Hi, my name is Sandra, and I was diagnosed with two breast cancers on June 26, 2009. I had lobular invasive carcinoma and also ductal carcinoma. I underwent a double mastectomy and had 14 lymph nodes removed from my right side because the cancer was all in the right breast. A double mastectomy is a long, 8-hour surgery, and after that, there are many obstacles to overcome, including healing, having to go in every week to get filled up with saline to stretch the skin to make room for the implants, and then waiting a couple months for the implants, plus having nipple reconstruction. It’s a devastating time and a lot of pain to get through. But with the help of my family and friends, I found strength to get through this, and every day I get stronger and stronger.
It has been years since all this happened, and I am still going through things. I just recently had a tumor removed from my right leg. My leg hasn’t been right since, and there is a new lump in the same leg. We will watch and take the necessary action for this. I will keep fighting and being strong. Seeing other woman and men go through this horrible illness with smiles and hope is the greatest feeling. The only ones that know what you are going through are people in the same situation. I started writing a book and haven’t finished yet, but hopefully one day I will. I also had melanoma skin cancer removed from my back a couple of years ago. I do all the cancer walks in Boston. I joined the research program at Dana Farber to hopefully one day find a cure for this horrible illness. Life is a challenge. Bring it on!! God bless! ❤️❤️❤️
Sandra
United States
Submitted 08/21/2015
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.
I’m here to give everyone some kind of support! All I can give you is love, hope and prayers! I feel what I give to you will be the strongest gift anyone can give you! Know that love will keep you warm at night. Hope will give you strength throughout your time in the hospital and prayers will give you the best gift ever. He is the most powerful person and group of people that will always be with you as you go through this! Please take my gifts as a sign of comfort since these are the strongest gifts I can give you!