I was 39 when diagnosed with IDC breast cancer on 11/7/03. It spread so fast, had to have mastectomy a month later, after DOZENS of tests. Then six months of chemo (A/C & Taxotere in a Trial), with some wretched side effects. Two months later started 25 rounds of rads, was burned within a week, had to stop treatment at 20 rounds to heal, then continued.
I decided to remove other breast and have TISSUE EXPANSION breast reconstruction a year later. After numerous STAFF infections, six surgeries, contracting HA-MRSA, told MD "take it ALL out/off and leave me ALONE!"
Sadly, many of my female friends "disappeared," my hubby didn't know WHAT to do, my mother "denied" I had anyting wrong, my very supportive father died during my treatment, so the ONLY place I could go for support was BREASTCANCER.ORG.
It was there I was told about THIS site, and have been CLICKING every day since, hoping that this won't happen to other women & men.
BC.ORG has INCREDIBLE resources, and the chat room and folks there saved me from my deep, deep depression. There we laugh, cry, joke, make fun of ourselves, have get-togethers, plan BC relays, runs and walks. There is someone there almost 24/7, and if not, try back in an hour, someone is usually on, from somewhere in the world.
BC was (and still IS) the worst thing that's happened in my life. To this day I am BLESSED with an incredible husband who still loves me, regardless of my empty chest.
My husband and I discovered that once we started talking about BC, that EVERYONE has been touched by this horror. With DAILY CLICKS, I hope we can help a few from going through the torment my family and I have gone through.
Blessed Be... Peace.
GLOUCESTER, MA