On March 15, 2010, at age 38, I was diagnosed with stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma. I had found a lump under my left armpit that turned out to be one of the five positive lymph nodes. The 9cm tumor was in my left breast. I went through six rounds of chemo, a bilateral mastectomy, and 33 radiation treatments. I began taking Tamoxifen to block the estrogen receptors that were feeding my cancer.
The weekend of May 15th, 2015, I attended a little retreat in Chicago with some fellow breast cancer survivors. While I was there, I felt a small lump under my left armpit. It was removed the following week and found to be malignant. The final pathology showed that my cancer had returned. I am about to go through the third of six chemo treatments this Friday. I will always fight like a girl, however many times it takes. This picture is me (on the left) and my best friend in the world, Patti. She has stuck by me through it all. I love her with all my heart.
Dana
Iowa
Submitted 08/18/2015
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.
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.
Thats awesome Dana! Keep telling your story. Waiting for the happy ending. Hugs
Dana, you have been the shining light in this dark world of breast cancer
May your shield be strong and your double edge sword be sharp, as
you fight for us all?? ? Stay strong !!!
Always remember You are BRAVER than you believe, STRONGER than you seem, SMARTER than you think and twice as BEAUTIFUL as you ever imagined.????
-Dr. Seuss