A Family Affair

 

Today’s survivor (red top) is in the center flanked by two daughters, one of whom is also a warrior survivor, and friend Michele. Matriarch of family is incredibly strong and resolute and has a great outlook on life.

IN HER OWN WORDS: Hi my warriors! Today is a beautiful day! Actually everyday after having and surviving breast cancer is a beautiful day.

My story goes back to 7 years ago at the age of 76, yes 76. I felt a lump in my breast. I didn’t think much of it because at my age you feel a lot of different things that have changed through the years. But when I mentioned it to my daughters BAM! my world changed in a second.

The next morning my daughter made a phone call and before you know it there I was at Dr. Kehoe’s office. Well from here on in things got a little crazier each day for a while . First was that ugly devil diagnosis…yes, it is cancer. Then the horrible tests. Then 1 week later after all tests, including the pet scan, it was back to Dr. Kehoe’s office. At that time this was my heaven: he was my savior and Michele was my angel. All my tests came back positive for breast cancer and the surgery was planned.

Dr. Kehoe did my surgery. I had a total mastectomy, which removed all my cancer. I didn’t need chemo but I did take Tamoxifen for 5 years. So here I’am today 7 years later at the age of 83 looking and feeling beautiful.

My sister had breast cancer before I did. I thought this was over for my family. It wasn’t. My daughter then developed it after me, worse than mine, a triple negative. You don’t think of your daughter getting this and I was devastated. Did I give it to her? We all got the genetics at that point and thank God we don’t have the gene in our family. Please, God, no more for my family.

I hope and pray all other cancer patients will have the same outcome as me, because life really is beautiful and every breath we take is a gift! Stay Strong and prayers to all fighting the good fight.