On April 1st 2008, I was at the beach with some friends. I went to adjust my bikini top, and on the top of my right breast was a lump. It was 28 days until my 30th birthday. I knew right away it was cancer. I had lost both of my grandmothers and my mom, and my aunt is a breast cancer survivor.
I went and had my mammogram and then the ultrasound and the biopsy. The results came back, and it was cancer. I opted for a double mastectomy with reconstruction surgery.
I had invasive ductal carcinoma stage 2b. They removed lymph nodes, and there was no sign of anything in them. I took Adriamycin, Cytoxin, and Taxol, followed by 52 weeks of Herceptin for a targeted hormone therapy. I lost my hair immediately, and I was nauseous.
Almost 10 years later, I’m still cancer free.
Jackie
Florida
Submitted 11/02/2017
This story is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.
Thank you for sharing your story, Jackie. Here’s to the next 10 years!