In May of 1996 at the age of 38 I heard those words, "You have breast cancer". I was diagnosed with stage 0 DCIS...Total radical mastectomy and 19 lymph nodes removed. Ny surgeon said he wanted to give me the best chance for survival. My children were 12, 7 and 3 All the lymph nodes were negative for cancer. No follow-up treatment and I survived 20 years without cancer. I went to my surgeon every 6 months for years and then was told that every year would be fine. I also saw an oncologist every 6 months.
In February of 2016 I heard those words again, You have breast cancer". I was speechless. This time the recurrence came back with a vengeance. Stage 4 breast cancer with metastasis to 5 spots on my bones. I was and still am speechless. I feel that when Dr's are speaking to me they are speaking to someone else. How could this have happened a 2nd time? Oh, I forgot to mention that the cancer came back on the same side that I have no breast.
I am a fighter and will continue to be one. My cancer is hormone positive and HER2 negative. A good combination I am told for the medication I will be taking.
My Dr's at the Cancer Treatment Center in Philadelphia refer to this as a chronic illness that will have to be managed for the rest of my life. I intend to have a long life and be a winner for the 2nd time.
I have a positive attitude and know I will beat this damn thing. I have too much to live for!!!! Children to be married and grandchildren to meet and lots more years with my husband.
Monroe, NY