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Rachel’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Breast Cancer)

by 26 Comments
Feb
20
2012
Rachel's Fight Like a Girl Story (Breast Cancer) LR

So, one night back in April last year, I was so tired that I fell asleep with my clothes on. I woke up around 4am having some pain in my left breast because the underwire from my bra was poking into it. I started feeling the red spot on my breast and began to panic cause I felt a lump. Two days later, my journey to combat cancer started. I went from feeling a lump, to having a mammogram, to having a biopsy - in a matter of about a week. I fell on my kitchen floor crying when I was told over the phone that I had breast cancer. Next up was a lumpectomy and 33 tiring treatments of radiation. My world got turned upside down. But here I am… cancer free!! I fought like a girl! I fought for me and fought for the memory of my mom who passed away twenty years ago from cancer. Cancer survivor and proud of it!! Rachel Submitted 9-14-11 The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breast Cancer Stories Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Making it mean something

by 7 Comments
Jan
22
2012
I wear green for the Organ Donor that saved my Mommy's life.

Hello my fellow fighters! Lately I have been thinking a lot about the journey my sickness has taken me and my family on, and how I can make something good out of it... Lemonade out of lemons (with a whole lot of added sugar, hehe), as one would say. For me, sharing my story and my knowledge on liver disease and transplants first hand, validates it some. If I can help to comfort at least one person, and show them that if a 5'1", 115 pound, mousy sounding girl can do it then they can too, then it will be worth it to me (I was going to go through it whether I liked it or not anyway). But besides sharing my story, I feel it is just as important for me to spread awareness  on the need for organ donation. I, for one, wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for this life saving procedure and the kindness of others. In November 2009, my husband's cousin Nancy, decided to give me part of her liver (54% to be exact). In July of 2010 we both went into surgery, and I came out feeling better then I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Liver Disease Tagged With: , , ,

I’m Dangerous

by 12 Comments
Jan
05
2012
tree-on-rock

Those of us fighting Ankylosing Spondylitis or other illnesses know that every day is a test of our courage and strength. We question if today will be the day when we find a cure, our energy will be restored, or even if we will find a bit of relief for a few moments. Being that it is the start of the new year, I couldn't help and look back for a moment to realize what an adventure my loved ones and I endured in 2011. Between the daily struggle of my chronic illness, my mother's continued health battles, my daughter's cancer fight, and unfortunate loss of her eye, I quickly realized as hard as it was at the time, in the end, we survived. I saw a quote by Josephine Hart that says, "Damaged people are dangerous. They know they can survive". I found so much truth in her words. I clenched my fists each time my doctor found that my medicine wasn't working to help my AS. I would fall into that ever popular deep despair moment. I switched meds 3 times in a year. Those of us with AS know … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ankylosing Spondylitis Tagged With: , , ,

Does it Ever Really Go Away?

by 28 Comments
Jan
03
2012
Move on

In February 2010, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. In September 2010, I was declared in remission. In December 2010, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and was told I would have to have the other half of my thyroid removed. In February 2011, I had it removed, and was told that it was also malignant. Then in August, finally some good news. I was pregnant. And we have since found out we are having another baby boy and he is due on Easter Sunday. I am classed as a "high risk" pregnancy. To be totally honest, I thought that if anything was going to make for a complicated pregnancy, it would be because of my 6 months of chemo. I was wrong. What makes for a complicated pregnancy, is my thyroid, or lack of. I never thought that not having a thyroid would class me as a high risk pregnancy. Apparently, it does. I was told the other day that I talk about my cancer a lot. I think that when you have had cancer, it never goes away, even when you are in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Life After Cancer Tagged With: , , , ,

Liz’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Breast Cancer)

by 7 Comments
Dec
21
2011
Liz's Story (Breast Cancer) LR

I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer on May 28, 2010 at the age of 48 after finding my lump as I was boxing at WII’s Gold's gym. Who would have thought a game would have saved my life.  As I was boxing I felt something "pop" and, to make a long story short, the doctors think that when I did an uppercut a cyst popped & the tumor was under the cyst. I had a lumpectomy, Chemo, & 33 rads and, as of right now, am Cancer free. If it wasn't for my family, especially my NEW husband (just got married last week) not sure how I would have gotten through my year of hell! But I did and am now enjoying life to the fullest! Liz New Jersey Submitted 9-3-11 The informational content of this article 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. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breast Cancer Stories Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Anita’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Breast Cancer)

by 8 Comments
Nov
18
2011
Anita's Story (Breast Cancer)

Two years ago this month (Aug 09), I found a lump while taking a shower. I was one of those woman who thought this couldn't happen to me, low and behold it did. I was so scared wondering what was going to happen to me. Friends from work went to my doctor appts to take notes as I couldn't remember what day it was, more less what was about to take place in my new world. Life as I knew it was about to change and believe it or not change for the better. I had surgery for a double mastectomy the end of September and back to work three weeks later. A month later I started 8 treatments of Chemo. The following March I had reconstructive surgery and kept on living….that's what you do, you keep on living. My daughter and son were very supportive but my biggest supporters were my 5 grandchildren ages 1-4. They are what got me up in the morning, smiled through each chemo treatment and who made the whole experience go by so quickly because they believed in their YaYa and even wore bandanas … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breast Cancer Stories Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Jaime’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Hodgkin’s Lymphoma)

by 4 Comments
Aug
02
2011
Jaime's Story (Hodgkin's Lymphoma)

On October 4, 2010 I was given my most difficult challenge yet. I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma (Stage 1). I should also mention that this also happened to be the fall of my senior year of college! My schooling has always been a number one priority, so being dealt an additional challenge was something I was willing to fight in order to be healthy and finish college on time. Chemo ended up being a lot harder on me than I thought it would be. I ended up having to stay home the week after chemo since I went to school two hours away. Thankfully my wonderful professors at Tiffin University were very helpful and gave me some leeway on assignment dates but I still had to complete the work. I felt very guilty when I felt like all I could do was sleep instead of doing homework, but I realized that it was the best thing for me. I had to push myself to get a lot more done on the days that I was feeling good to make up for the down days. My parents sacrificed a lot for me during this time, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Lymphoma Stories Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Jasimine’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Hodgkin’s Lymphoma)

by 4 Comments
Jun
20
2011
Jasimine's Story (Hodgkin's Lymphoma) LR

Hi my name is Jasimine and I am 16. I am a Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor. I found out I had cancer in Feb of 08. I went through 9 rounds of chemo in 9 months on 3 different regiments. After the chemo they told me and my mom that the chemo had not worked, so they said I needed a stem cell transplant. So I went to Oklahoma City and I was there for almost a month before they did the stem cell harvest. After a week they admitted me to the hospital and I did 3 full days of chemo. Then they did the transplant. I was in the hospital a total of 3 weeks and 1 day. I was supposed to be there for 4 to 6 months. so we went back to the doctor and they told me I needed to do radiation. I did radiation for 3 weeks every day after school. So now I am doing better. And living almost normal. Jasimine Oklahoma Submitted 4-5-11 The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Lymphoma Stories Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Justine’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Cervical Cancer, Breast Cancer)

by 11 Comments
Jun
14
2011
Justine's Story (Cervical Cancer)

My story is not so much different to the millions of other stories out there. I used to think I just 'got lucky' in my battle. Until a wonderful friend pointed out the words of a rather larger than life character, Margaret Thatcher. "I wasn’t lucky. I deserved it." - and those words, I've taken on board, so to speak. I didn't sit idly back and let cancer take it's course. I did fight. Every day. Sometimes with faith and sometimes with tears but I still fought. So, my story…. I hope in some small way it reaches the heart of even just one person fighting the battle and shows them that 'cancer does NOT always win'. No matter what the odds are there is always, always hope. I was initially diagnosed at the grand old age of 33, with stage 1A cervical cancer in January of 2008 after having various problems with my 'woman's plumbing'. Not too much of a drama with that diagnosis - it was scarey for sure, having lost friends and family members and, at the time, seeing my mum's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breast Cancer Stories, Cervical Cancer Stories Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Invisible Scars

by 2 Comments
May
10
2011

I have many visible scars from various diagnostic procedures over the last 18 months. I have a scar on my ribcage from my chest drain, a scar just under my arm pit, and a scar just underneath my right breast, from my Hodgkin’s biopsy. I also have scars on my arms from cannulas, and from a bite from my son, that wouldn’t have usually scarred, but because I was going through chemo, pigmentation was altered. Then I have a scar on my throat, from the thyroid surgeries. Those are permanent reminders of what I have been through. They won’t go away. People can see them (OK, maybe not the rib and breast one so much) and will wonder what they are. The ones that are bold enough might ask. The ones that aren’t might talk about me to others later, asking them if they know what it is. Those scars don’t bother me. It’s funny, because maybe they should. But I don’t find myself hiding my thyroid scar, by making sure I wear a polo neck, or a scarf or a necklace, because I don’t … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Lymphoma (Hodgkin's), Thyroid Cancer Tagged With: , , , , ,