One month after my son Petey got home from Iraq, and 4 months after I lost my mother to a stroke, I discovered a lump in my breast. I had just had a mammogram so I did not panic, but I went to my primary care doctor who agreed this was something to be examined. I went to the breast center to have an ultrasound. The radiologist felt I had an infection so I was put on antibiotics and scheduled for a follow-up appointment several weeks later.
When I went back, the breast surgeon felt the lump and she informed me of her belief that I had breast cancer. A biopsy was performed and an MRI which both confirmed I had Stage III breast cancer. I went through 5 months of chemotherapy with a total of 16 treatments, a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, and was on Herceptin for a year. I finished treatment 18 months ago.
My husband and friends have been so wonderful. Life goes on, but a day does not go by that I don’t thank the Lord for being there each and every day to give me the strength to move on with my life.
Patty
Florida
Submitted 12-5-11
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 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.
Patty, thank you for posting this. I just found out in June I had breast cancer, so I underwent a double mastectomy Aug 2nd. turns out it was Stage 3 on the right breast (tumors were 7.5 cm) and Stage 1 on the left breast, pre-cancer cells there. But thank God, it did not spread to the lymph nodes. I chose not to do reconstruction–had i been maybe 10, 15 years younger I might have but my sister had it and I didn’t think it was right for me at this point in my life–I have a few other health issues. I won’t know if I need chemo until I see my oncologist on Sept 6th–waiting on a test to come back. I am so thankful I can say I’m a cancer survivor. They got all the cancer and it hadn’t spread. I’m like you, not one day goes by that I don’t thank and praise God for keeping His hand upon me each and every step of this journey. You take care!
HI GINA !!! I JUST FOUND OUT I HAD BREAST CANCER, SO I UNDERWENT A DOUBLE MASTECTOMY AUG 23, 2012. STAGE3 ON THE RIGHT BREAST STAGE 1 ON THE LEFT, PRE CANCER CELLS THERE, AND SPREAD TO THE LYMPH NODES…..I WENT TO SEE MY ONCOLOGIST ON SEP 6, 2012. AND YES I NEED CHOMO AND RADIATION THE PROCESS IS GOING TO BE A TOTAL OF 5 MONTHS. SORRY BUT I HAVE TO STOP CRYING…………BUT SINSE MY INSURANCE IS TO TO LIMIT AND MY DISABILITY IS PENDING…I CAN’T GET MEDICAL ATTENCION, I HAVE LAB ORDERS, CT SCAN, ECT…..I WAS GOING TO START MY CHEMO SEP 24, BUT NOW I CAN’T…..BUT EVERY DAY A THANK THE LORD BECAUSE I AM STILL STADIND
I had a bi-lateral surgery in February and reconstruction started in June. Just finished my 2nd reconstruction surgery 2 weeks ago. I was diagnosed in January had bi-lateral in February, youngest sister had a bi-lateral in March, I had first reconstruction June and sister had reconstruction in August, and I had my 2nd reconstruction along with lipsuction with the fat graphing. Not enough fat put into the right cavaity had tac the pockets up because he had made them too big and the implants moved too far over. I am finally on the mend. Reconstruction is NOT for sissies 🙂
Dear patty, thanks for sharing your story . Just had surgery 2 weeks ago and waiting to start radiation. May god be with you.
hi…i’m a 12 year survivor….treatment sucks but do it anyway….unfortunately i lost my husband two years ago……always thought i’d be the first to go….so fight like a girl!!!
Thank you all for posting. Saturday, Sept 1st at 3:13 am, I felt a lump in my breast. Of course, it had to be a 3-day weekend and I was not able to see Linda, my PCP, until Wednesday afternoon, two hours after my wrist surgery. She felt the lump and decided I should have a diagnostic mammogram. On Thursday, I learned that I have breast cancer and the pathology report confirmed it on Friday. We are unsure about the route to take until all tests are back. Reading all of these stories make me hopeful since everyone is still here to post!