The summer 2008, I was mostly focused on finalizing the sale of the home I had just bought on MY OWN for me and my 2 young girls. Delay after delay... we were just excited to be in a home of our own insteading of a rental.
In early June, I was taking a shower and noticed a bump on my right breast. I went to work that day and mentioned it to my boss, whose mother is a breast cancer survivor. He told me call the Dr now. I was going to wait a few days to see what happened but at his insistence, I called now while he sat and supported me. His encouragement really let me follow my instincts - I knew something was not right but questioned myself.
The nurse suggested I wait a cycle or two since in April my mammogram was "normal" and I had just had a full exam with the doctor. I declined... I asked to be seen as soon as possible.
I went to the Dr a few days later. He said, maybe its a cyst since you have no family history, you are only 40 and had a healthy exam 2 months ago. Want to wait, he said, or have a sonogram? I said sonogram, and I will wait in the waiting room until someone is available to do that sonogram today. That sonogram suggested I see a surgeon.
A few weeks later, I met the surgeon who told me he HAD to biopsy it but only because the radiologist who read my sonongram suggested it. He said it looks like nothing to me.
A few weeks later, a biopsy and a visit for results. Even at the biopsy, the surgeon said, this looks like nothing, try not to worry. So I went to the pre-scheduled results alone.
One day before I was to move into the new house I just bought, I was told I had triple negative invasive ducticle carcinoma. A fairly rare, very fast growing type of stupid dumb breast cancer. I sat there, alone while the doctor told me about treatment, and how important it was that we move quickly.
Had I waited, it could have doubled in size. Had I waited, it could have invaded my lymphnodes. Had I waited my prognosis could have been grim. Before I found out I was stage one, the doctor said I only had a 40% chance of seeing my oldest daughter graduate from high school in 7 years.
I had more tests than I can count, 3 surgeries for just a lumpectomy, 8 rounds of chemotherapy and 42 radiation treatments.
I am happy, healthy and vibrant today. I am strong today. I am courageous today. I live my life to the very fullest with so much gratitude, knowing how close I was to dying.
Check yourself... be proactive... it doesn't matter if you are 40 and with no family history... just do it.
