We all deserve to have a beautiful life

I´m a 33 year old Colombian and my story began last year on July 09 . I was diagnosed with a uncertain behavior tumor (possibly cancerous) on my right breast and doctors were so afraid because my mom died 11 years ago because of breast cancer and the genetic component is important, that´s why they suggested a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy because I didn´t accept to submit to the chemotherapy. My breasts were removed on January and I was reconstructed with implants and bilateral dorsal muscle flap. Unfortunately, my body rejects the implants and I got an infection with a bacteria called staphylococcus aureus that causes a capsular contraction, one month ago the implants were removed and now I have nothing than my skin and muscles in my chest. I have to wait for a year at least to have a new reconstruction. Today I´m a better person, I learned to look at me in a different way, to look at myself as a great person no matter how everyone else see me. I´m eating healthier and I´m taking all good moments with the people around me. We all deserve to have a beautiful life no matter if you have big or small breasts, if you are black or white, tall or short, thin or fat...all that counts is what you have in your mind and in your heart and the way you live your own life. WE ARE ALL FIGHTERS AND WE DESERVE TO LIVE BETTER.
In loving memory of my MOM...

Cruise for the Cure

Amy,

I understand your feeling of wanting to do something. Big or small we all can do something to promote breast cancer. Thank you for organizing an event in your area that promotes awareness.

Amy A.

When I was younger, I remember my grandmother going through her 2nd chemotherapy treatment back in 1991, and later lost both of her breasts due to Stage 3 breast cancer. Not only was she going through it herself, so was her younger sister who is now a survivor of 50 years as well as her cousins on her mother’s side.

While receiving tremendous support from both family members and friends, I decided to organize "Cruise for the Cure” in South Florida after I had a mini scare with breast cancer in February of 2008. Over these past decades, a few of my family members, and friends were diagnosed with breast cancer. I know the feeling when you know that there is nothing you can do, but go to the doctors, do treatments, and wait to see how you’re feeling days later after you get treated. It’s very hard to watch someone go through this for many years, and watch them suffer from this awful disease that attacks both women and men of every age group.
I finally decided to do something to help support both Women and Men with this disease. Last year, “Cruise for the Cure” was held at WAHOO’S of Lighthouse Point, Florida. Together we raised over a thousand dollars with a total of eighty-seven cars that entered this event, and was escorted by Broward Sheriff’s Office down A1A, 14th Street Causeway, and then met our final destination down Federal Highway at WAHOO’S in less than a month notice. With this event, my goal is to raise three times as much as I did last year. For our 2nd Annual “Cruise for the Cure”, on behalf of the Pink Piston’s - We would like to share this exciting memory with HOOTERS of Boca Raton on Sunday, October 10th, 2010 in memory of some of our families and friends, as well as one of the HOOTERS Calendar Girl’s that fought this disease; some winning the battle, and some not. Together we can help support Breast Cancer Awareness for the one’s we love around us, the women and men of our community, and to show HOPE, COURAGE, and FAITH for them.

Amy

Dealing with reoccurence...

Brenda,

You have so much courage. We wish you a speedy recovery to your recent surgery. Thank you for sharing your story with us. Your testimony will save lives.

Amy

I was told back in 2002 that I had breast cancer (ductal) and had a lumpectomy done at that time. This was followed by mamo's every 3 months for a year. Then they told me that all was fine and I should have a mamo done once a year. Well this year In February 2010 I found a lump in my left breast and went in for a mamo, this lead to a digital mamo followed by a surgical bio. After all of this they said my cancer was back. I was told I could do nothing and wait it out or I could have a total bilateral mastectomy. And put an end to this cancer business. So on March 24th, I had both of my breast removed. My path report stated that in fact I had ductal cancer in both breast not just the left side. I feel very lucky! Now I must make the choice or rather to have reconstructive surgery or not. I'm still healing from my surgery but have to say I'm glad that my fight has been won.

Thanks,
Brenda

Strength in the family

Keri,

Your family shows such strength and courage. What a blessing that your mother did not have a diagnosis of cancer. You being strong for your family and giving your grandmother,aunt, and cousin support and encouragement is such a blessing. They are fortunate to have you in the family. You are right. We have to be strong for all surivors out there that might need our strength to get them through the day.

Amy

In 2008, my grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was detected very early, so we knew she had a chance. She had a lumpectomy, and they discovered that they didn't get it all. So she went in for another lumpectomy. After that one they discovered once again, that they didn't get it all. They then gave her the option to try another lumpectomy, or to just have a mastectomy of her left breast. It was a long, difficult, decision for her, but she decided to go through with the mastectomy. Her surgery was 14 hours; it was the longest day of my life. It was hard to see all of my family there and just hoping that everything went OK. We got the news that she was OK, and we went back to see her in recovery. She was still waking up from the anesthesia, so she was a little groggy. I was talking to her and she seemed to be aware of what was going on. She then asked her nurse for some crackers and iced tea. She didn't have to go through chemo, or radiation afterwards. To this day, she still tells me that I am the first one she remembers seeing when she woke up from her surgery, and that makes me feel so good. Three months to the day, after my grandma was diagnoses, her daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was about to go through what my grandmother, her mom just went through. My aunt had a lumpectomy, and she also had to have chemo and radiation. She lost all of her hair, so she bought 2 wigs. She was afraid to show us her bald head and she didn't want her little grand babies to see her without hair either. One day we were at my grandma’s house for a visit and my aunt took off her wig, and I just looked at her in awe. She barely had any hair, but she was still as beautiful as ever. I knew that she took that wig off, not because she wanted to, but because she knew her hair was coming back; she was getting better. My cousin just had a breast cancer scare. She hadn't been in for a mammogram in a few years, but now that 2 women of our family had been diagnosed, she decided to go get one. All was clear. About 2 months ago I get a phone call from my dad, he tells me my mom has to go get checked for breast cancer because they found a lump. I am up at school, and my dad told me not to worry, that everything would be fine, but naturally, I was a wreck. That was all I could think about, and I couldn't wait to get home to see her. I went with her to the hospital they day she got re-checked, and they found that it wasn't cancer, it was just a mass and they are going to keep it under close watch. In all of the sadness, and devastating diagnoses in the past year or so, I would just like to say that I am strong. I am strong for my family, my loved ones, and also I am strong for every woman out there. This can come up on you when you least expect it, but if you just have hope, and believe that everything will be OK, then it will. You have to be strong, ALWAYS, because you never know who is watching and who might need a little bit of your strength to get them through the day.

A Heroine for Young Eyes

Thank you Colleen for sharing this story about a woman you looked up to and admired. This story is so beautifully written.

Amy

A Heroine for Young Eyes
By Colleen

I can't remember how my mother became friends with Deanne. Our family was from a very rural area in southern Ohio and we would always pass her farm when we were going to town for groceries. Our homestead, as I like to call it, was where I learned that work, especially work done for the joyous benefit of my mother, was the equivalent of gold. To both my brother and I it would come to mean fast money and an extra night out while in high school, but when we were young, all we wanted was the
reward of going to Deanne's house to see her abnormal edition to the community--her buffalo. She was, the only woman within 600 miles who owned the environmentally and culturally estranged creatures. Rural Ohio being what it is--hilly, but yet dryly uneventful, buffalo were to me as an unexpected paycheck is to me now.

Deanne was tall blonde with a long chin and a wide set grin--of which she didn't often show all of her teeth through unless she was tossing her head back in a fit of laughter. Strangely, that same tugging grin remained stable and unwavering in the afternoon summer sunshine when she'd hire me out to clean her house and listen to the Soft Rock station Warm 98.5 out of Cincinnati.

Her husband had gone, along with the buffalo. The house had quickly become more than what she could keep up with. The chemotherapy for her stage rising breast cancer was also to blame.

My mom was the kind of woman that would answer any of my questions. Periods, birthing, boys, “manhood,” tampons, why to ALWAYS knock before coming in her and daddy’s bedroom…the works. But mom never told me much about Deanne's treatments, how she was feeling or if she was able to feel at all. I would just go over to her house when she wanted me—for cleaning, for her sun dried iced tea and to walk through the tall white barn with a surreal vision of bison standing outside its corners. This
woman, this serge of joy, was a light of a whole other dimension in both mine and my brother’s life. That dimension was a dimension of comedy, of jokes and bear hugs and everything that encompassed her.

Deanne came to visit us one day in our home. She came with only one
breast, not the normal two.I remember being so taken back, shocked and embarrassed. My young mind thought how can she stand to see herself so exposed? I tried not to
stare. There she sat in front of my family, forgetting that a piece of her was missing—as a petal, plucked and stolen away. There in our home…in front of my family she sat.

But she didn’t just sit. She was Deanne. She jokingly smacked her leg and threatened my brother’s bad health if he drank too much Mt. Dew. She was her. Fervent in light and life and more of a woman to me than any other I have seen, she was holding more dignity in a one breasted body than some people will with implants. She was the essence of heroine not through glitz, glamour or fame but through the love she was sharing and the light she saw in herself and was transferring to my family.

Since then my materialistic thriving culture has tried to replace my idea of heroine. They never will succeed. It took a woman to understand her own beauty to help me also appreciate mine.

"You'll be fine...You are my sister..."

Karel,

What a story of hope! Your answer to your prayers was such a blessing. Thank you for sharing how God has blessed you in leadership towards creating more awareness for breast cancer.

Amy

FIVE WORDS TURNED MY LIFE UPSIDE DOWN.

ON AUGUST 8, 2005, I WAS TOLD " YOU HAVE MALIGNANT BREAST CANCER" .

THOSE WORDS TOSSED ME INTO A DARK PIT OF DESPAIR AND HOPELESSNESS.

I TALKED WITH GOD ABOUT MY DILEMMA, AND HE ANSWERED MY PRAYERS IMMEDIATELY... PROVIDING ME WITH A GREAT SURGEON, AND A FANTASTIC ONCOLOGIST.

MY ONCOLOGIST EXPLAINED THE CHEMOTHERAPY TREATMENTS, AND THEN SAID SOMETHING THAT GAVE ME HOPE.

HE TOLD ME THAT "YOU WILL BE FINE".... "YOU ARE MY 'SISTER', AND I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU".

I ENDURED 4 ROUNDS OF CHEMO... A MASTECTOMY... 4 MORE ROUNDS OF CHEMO... 33 RADIATION TREATMENTS.... THE TYPICAL HAIR LOSS, AND REACTION TO THE DRUGS.

MY STORY AIRED ON THE TELEVISION STATION WHERE I WORK,SIX MONTHS AFTER MY DIAGNOSIS.

THE NEXT DAY AS I WAS HEADING TO WORK I NOTICED A CHURCH. ON ITS ROOF IS A WHITE CROSS, AND ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY THERE WERE CLOUDS FORMING. JUST ABOVE THE CROSS WAS A CLOUD IN THE SHAPE OF A HEART, THE KIND YOU WOULD SEE ON VALENTINE'S DAY. IT WAS A SIGN FROM GOD THAT HE LOVED ME. IT WAS ALSO A PROMISE THAT HE WOULD ALWAYS TAKE CARE OF ME.

HE'S DONE THAT, AND CONTINUES TO BLESS MY LIFE EVERY DAY.

IN 2006, I WAS THE HONORARY CHAIRWOMAN FOR THE CATTLE BARON'S GALA.

IN 2007, I WAS THE HONORARY CHAIRWOMAN FOR THE SUSAN G. KOMEN RACE FOR THE CURE.

IN 2008, I WAS THE HONORARY CHAIRWOMAN FOR THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY'S RELAY FOR LIFE.

AND IN 2010, I WILL SERVE AS CHAIRWOMAN FOR THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY'S RELAY FOR LIFE IN WICHITA FALLS.


KAREL

My mastectomies saved my life

This story speaks for itself.

My name is Jeri and I am a 2-time breast cancer survivor. My experience with DCIS starts with having to tell all my friends and family about it. I asked so many questions of my doctors and investigated as much as I could so that when the time came to share with everyone, I would have all the answers. Of course, you never have all the answers. With my friends and family at my side, I had 2 lumpectomys only to still not have a clear margin. My questions not answered. Then after my bilateral MRI, all my questions were still not answered. With a 5% chance of there still being more cancer, I decided to have the masectomy, which in my case may have saved my life. After the surgery, my doctor told me that I did the right thing because they found more cancer. I took it in stride and was out of the hospital after only 2 days. I wanted to get home and get on with my life. My friends and family were there for me to make it through this rough time. Then, 2 years later, another diagnosis of breast cancer in the other breast. No questions asked this time. I had another masectomy because I didn't want to ask any more questions. I wanted to control of my destiny and I would not let this cancer take the best of me. Now, 2 years later, I have helped so many of my friends and their firiends with my knowledge and experience and have showed them that we cannot be afraid. we must take control and beat this thing and not let it get the best of us. Knowledge is power and I pass it on in the hopes that it will help someone make the decision that is best for them.
Sincerly, Jeri

Toni's Inspiring Story of Faith & Survival

Toni, a fellow MD Anderson patient, has gained a lot of wisdom through her cancer experience and years. She has a strong faith in God and has learned to put her trust in Him. Her story is sure to inspire any of you going through a diagnosis or treatment of breast cancer.

My survival story

My name is Toni and I am a SURVIVOR! My story is probably not unique or different than many others but hopefully it will help someone else get through the process of treating the way that other survivors have helped me. Just prior to finding my lump, I had had a new premature grandbaby that I was helping raise, she was so small and fragile when she was born that I made lots of "deals" with God during her stay in the hospital. I was busy working full time in my private practice as an attorney, adjusting to being a Grandma and doing what I could to help my daughter get on her feet.

Soon after that my other daughter had a seizure in my presence and it was determined that she had a cyst in her brain. The cyst was causing her seizures and was in a place where it was not operable. Again, I began bargaining with God. "Please God, she is just starting her life and has so much living left to do, please take this away from her and give it to me, What ever you ask of me or give to me I will gladly bear it, just don't let this affect her life."

Soon after that I found my lump, and instinctively knew this was going to be my test. It was time to pay the piper so to speak. And as I expected it was cancer. I was facing the biggest fear of my life. I was always so afraid of getting cancer especially breast cancer. Suddenly, I was faced with the possibilities of losing everything that made me feminine and womanly, my breasts and my hair. Yeah, I know the hair grows back but . . . in the meantime, you still have to go around bald. And OK I did not want to go through treatment and whine around and look like a big baby. How was I going to handle cancer. Would I be able to handle it with dignity and grace or would I be a whiner??? And, there was the deal I had made with God about "gladly bearing" whatever he wanted to toss at me. Could I hold up my end of the bargain? How in the heck could I be glad about cancer. Ok God, I know I said I would gladly bear it but really do I have to be glad? Oh ,by the way, I did put one condition on God, He had to talk me through it. I had to have clear cut messages from him that he was with me holding me in his arms every step of the way.

Thus began my journey down the rocky path of breast cancer. My biggest concern throughout treatment was how it would affect my family, particularly my father because his health was not the greatest, and I knew my kids were scared too. In more ways than one my concern over the effects my health was having on my family made me stronger, or appear so anyway. I guess it was a "fake it until you make it" situation. The more I pretended that life was normal the less likely I was to let the cancer take control of my life. I was determined throughout to not let cancer run or ruin my life. I continued to get dressed every day and go to work. Often times I would have to make a pallet and rest on the floor but I made it to work. My colleagues were tremendous, offering to cover for me when I had to attend doctors appointments or just did not feel well enough to go to court. Oh, and the messages from God? Got them Loud and strong. Regularly. So much so that I could not possibly tell them all here.

Being an attorney and accustomed to research, I started out researching and reading everything I could about breast cancer , treatment options and of course mastectomies and reconstruction. I found the information out there to be somewhat frightening. The pictures I saw made me cringe. OH God am I really gonna look like that??? I soon decided that I would go against my nature and quit researching anything but where and how I wanted to approach treatment. I wanted thing to be different for me. Fortunately, I was directed to MD Anderson in Houston and found not only a wonderful hospital and very qualified doctors and staff, but what I found there which was more important than all the medicine in the world was the air of hope! The people there all the way from the valet parking attendants to the doctors and surgeons are so upbeat and positive, you cannot help but catch the spirit! That infectious attitude kept me going and in turn kept my family reassured that I would be OK. Additionally, at a teaching hospital you have an opportunity to participate in test study groups and I was encouraged in my own treatment by knowing that I would in some way help my daughters and granddaughter and the women who came after me even if it was a failure, the test study results would help others who came after me. I took great pride in participating in those groups. As silly as it sounds I wanted so much for the study to be a great success I almost willed myself to get better. The results were positive! My study was a combination of chemotherapy drugs which had not been used to treat breast cancer before. The treatment was done prior to surgery to see the effects on the tumor. In 12 weeks my 2 1/2 cm tumor reduced in size to .7 cm. After another 12 weeks of traditional chemo the tumor reduced to such a minuscule amount that the surgeon had to place a marker at the tumor site to be able to find it to remove it. I chose a segmental mastectomy instead of a radical because of the success of the medication. This did require additional treatment in the form of radiation but I felt it was a small price to pay under the circumstances.

I had a friend that just prior to my diagnosis was training and raising money for the Susan G. Komen 3-day walk and I told her she had a renewed purpose because she was walking for me. I was even able to go down for closing ceremonies which was ironically exactly the half way mark in my treatment. Seeing all the survivors walking in the walk arm in arm with their shoes held proudly overhead made me realize that I was truly not alone and that there was life after cancer treatment. In my chemo induced fog, I just marveled at how "normal" these women looked! I vowed at that moment that I would walk in the next three day walk and began training while I was still treating. Not much but I began walking and doing some Yoga.

I think that the theme throughout my story is that even though you are feeling like crap, it is your current reality and you should not quit living with purpose just because you are treating for cancer. Live with a purpose! Get well! and Blaze a trail for others coming after you.

Today, I have a happy healthy two year old granddaughter who is the light of my life. My daughter who was diagnose with the cyst has graduated from college and is now moving on to work in her field, and I am happy and healthy and continuing on with my life.

Strange as it sounds, Cancer has a certain strange beauty about it. Not the cancer itself but the experience you gain during treatment. While I would never want to go through it again, I felt truly blessed through the experience. I met survivors down my path that shared their stories of survival with me, sisters that truly understood what I was going through. I was blessed to add many friends to my life. And I gained a knowledge of my strength that I never would have known had I not had the experience. So, for anyone reading this that is currently treating I would say, Don't look back, don't look ahead, just be in the moment and get through it the best way you can and take comfort in the knowledge that you are not alone. Your sisters have paved the way for you and are here to hold your hand and comfort you along your journey.

Much love and good health,
Toni C.

Karen, 22-Year & 2-Time Survivor

Thanks for sharing your story, Karen.

Whew, you have been through a lot, lady! So glad to hear you are doing well.

I, too, couldn't believe my misfortune when I had a "local" recurrence at the site of my mastectomy scar from 6 years prior! I read that only about 1% of recurrences occurred there. I thought, "Why must I be in that 1 measly percent!?" Unfortunately I later learned that this new lump on the same side was not an isolated recurrence ... the cancer had also metastasized to the bones, lung and many lymph nodes. :( But that was 3 years ago and I continue to live life to the fullest despite my stage IV diagnosis. I am blessed ... nothing short of a miracle in my eyes. Were it not for modern medicine, I am certain that I would NOT be alive today.

Let's keep funding cancer research. We need more success stories like yours and mine!

I was first diagnosed in 1987 at the age of 31. At the time I was married and had one daughter age 6 and a step daughter age 16. Stage 1, node negative. I chose a lumpectomy with radiation. At this time there wasn't any breast cancer awareness, you just dealt with it. My husband did not deal well and to make a long story short, within a year I filed for a divorce. It got very messy and he ended up committing suicide. So much for no stress in my life. Now I was 33, a widow with a young child to raise and a breast cancer survivor although no one really wanted to talk about that. It only happened to older women.
Life went on, as I knew it would. I met a wonderful man who became hubby number 2. He accepted me as a breast cancer survivor, my hodge podge family, (I was also helping my best friend raise her daughter) and I gained another step daughter.
Life was great and we got the surprise of our lives when I was 39 and we found out I was pregnant. After a difficult pregnancy we had us a healthy baby boy!!!!
I celebrated each year on the 6th of March, thanking the Lord for giving me another year.
Then the year 2000, my breast doctor called out of the blue wanting me to get an ultrasound. Funny I just saw her a couple months before, we had looked at my recent mammo, decided spot was more than likely scar tissue when comparing it to several past mammograms, now she wanted an ultrasound. It just couldn't be cancer again, I was 13 years out, even though in the back of my mind I knew. Sure enough, stage 2b, didn't even bother to check nodes again as I already have lymphodema, 7 cm her2 neg. ER pos. Had mastectomy with 4 rounds of A/C and 4 rounds of Taxol. A tram flap reconstruction and 5 years of Arimidex, couldn't take Tamoxifin because of blood clot in lung while going through chemo. I just knew I was going to die this time. My son was only 5. I could not find anyone who had breast cancer twice unless it had metastasis. I was so afraid. Finally I found a wonderful support group at Gilda's Club and on line at FIN. It was at FIN that I met someone who just like me had it more than once. finally HOPE!!!
Now I am 53 years old, a 22 years a cancer survivor, 9 years no evidence of disease, I feel blessed. I sign every relay for life sign with this:
WALKING AWAY A WINNER, THANK YOU LORD.
KAREN

Nancy H., Diagnosed While Pregnant - Now a 29 Year Breast Survivor!

Thanks for sharing your story, Nancy. It should definitely shed some hope on the under 30 survivor crowd. I am ALWAYS inspired by long time survivors. I hope to be one one day myself!

At the "Ripe OLD AGE of 26", while pregnant with my third child, I was taking a shower and noticed a little lump in my left breast. "Oh my Goodness, what is that?" I thought to myself. "It must be a plugged milk duct or something". During my next doctor visit, I notified the doctor of the lump (about the size of a pea). He told me not to worry, but we'll have it checked out anyway. He sent me to a general surgeon who took needle biopsy after needle biopsy, telling me that it was negative. I was six months pregnant at the time.

As I got closer to having the baby, the "cyst" went from the size of a pea to the size of a golf ball in the matter of three months. I delivered my baby in March of 1980, they came and told me I couldn't breast feed him. The "cyst" was malignant. Here I am, 26 years old with three children, age(s) 2, 4 and now a newborn. They told me that It was a slow growing cancer, but If I didn't have it taken care of, I would probably be dead in a year. How's that for a reality check?!

How could this be? I thought breast cancer only happened to women over 40 or 50 years old. NOT SO!

I, however, was a lucky one. Through my self-examination, and knowing my own body, the cancer was detected early enough to be treated by a modified radical mastectomy. Since then, I have lost my Cousin (in her mid 40's) to breast cancer. I also fear for my Daughter (now age 33), but she knows the importance of doing her Self-examinations and having her mammograms done yearly.

I am 55 years old this year and I Praise the Lord, that I have been able to see my children grow up. I now have (3) Grand-Daughters who will also be educated in our family history, so that when they become adults, they can also be aware of this horrible disease, and hopefully prevent anything serious from happening to them.

Every year, since 2001, I participate in the "Horizon of Hope" - sponsored by The Longaberger Company, which raises funds for Breast Cancer Research and Awareness Programs. This is their 15th, year raising more than $14 million dollars for the American Cancer Society to date. As a Longaberger Consultant, I feel that it gives me a venue and a "mission" to promote Awareness and the importance of Early Detection. I am a true believer of self-examination and "Together, we CAN Make a Difference"!

Thank you for allowing me to tell MY story. (For more information on the Horizon of Hope, go to www.horizonofhope.com or www.longaberger.com/nancyhuntsman )

Sincerely,

Nancy H. - Newfane, NY
(29 Year Breast Cancer Survivor)

Kristy, 37 y.o. Stage II, Thankful for modern medicine!

Kristy,

Thanks for sharing your story. I feel blessed, as well, that there are so many treatment options nowadays!

I have 3 daughters, and a mom and sister whom I worry about so much. It's what the pink ribbon campaign is all about ... promoting awareness, early detection, and ultimately finding a cure!

Thanks again,
Kim

I'm a survivor!
My name is Kristy, I'm 37 and was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer on 8/8/08. On 8/15/08, I had a mastectomy of my left breast. I went through 4 session of chemotherapy, am currently receiving 52 treatments of Herceptin and will soon begin my 5 year stint of Tamoxifen. I'm currently awaiting my reconstruction surgery. I have a wonderful support system and truly feel blessed that my cancer was found at a time when we have so many different therapies available. I've been and will continue to be active in American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. I was captain of a Relay for Life team and will be walking in the 3 day Susan G. Komen walk in San Francisco this year. I will do all that I can to help raise money for finding a cure for breast cancer. I DO NOT want my 10 year old daughter to go through what I have.

Casey, 32-y.o. Stage IV, "Cancer Free"

Casey had the full array of treatments for her stage IV breast cancer, although the lung biopsy proved inconclusive. Here's hoping that the questionable lung area was just a shadow, or the like!

This is mine –

I’m a one year (and counting!) stage IV breast cancer survivor… that began w/ a routine doctor’s appointment. I gave birth to my second son in September 2007 and four months later, almost to the day, was diagnosed. I was 32 years old and not completely surprised, given the fact my grandmother passed away from “breast cancer” at age 52 (as a 2 time survivor.) At the time of my biopsy of lumps in both breasts and left side lymph node, I knew it wasn’t going to be good news. But I wasn’t at all prepared for the news that the cancer had most likely spread to my lung. The lung biopsy was inconclusive due to the location of the questionable areas. We proceeded as if I had metastatic breast cancer to the lymph nodes and lung. I did the whole kit and caboodle of treatments: first, chemo, then a bilateral mastectomy w/ expanders, radiation, reconstruction surgery, and lastly, a full hysterectomy as I am positive for the BRCA II gene.

During the second opinion clinic where I found out about the suspicious spots on my lung, I let myself wallow in self pity for about 10 minutes… my biggest feat, so I thought, would be losing my hair and as everyone tells you, it does grow back! God cleared this path for me for a reason and I couldn’t change my circumstances – so, I moved on and ahead! And my biggest feat wasn’t losing my hair, but rather dealing w/ a new status of having a “pre-existing” breast cancer diagnosis and finding decent affordable healthcare coverage as a wife of someone self-employed. And that’s not so bad considering what I’ve been through over the last year and a half! I’m a very open and positive person who puts all her concentration on her two sons (and husband) and living life in every sense of the word! J I am truly blessed in so many ways!

Today, I am cancer free. I owe it to a fantastic medical team, supportive friends and family, prayer and positive thinking, and the drug Herceptin!

Best wishes to those who share a similar story,

Casey Martinez

Survivor Story - Sherry C.

You GO, Sherry! The reason I called this blog "Ya Only Live Once" is because, since having cancer, I try to live by those words. After I was diagnosed with a Stage IV recurrence in 2006, I vacationed to the Rocky Mountains (which I'd wanted to see for a long time,) thinking I better do the things I've always wanted to, and SOON! I finally started getting my photo albums in order (okay ... that endeavor was short-lived!) and I visited friends and family I hadn't seen in a long time. But a year or 2 into my very successful treatment, I started to realize that we, all of us, should ALWAYS live ilke this! Because I have cancer, I've been given a big reminder of my impending mortality. But the truth is, lives are taken in an instant in car crashes, heart attacks, you name it. You never know when your time will come. Or your loved ones'! So don't put off the things in life you've always wanted to do. Ya only live once! :)

In Feb, the Dr. called me to say the biopsy did not look good and that as soon as all the tests were complete, he would call me again. Two days later he called to say "Well, you DO have cancer" and then asked me to come seehim the next day after undergoing my first CT/Bone Scan. That was hard as the x-ray tech grilled me about why I was having it done. After about three attempts of saying it any which way other than using the C word, I finally blurted out, "I have CANCER." Me? I thought about it and soon came to the realization it was true. That afternoon, in a further whirlwind of the mind, I was in the Dr.s office. He first asked "why is there no one with you?" Well, I am single and miles away from any family. We both sat down on his sofa and he began drawing diagrams, listing statistics, and then in a seperate column laying down my personal data. A family history, repeated biopsys, and the type I had. By the end, it was decided a double mastectomy was best....next week!

The day came and very calmly I lay on a strectcher with friends coming in to pray with me, laugh with me, and wish me well. The Dr.'s last words before surgery was "I don't expect any surprises!" Well, that was short lived when he called me two days after I left the hospital. "I thought we had gotten it all, but we took out a few lymph nodes just to make sure. The results were...now he struggled for words....it has spread. You need chemo. Its stage 11B or [perhaps 111?) Well, luckily I am now 3 years out and so far "cancer free", but another developement came...I also have SLE. So I am still on a milder form of oral chemo and go in every six to eight weeks for an IV treatment.

Whatever, I celebrate each day I wake up, each time I have another clear CT/Bone Scan and every time I find another positive thing towards my future. Right after the chemo was done, I took a mini dinner cruise, a year later a hot air balloon ride, and now I am looking forward to a helicopter tour. Celebrate your life, no matter how big or how small a milestone maybe. Just because cancer may have challenged you, it doesn't mean you can't challenge yourself. Live to tell about your adventures, most of all do whatever you can to live, live, LIVE!(and of course love and laugh too).

Sherry C.

Survivor Story, Clair J.O.

Thanks for sharing, Clair! Sadly, I've heard many stories of mis-diagnosis. My original weblog chronicles my journey through first thinking that my cancer was back, being told it wasn't, then discovering that it really was! It is so important that women stay on top of their own healthcare. So glad you mentioned the discharge to the physician's assistant.

Sorry to hear that you've had such a painful journey. But it's no coincidence that you are now being placed in people's paths who need advice or just to talk. God has a way of working these things out!

In June, I had a mammogram and was told that all was well. Four short months later in October when I visited my family doctor's office because of bronchitis, I mentioned to the (female) Physician's Assistant that I had noticed a nipple discharge. I probably would not have even mentioned it to my (male) doctor, but I thought maybe I had an infection or something minor. After all, I had gone through a recent mammogram and hadn't noticed any lumps.

I soon learned that no lumps did not mean no cancer, and a poorly read mammogram radically changed my life. My oncologist pointed out the cancer on the mammogram film--even my untrained eye could see it. Sadly, the trained eyes that had read the results four months earlier had missed it.That was eight years ago. Since the cancer was spread through the ducts, with no lump to singularly remove, I underwent a mastectomy and reconstruction. Then I developed painful internal scarring and fought with that for the next seven years--pain pills, steroid shots, nerve blockers, even Theragesic--all were futile attempts to deaden the pain.

My arm movement has been limited due to the capsular contracture, and as a college professor, I had to adapt my classroom teaching style since writing on the board was no longer feasible. I also had to learn to cover the pain since when it felt like a hot sword was piercing my right breast and I grimaced in class, concerned students would ask what was wrong. I couldn't very well tell them, "My boob hurts." Times may have changed but not that much!While I did not go through any radiation or chemotherapy, I endured pain. I underwent surgery again last month, and the doctor removed extensive scar tissue, so I'm on the mend again and now fighting an implant infection. I am determined that this time I will heal and not deal with constant pain for the rest of my life.

I have often wondered, why me? Then, as students noticed the pink ribbons and the links on our class websites where they could click to help provide mammograms, they made connections. One young man confided in me that his mother was battling breast cancer, and I provided him with some information that might help him cope, along with some connections that might help his mother. Then another student came in, crying. Her mother had just been diagnosed. The family wasn't happy with the doctor she was seeing, and I gave her the number for my doctor and the number for Hope Lodge. Still another student came in, only this time she was the one waiting on the results after a scary mammogram. I volunteer every year at the Komen Race for the Cure--nothing major, just handing out pink t- shirts to other survivors. We are a growing group, but I pray I see the day that breast cancer is eradicated and no longer a threat.Education takes place in many ways. While my principal role as an educator focuses on English and Literature in the college classroom, I have another side role--to pass on what I can when students are dealing with breast cancer in their families. For some, simply knowing that I went through it and beat it is enough to give them hope.

Clair J.O.

Our 1st survivor story! Dana P., Age 41

Wow, that was fast! Our first survivor story has arrived ...

I was 41 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. I underwent 6 months of chemotherapy, a mastectomy and removal of lymph nodes, 5 weeks of radiation and a full year of Herceptin IV treatments. Only a couple weeks ago I had my port removed which, to me, signified the end of the treatment chapter. My mission now is to maintain as healthy a lifestyle as I possibly can to do my part in fighting a recurrance. I have changed my diet by eliminating refined sugar, white flour and dairy and have switched to organics. I work on maintaining a calm state of mind through acupuncture and meditation. Although all I wanted was to go on with my old life and to walk away and leave the whole cancer experience behind me once treatments were finished, that was not to be. Just last month I opened a wig shop and mastectomy boutique that caters to women going through cancer treatment. It has already been a truly rewarding endeavor to have the priviledge of serving so many couragous women. As unwelcome as it was, cancer has truly enriched my life in ways I never dreamed possible.

Dana P