After being diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time, I made the decision to have a bilateral mastectomy. Because my doctors advised I would need to move quickly with treatment, they suggested that I should wait for the reconstruction. Once treatment was over and my doctors gave me the OK, I admit that I… Continue Reading »
Life is a journey. My journey happens to include breast cancer. I wouldn’t trade my life or the experiences of the past year. I have met and made incredible friends and strengthened existing relationships. I have received the blessing of talented and compassionate doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers. I have accomplished goals that I… Continue Reading »
When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I felt like my world was in a downward spiral. Every little pain made me wonder where else the cancer had spread. I had never heard of Stage 0 Ductile Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) breast cancer and even asked the nurse and surgery coordinator to take the word… Continue Reading »
In August 2001, after a younger sister was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, I made an appointment with Dr. Brenda Simpson at Breast Care Specialists. I continued going to Dr. Simpson for annual mammograms until a second sister was diagnosed. At this time, Dr. Simpson wanted me to be checked every six months. I… Continue Reading »
I was diagnosed in 2004. My only child had just moved away to go to college and on his first weekend home I found out I had breast cancer. There were a lot more adjustments than I had planned for. This disease changed my life for the better. I have so much to be grateful… Continue Reading »
There are 2 things in my life that I never thought I would do–be diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 45 and pose in some French lingerie for a photograph. In fact, both of these events were so foreign to me that not only did I need to do research about breast cancer, I… Continue Reading »
My mother’s story of breast cancer and reconstruction is far different from mine. She didn’t know if she had cancer until she woke up from surgery and felt her chest. Her breast was gone. Reconstruction was difficult at best, as a radical mastectomy left little to work with. After years of “pulling herself” off the… Continue Reading »
I will never forget the years of 2004 and 2005, as they were marked by cancer diagnosis tempered with the joy of becoming engaged and getting married. In July 2004 I became engaged to my now husband: a wonderful, charismatic, funny, intelligent, and I must say handsome Englishman (think Ralph Fiennes or a Daniel Craig… Continue Reading »
Upon finding out I had breast cancer, my sister-in-law told me, “Karen, you will get through this and everything will be fine.” These words carried me through my diagnosis, surgery, and reconstruction. How wise Ruth was.
At 45, I was diagnosed with infiltrating and ductal carcinoma in situ in my left breast in June of 2005. The month of June was spent meeting my new doctors (oncologist, breast specialist and plastic surgeon) and having many, many tests. I had never had surgery or a hospital stay before, and I hated needles. … Continue Reading »