8 year survivor

As we all know October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I want to share my story with you. I apologize for the length. This is the condensed version.

On this date 8 years ago I found my lump. It was on a Saturday night and I remember it well . I was watching TV and something told me just to feel this particular spot. And there it was! It wasn't painful but I knew it didn't belong there.

On Monday I was going to call the doctor but had plans to go with my daughter and friends to Webster. Webster is home to a great farmers market with lots of really neat junk. Nothing was going to spoil my trip!

Tuesday morning I did call my doctor. I was given an appointment for Thursday. He examined me and scheduled me for a mammogram. One out of eight women will get breast cancer, those are the grim statistics. Guess what??? There were 8 of us in the waiting room and guess who got called back? Me, of course! I was the one out of eight.

My journey with breast cancer began. I had to tell my 11 year old daughter that her mommie had cancer. It broke my heart. I was so afraid but went through all of it a with a big smile and great attitude and much much prayer and so much love and support from family and friends.
I had a lumpectomy Nov 29 then another lumpectomy when I had the port put in Feb 2002 because I found another lump before beginning chemo. I had almost a 4 month wait to begin chemo and really don't know why it took so long. I got 6 rounds of a chemo cocktail consisting of 5-fluorouracil, Cytoxan and Adriamycin aka the red devil. Then 38 radiation treatments which included 5 super blasts called boosts. I took Tamoxifen for 2 1/2 years then have been on Arimidex since, will take it for 5 years. I had cancer it didn't have me became my new motto. Checkups every 6 months now.

My friend shaved my head when I started losing my hair. My sister cut her hair so super short and my brother buzzed his head. My Daddy asked me if my head got cold at night. My Mama looked at me funny, she was in failing health herself and sometimes I don't think she understood what was going on with me.

That was 8 long years ago and I sometimes forget I ever had cancer. I still have my port and will keep it til it gives me trouble, there is no rush to take it out. I actually think God should make us with one of them already built in. They are GREAT if you can imagine such a thing. I do tend to freak out a little when it come to my 6 months checkup, worrying about my tumor markers.

January 2009 I had the BRCA test done. This is a genetic test to see if I carry the breast cancer gene. It's only done by one lab in the world and it's in Salt Lake City, Utah. Very expensive and usually covered by insurance if your oncologist makes the request. My mother and her sister had breast cancer, my maternal grandmother had pancreatic cancer so he thought this a very good idea. I DO NOT CARRY THIS GENE!!! If Meagan gets cancer I didn't pass it on to her or any other member of my family.

I thank God everyday for my life, for healing me and God continues to keep me cancer free.

Please get your mammograms and do self exams!! Wear pink this month, I actually like pink now, didn't use to. Pray for a cure!