An Accidental Mammogram and a 2 Time Survivor
Chance lead to this survivor’s diagnosis 16 years ago. She’s in the center with husband and office manager.
IN HER OWN WORDS: My sister-in-law was scheduled for a mammography because she had just turned 40. She was afraid to go alone so my doctor filled out a script and told me to go along with her. There was my miracle. If it weren’t for her I would’ve never gone for the mammography that found my breast cancer at age 39.
Now, I am a two-time breast cancer survivor. The first time I was diagnosed was in 2001, as described above, and then again in 2016. I had no background of cancer in my family. I had a mastectomy and reconstruction in 2001 with no treatments because it was such an early stage.
It was a very hard time especially having two extremely young children at home. But I thank God for my husband, my family, and my friends who helped me deal with this. Having a wonderful doctor reassuring me that everything was going to be fine was also a very big relief.
Unfortunately, in February of 2016 I discovered a lump on the same side where I had my mastectomy. I was terrified and shocked that it had happened again especially in that same area. I had a lumpectomy done and thank God it was successful and I just needed radiation to make sure there were no other cancer cells left behind.
This time for me was substantially harder, since I lost my brother three years ago to cancer and was the most difficult thing I had to handle. So now that I had this happening again made it so real and so devastating.
Staying positive and strong and having the right people around you is the most important thing. Again my doctor was a large part of reassuring me that everything was going to be fine and has always calmed all my fears.Thank God all my reports are staying good, but I’m always worried of a reoccurrence. I try my best to stay strong and always believe it will be ok.
My words to anyone going through something like this is to stay strong. When you are going through something like this you are always stronger than you think, so just believe in yourself and stay positive and you can survive anything. I am extremely grateful for all the love and support I always had. Keep your faith stay strong and focused and you can get through anything. God bless everyone.