In November 2004, I stood in the shower doing an exam on my breast
and what I found took my breath away.  Yes, I found that dreaded knot
that all women hope and pray they will never find.  No one had to tell me
 that it was nothing.  I immediately knew it was indeed something that I had
to have taken care of immediately.  I had been faithful to get my mammograms
 on a yearly basis so I knew what I found was something that was recent. 

The next day I called my gynecologist and reported to them what I had found.
  I was told that my doctor did not do this type of surgery but recommended a
doctor to me.  They did, however, set me up for a mammogram immediately. 
I had the mammogram and an appointment with a surgeon within 2 days of
calling my doctor's office. 

The mammogram was done and I was told by the radiologist on call to be
sure and see my doctor immediately.  Well, I knew that the mammogram
was positive because I was told several times to be sure and see my doctor. 
I saw the surgeon the next Monday.  Sure enough there was a tumor and
the following Wednesday I was in surgery to get a biopsy.  The tumor was
malignant and surgery was scheduled for Friday to remove the tumor and
the necessary lymph nodes.  I had a lumpectomy and the tumor was removed
and many lymph nodes as one of the lymph nodes looked suspicious. 
Fortunatelyfor me the report came back and the cancer had not spread
to any of the lymph nodes, so I only was required to take radiation treatment.

I started my radiation treatments in December 2004 and completed them
in February 2005.  I want to say here that I believe I immediately developed
 lymphedema and it took over a year for it to be diagnosed.  Thanks to a
very concerned Pain Specialist who sent me to a Physical Therapist who does
 Lymphedema Therapy, she finally recognized what had been causing me so
much pain for over a year.  I still go to this lady for trigger point massage
treatments.  She is the only person who can give me relief from the constant
pain that I suffer from.

I also, want to tell all you ladies out there who suffer from breast cancer and
are about to begin radiation therapy, to please get you some Aloe Vera Gel
 (can be obtained at a Health Food Store) and use it on the area that is being
treated.  Make sure what you buy contains a very high content of Aloe Vera
and is not all water.  I assure you from experience this cream will keep you
from burning and keep you from having the rough skin that so many women
suffer from.  I have very fair skin and sunburn very easily.  I used this cream
and I was the only woman in the group who started radiation at the time I was
taking my treatments who did not burn and suffer with rough skin.  It does work.

I am still under the care of an oncologist today and will be for 5 years.  I take
Arimidex and will for 5 years.  I have been given a 95% cure rate and I require
 a bone density test every two years to be sure the medication I am on is not
doing harm to my bones.  So far, I am fine.  I say I will have a 100% cure rate
because from the first day I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was never
 frightened.  I never had any fear that I was going to die and I never feared
that the cancer had spread.  I just turned it all over to God the night in the shower
when I found that lump and told God to handle it and whatever his will was in
my life I was ready for it and I still feel that way today and I had such peace
the entire time I went through my cancer ordeal. 

I also want to mention here that I had the support of a very dear and precious
friend when I found out I had breast cancer and that dear lady was Kim Wilson,
better known in WOSIB webring as KimTX.  She called me and would talk to me
on the phone and she would email me and she even sent me a little crochet
gift of the symbol of the breast cancer emblem.  She did this when she, herself,
was taking chemo for her cancer.  I still have what she sent me and it means the
world to me.  Kim died on my birthday in 2006.  She fought a long hard battle
with her cancer and I call her my "birthday angel".  I shall always remember
the support she gave me.  What a great lady she was and what a battle she
fought and what a dear friend she was to me.

To all who read this, I hope you will do your self-exams and by all means
get your mamograms every year.  They are so important.  They can save
your life.  Early detection is the cure to breast cancer and more lives are
being saved everyday with the awareness that is now so prevalent. So remember,
get a mamogram every year.

I want to add to this page that as of December 2010, I will be cancer free
for six years.  I am a living example that self exams and mamograms
can not only save your life but cure you from breast cancer. I have
lost two dear friends from breast cancer, KimTX an Wanda Gayle. There
are others who have survived. They were aware of early detection and
how important mamograms can be.
 

Click on the above button to donate a mamogram.