Five years ago my sister had a mammogram that was suspect for about 48 hours. She was supposed to meet me at the hospital that morning to be there for my mothers surgery. She was too terrified to come. That evening, for the first time in my life, I did a self breast exam in the shower. There "it" was. Although I had had 5 benign cysts when I was 19 and was told they would recur, and although this lump hurt, and although there is no breast cancer history in my family, I knew that I knew. The mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy 3 days later confirmed it. My tumor was stage 2, on the larger size but had not spread to the lymph nodes. The following weeks were spent in a myriad of tests, chest CTs, bone scans, heart echo, and blood work to help determine the course of action. My cancer was very aggressive and required aggressive chemotherapy. I had 6 rounds of TAC, a lumpectomy and 35 rounds of radiation. My oncologist, radiologist, and surgeon all said the self exam saved my life. Had it not been found for several more months, the prognosis would have been completely different. The one thing no women EVER wants to hear is "Well, Mrs. Smith, if only we had known sooner". Although being diagnosed with cancer is insanely scary, you MUST find it early. Mammograms and ultrasounds are great but what saved my life was feeling it first. Go there. Be brave. Know what those girls feel like so you know when something is not right. It will save your life. I am now 4 years past my final treatment. When I met with my oncologist after all treatment was finished and was declared cancer-free, I asked her "now what?" Strangely it was scary to walk away from treatment. She said simply, "go live your great life". Cancer can be a gift. There is not a single day, good or bad, that I don't revel in the beauty of having another day of life.

Anonymous
Charlotte, NC