Honestly, I wasn't surprised. After a bilateral mastectomy (I opted to have 2nd breast removed as a precaution) I was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ that was so deep in my milk duct they couldn't save the breast. I had 5 weeks of radiation(the cancer broke the surgical margin) and also,found out I had not just the one cancer but TWO separate strains of it. One very aggressive and estrogen negative and the other not so aggressive and estrogen positive. The whole point of my experience is to let every woman know that the mammogram did not see my particular cancer,BUT, is a helpful tool in detecting. And the most important thing I have to say is LISTEN TO YOUR BODY it will tell you everything!!!!! GOD BLESS everyone who is ever touched by breast cancer. To celebrate my life I bought the t-shirt that says "NO they aren't real! The real ones tried to kill me!!!!!"

Leslie Biddle
Columbus, OH