7 YEARS CANCER FREE TODAY! WOO-HOO!
lhalket
Posts: 75 Member
Good Day to all you wonderful people just starting, struggling, maintaining and achieving on this site. Today is a beautiful day and I wanted to take a moment of your time if you don't mind to make a Public Service Announcement. If you take a moment to read my story you'll find out why.
In January 2006 I went in for my annual mammogram - not a pleasant topic I know, but a necessary evil for us women. I wasn't worried, I mean after all, I was only 44 and there was no family history of breast cancer, no big deal. Even when the technician kept coming in to take additional pictures I didn't worry as they always did that due to the "fatty tissue deposits" I had (some of you women out there will know what I mean).
About a week later I received a phone call saying they found something "suspicious", and they wanted me to have a needle biopsy (worst procedures ever...almost). So I went...alone (no family in the area), still thinking, they probably made a mistake and were just being careful. After the procedure I asked the technician if I could see the images they took and had her explain to me what they saw.
What they saw were tiny, tiny specks of cancer (the size of a straight pin head)! They looked like black dots on the screen to me.
After another week or so of waiting the final results came in that it was cancer (DCIS) and they recommended I find a surgeon.
I found a wonderful surgeon who then performed a lumpectomy, and sent me to meet with a radiologist and oncologist. When the results came back from the Mayo Clinic he called me back in and said they got what they could, but were not 100% sure as that the cancer was very close (1/10 mm) to spreading to the lymph nodes and outer breast tissue. He recommended a single mastectomy and without missing a beat, I told him no - if you take one, you take both - I'm never going through this again (cancer can move from one breast to the other).
On April 16, 2006 I had my double mastectomy and thankfully did not have to have chemo or radiation.
So today I CELEBRATE LIFE and this incredible journey on MFP that I started in January. :happy:
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Ladies (and gents) pay attention! PLEASE, PLEASE do not neglect your bodies. HAVE YOUR ANNUAL MAMMOGRAMS! And if you find yourself in this unfortunate position, and have the capability, try to interview all your doctors before making any decisions. It is overwhelming I know, but I interviewed 4 plastic surgeons for my reconstruction before I found one I was comfortable with.
Life is a gift...embrace it, enjoy it and love those around you. :flowerforyou:
In January 2006 I went in for my annual mammogram - not a pleasant topic I know, but a necessary evil for us women. I wasn't worried, I mean after all, I was only 44 and there was no family history of breast cancer, no big deal. Even when the technician kept coming in to take additional pictures I didn't worry as they always did that due to the "fatty tissue deposits" I had (some of you women out there will know what I mean).
About a week later I received a phone call saying they found something "suspicious", and they wanted me to have a needle biopsy (worst procedures ever...almost). So I went...alone (no family in the area), still thinking, they probably made a mistake and were just being careful. After the procedure I asked the technician if I could see the images they took and had her explain to me what they saw.
What they saw were tiny, tiny specks of cancer (the size of a straight pin head)! They looked like black dots on the screen to me.
After another week or so of waiting the final results came in that it was cancer (DCIS) and they recommended I find a surgeon.
I found a wonderful surgeon who then performed a lumpectomy, and sent me to meet with a radiologist and oncologist. When the results came back from the Mayo Clinic he called me back in and said they got what they could, but were not 100% sure as that the cancer was very close (1/10 mm) to spreading to the lymph nodes and outer breast tissue. He recommended a single mastectomy and without missing a beat, I told him no - if you take one, you take both - I'm never going through this again (cancer can move from one breast to the other).
On April 16, 2006 I had my double mastectomy and thankfully did not have to have chemo or radiation.
So today I CELEBRATE LIFE and this incredible journey on MFP that I started in January. :happy:
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Ladies (and gents) pay attention! PLEASE, PLEASE do not neglect your bodies. HAVE YOUR ANNUAL MAMMOGRAMS! And if you find yourself in this unfortunate position, and have the capability, try to interview all your doctors before making any decisions. It is overwhelming I know, but I interviewed 4 plastic surgeons for my reconstruction before I found one I was comfortable with.
Life is a gift...embrace it, enjoy it and love those around you. :flowerforyou:
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Replies
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Very nice words, and excellent news of being cancer free!0
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Happy Anniversary!
And you are so right. Nobody knows your body like you so pay attention to it!0 -
That's fantastic!
Praise the Lord!0 -
This March I am 9 years breast cancer free!! I had a lumpectomy and 6 weeks radiation. A 1 in 2 million cancer when I was 18. LIVE LOVE LAUGH!!!!!! Celebrate every day and know that you were given only one body....we need to take care of it!!!!! Congratulations on your years of being cancer free. Even being free of it, is a hard road. But it makes you that much better and that much stronger!!!!!0
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so glad they found it early!!0
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That was wonderful to read as a family member is currently waiting for her test results from a biopsy.
Congratulations on fighting so hard and coming through!0 -
Thank you for sharing I cried! What a strong woman you are congratulations on beating the cancer and spreading love everywhere you are. So very thankful everything turned out well and here you are giving us motivation and inspiration everyday. You are amazing!0
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Happy Cancer Free Anniversary! Those rock. :flowerforyou:0
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This is a great post! Thanks for sharing your story!0
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HAPPY HEALTHY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
what a wonderful thing to celebrate.
I wish you continued health and thank you for sharing your message!
:flowerforyou: :drinker:0 -
Wow! you are truly inspiring. What a strong women you are. Congrats on being cancer free!! Just amazing!!0
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Congradulations
Truly enjoy the little things that lift has to offer. Love with all your heart and have no regrets. tomorrow is never promised so it is better to live for today.
I was diagnosed with Acute Lympothatic Leukemia when I was 11. I will be cancer free for 20 years as of December.0 -
Phenominal!0
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Great job!! Have a great day on your 7 year anny 0
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Amazing, what a woman.
Bless you and your story 0 -
Great news! Thank you for that wonderful reminder..,. I think people, especially women, neglect ourselves as we focus on caring for others...0
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definitely something to celebrate!!!0
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Happy 7th!! hi50
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Good for you, here's to life and an appreciation of how precious it is.0
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thank you so much for sharing! congratulations to you and good for you for keeping healthy!
I am also a cancer survivor - diagnosed with stage 3 occult breast cancer in november 2009, completed treatment fall 2010 (surgery, chemo, rads) - then they said spread to my neck...so far stable, so I'm "stable" at stage 4 for 2.5 years!!! I treated myself to reconstruction (fall 2011 and jan 2012)...and now I'm trying to lose weight so I can stay stable!!!0 -
awesome post Praise God!0
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I'm so happy you are cancer-free and that they caught it early! We really don't appreciate what we have until we risk loosing it. Enjoy your anniversary today!0
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Happy anniversary!0
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This is wonderful. Thank you for sharing!
You are so strong. 0 -
Thanks for sharing your story. Congrats on 7 years!!!!:flowerforyou:0
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Thank you all for your kind words (I honestly didn't know if anyone would read this).
And to all you other survivors on here - my "ordeal" was nothing compared to what some of you or your family members may have been through. We all find an inner strength we don't know we posses until we are faced with the possibility of not having our life. So my hat goes off to you!0 -
Wonderful to read. My congratulations to you and my prayers for continue good health and positive outlook!0
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Thanks for sharing! That is an amazing success story. Congrats on your healthy anniversary! 0
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Congratulations on your 7 year mark...... And I had my mammogram TODAY!!!!!!! First thing this morning!!!!0
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This March I am 9 years breast cancer free!! I had a lumpectomy and 6 weeks radiation. A 1 in 2 million cancer when I was 18. LIVE LOVE LAUGH!!!!!! Celebrate every day and know that you were given only one body....we need to take care of it!!!!! Congratulations on your years of being cancer free. Even being free of it, is a hard road. But it makes you that much better and that much stronger!!!!!
So wonderful!! 0
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