Do yourself a favor~Research!

I would just like to tell anyone that has ever been diagnosed with ANY life threatening illness - DO your own research! Be your own doctor...get involved in your recovery. It makes a difference.

My journey with this ugly dis-ease began in 2003. I was 41 when I found a lump in my left breast. I went for a mammo and knew something was wrong when 3 men in white suits came into the ultra-sound room. I, of course had to have an ultra sound when they "saw something" on the left breast through the mammo. A needled core biopsy was scheduled for later that day. 5 Days later, I called my doctor, Ob/Gyn, he wasn't in and I called two more times only to have the nurse tell me that I need not wait anymore, she divulged to me that the biopsy came back Positive. I had breast cancer.

I remember thinking "ok, what does this mean now? Do I die...OMGod, I could die?!" I called my husband first, and then a friend from church. I told her the news and her response was only..."Pray! Pray! Pray!" And that is what we did until my husband arrived home 45 minutes later! From that moment on I felt as though this was a divine assignment and that I was meant to be going through this journey for some reason...only God knew. Who am I to question the one who created me?

I had a lumpectomy with sentinol node detection...no nodes involved - Praise God! I went through 31 treatments of radiation and hormonal therapy for only 2/12 years (Tamoxafin)...it put me into a bi-polar state and I had to take a mood stabilizer to calm my raging mood swings. I stayed free for nearly 4 years and an MRI found the "new" cancer, in the same breast last October 2007. The Mammo had missed it the prior April. (Anyone who has a history of BC should get BOTH Mammo and MRI for early detection and extra pre-caution).

The first cancer was only 6 days from diagnosis to the surgery room...this time it took from October 31, to December 21. I researched everything. AND I got a 2nd opinion this time. (Always get a 2nd opinion!)

The first doctor I saw wanted to take BOTH breasts, do a Brain scan, Bone scan, remove my ovaries, do a pelvic and abdominal scan and take ALL of my lymph nodes! JUST TO BE SURE, OF COURSE since this WAS my 2nd cancer. I was outta there quick!

I saw a wonderful woman doctor who told me that it was my decision whether to remove one or both, depending on my own stress level...(I only took the one that had the defect...the good Lord told me not to touch anything that nothing was wrong with I also had the genetic testing, which came back Negative.I didn't have the BR Gene and it appeared that I was only stage 1.

After the full mastectomy, with sentinel node detection~again! (I grew new lymph nodes~ the Doc said that this sometimes happens), they also found them to be FREE from cancer once again. However, this time though, the cancer was not insitu, it was invasive and appeared to have gone into the blood stream with angiolymphatic invasion.

I did more research to figure out how I wanted to treat this thing. I found that I was a perfect candidate for a test called the Oncotype DX, although the oncologist failed to let me know about this...I found out about the test all through my own research. The test takes the invasive tissue and does DNA on it to give a 89-98% accuracy of probability of reoccurrence or metastasis.

The scoring system is 1-100. 1-30 being LOW, 31-60 INTERMEDIATE, over 60 HIGH. My score came back a 9!! Before this, she had recommended Chemo, Ovarian Oblation, (since I am still ovulating and only 46), and hormonal therapy. When the test came back..she told me that they NEVER do chemo on an Oncotype test with that low of a score! (Do your own research ladies! The doctors are not going to tell you everything. Chemo makes them money and it only gives you an additional 5% chance of prevention).

I know that this story isn't for everybody, but I feel that I did the right thing with my own body and you will know when it's right for yours! Don't just be another "standard treatment", no matter how many times it has worked for others. Don't let anyone else tell you...."pray! pray! pray!" and than listen. You'll get the answers you need.

I'm now going through the reconstruction process. They told me I only had a 20% chance that the already radiated skin would stretch enough to be reconstructed, that I would probably have to have a "trans flap" surgery where they take your back skin and muscle..(the good skin), a 12 hour surgery and quite painful. But I just got my LAST fill inside of this big inflatable pocket they inserted after the mastectomy, and my reconstruction surgery is scheduled for June 20th...I stretched!

Keep up your spirits always, all of you! You have to go through the valley to get to the higher mountain, it's the only way. And if we admit it, we grow more in times of trial than in times of triumph anyway, true?...He's calling you higher each day! Be joyful in your trials and you will have peace. God bless!