My name is Whitney Payne. March 11,2011 I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer . That the doctor said spread to my lymph nodes. It was only the left breast. Before when I was 19 had cancer in my left hand so through many tests they said it was not connected with the first one . But both on the left I had many questions why cancer once and why again after 20 some years. I was lucky to get wonderful treatment at Mass General Hospital . I had a extensive treatment with chemo lasting over a year and 3 months of radiation each and every day and I had mastectomy and reconstruction surgery as well. In October of 2011 while going through treatment was getting really bad headache that never seem to go away so made doctor do tests and it showed through a MRI I had a brain tumor . For now they would just watch it.every 6 months with a MRI to see if any changes well in January of 2014 through a regular MRI found out the tumor grew so in March 18,2014 had yet another surgery to remove the brain tumor . The outcome of that was it was a benign tumor thank god and recovered well . I finished my chemo in May of 2012 and this was a happy day. I did all this fighting for my life as a single parent and never gave up the fight even when some days were easier than others. I have certainly been through so much but having cancer a second time has really given me a new perceptive on life . I encourage everyone to follow up with a simple mammogram it could save your life.

Whitney Payne
Marblehead, MA