My name is Rowena Ireland, I am 39 years old, single mother from the Big Island of Hawaii. On October 28, 2013 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Understand my shock as I have no family history and very active as I am a Zumba Instructor. I had 2 types of cancer, one in each breast. DCIS: Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (non-invasive cancer) on my left and a 7 mm. malignant tumor - Stage 1 Invasive cancer, on my right. Initially my mammogram found the cancer in my left side, but nothing on the right. Only when I was undecisive about the type of surgery I wanted is when I my Dr. referred me to do an MRI to see how big the actual cancer was, so I could make a better decison of what I wanted to do. Fortunately I didn't make a decison then because the MRI picked up the cancer on my right breast. God was fogging my decision for a reason. With that, I made the decision to have a double masectomy done.
My surgery was on 4.22.2014, and last thing I remember was getting my cocktail, then looking at my niece Desiree and seeing her worried smile. All I could do was give her a smile back saying I will be fine as they rolled me away. Next thing I woke up in my hospital room, feeling like I had the best sleep ever, I looked down and saw that I had new breasts. I was so stoked that my sentinel nodes came back negative and was a good candidate for direct implants. I skipped a whole stage and didn't have to go through the pains of the tissue expanders and one more surgery. I looked up and Thanked God for everything he has given me. No pain, no pain narcotics to take, just IBU's to relieve the pressure.
Weeks of recovery has past and I am feeling great. Just looking forward to being independent and back to my excercise regimen. Now acting as a Breast Cancer Advocate in Hawaii will be my Lifetime Job!
Hilo, HI
