On August 28, 2009 I had my yearly mammogram and check up. I had felt no lump, and neither did my doctor. I noticed the mammogram process was a little longer, several extra views were taken. 5 days later I received a letter from them asking me to call for an appointment for further studies. I was able to get in right away, Sept. 4, and I was given an ultrasound, and viewed the lump myself! It was very small, but even so the radiologist offered to take a needle biopsy right then, which I did opt to do, (not fun but not that bad, they numb you up). I chose not to tell anyone except my husband until I received the report, which came Tues. Sept. 8 at 4:30, and it wasn't good news, invasive ductile carcinoma. The thing is, my sweet daughter had the same thing 5 years ago, only her lump was huge, mine is tiny. She underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy at age 38! She had a cough last Fall, after testing discovered it had spread to her lungs, and she underwent chemotherapy again, this time with with Herceptin, and is doing great! Back to me, I am so lucky that my tumor is small, I was offered a lumpectomy which I had Sept. 14, and will start radiation in a couple of weeks. There is no sign of anything in my nodes! I still do not know about chemotherapy,( I have not seen the oncologists yet) Having her for a role model has given me the strength and confidence that I am going to be just fine, and I encourage all of you to have your yearly mammograms and do self exams! Cancer is so curable with early detection! Life is so good!

Anonymous
Birmingham, AL