I'm a 36 year old, single mom that had Breast Cancer. I was diagnosed with breast cancer on April 1, 2009 that had to be the worse day of my life. It was very hard to go home and explain to my 14 year old daughter that I have Breast Cancer.On April 22, 2009 I went in for surgery had a double mastectomy and the tissue expander put in. My chemo was to start in May. On May 22, 2009 I was admitted in to the hospital with a 106 temperature. I had a staff infection behind the left tissue expander they had to remove the expander. I was in the hospital for six days. I had to have IV antibiotics at home. My chemo treatment couldn't start till I got rid of the infection. I started my chemo and after the second treatment my hair started to fall out. My daughter told me she would shave my head for me once she started she told me she couldn't do it. On July 27, 2009 I got real sick again, It was a staff infection behind the right tissue expander they had to remove it. I stayed in the hospital for 5 days. I was on IV antibiotics at home. They had to stop my chemo treatments for a few weeks to help my body fight off this infection. My last chemo treatment was October 29, 2009. I had no insurance until July so the first two surgeries were not covered I have 2 to 3 more surgeries for my reconstruction. I found out on April 1, 2010 that the insurance will only pay to have the right side done the one that the cancer was in. The past year has been very emotionally and financially hard on Me.

Joy Courtney
Ardmore, AL