In 1994 I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Breast Cancer.
I had a lumpectomy, chemo, & radiation. I was on Tamoxifen for 5 years. All was great!
In 2014, I noticed a few changes to the left breast. Had the mamos, nothing showed up. My primary doctor ordered an ultrasound–still clear. When I went to my GYN, for my annual checkup, she told me to go see a breast surgeon.
I went to the doctor my GYN recommended and he said it may be lymphedema. But a week later he called me to schedule an MRI. Those results showed a lump/tumor behind the area where I had my original lumpectomy.
So, surgery was scheduled. I told the doctor, “If you are removing the left breast, take the right one also.” On the day of surgery, the doctor inserted the dye into the right breast, even though it always showed clean in all the scans, etc. During surgery, the doctor said the dye lit-up–big time–not in the breast but in several of the lymph nodes on the right side! The cancer had spread from the left side to the right side leaving the right breast alone but hit several of the lymph nodes.
A total of 24 nodes were removed; several had signs of cancer but 4 had tumors measuring 2-3cm in size–they were big! The doctor told my family, that I had saved my own life! I did over a year of chemo while encountering so many setbacks and being in and out of the hospital. After chemo, I did radiation.
All was going good ’till December of 2018 when I noticed a lump in the left clavicle area. I went to my primary doctor, an ultrasound was ordered for me, and yep, it turned out to be cancer! Additional testing was performed to make sure there wasn’t any cancer in other parts of my body–all good.
I’m currently on TCHP treatments every 3 weeks for a total of 6 treatments. I’ve encountered 1 setback but I’m back on track now. I have 3 more treatments to go.
That was a short version of my story in the year of 2014-2015. There were so many things going on with me, medically.
I’m fighting every day to make sure I’m here for my family & Grandkids.
June
Fl
Submitted 06/05/2019
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.