The experience of being a survivor or co-survivor can vary greatly from one person to the next. This is your opportunity to share your special, unique experience with others. Regardless of whether you are a survivor or a co-survivor, your story can serve as a source of motivation and support to others whose lives have been affected by breast cancer.
Stories: To submit your story, click here. You will have the opportunity to review and edit your story before it is submitted.
STORIES
"Bday Milestones"
At age 40 I was diagnosed with breast cancer on a routine mammogram.
I am a 12-year cancer survivor. I found the lump at 29, the doctors and nurses said I was too young, my own instincts were what drove me to get the lump out. THANK GOD!
Both my mother and her mother have had breast cancer.
My mom had a lumpectomy at age 82, and is scheduled to have her five-year check-up on June 23. All of her check-ups have been clean to date, and we've got our fingers crossed for a good report in June.
My story shows the importance of self examination and persistence with the doctor. If my story will help convince other women to be diligent about self examination, yearly mammograms, and doctor visits and to know their own body, then I would love to help by sharing my story.
I am a breast cancer survivor for almost 3 years now. I'm here today because of the outstanding care I received from my doctors, nurses, family and friends. Although it seemed like forever to complete my treatment, now when I look back it seems like only a small period out of my life. I love helping people who are at the beginning of their journey. They will get through it and be a stronger person which may surprise them!
Even partners need help. When my wife Ann discovered she had breast cancer, I found myself in unknown territory not knowing how to support her. I stumbled, learning a lot along the way. Determined that no others should feel as frustrated and alone at such a critical time, I've written a book to provide guidance and support to partners. It is called The P.I.N.K. Primer: For Partners In Need of Koaching.
Breast Center Nurse is Diagnosed with Breast Cancer-Again
After 22 years and six months, I thought I had beaten breast cancer. A routine yearly mammogram found a 5 mm new cancer. I was shocked and scared, just like patients that I see every day.
Roz Trieber, a breast and pancreatic cancer survivor is passionate about helping other people include joy in their life. Roz tells you about her own roller coaster journey through cancer, and how she could not have gotten to where she is today without her positive attitude, the thousands who prayed for her, her unshakable faith, and the love that poured out from her friends, family, co-workers, strangers from all over the world, and the wisdom of her doctors. She could not omit expressing her zeal for embracing a compassionate sense of humor and the love of play that continuously provided a sense of joy and the hope that she could heal, feel fulfilled, and be at peace on a daily basis enabling her to write books to help with step-by step approaches how to find joy even in adversity.
My mom was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and she had surgery on May 7, 2009. We are waiting for the results of the biopsy of the lymph node that was taken out. She also went for a lumpectomy that was successful!
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Dawn attended Baltimore County public schools. She matriculated at Virginia State University for her Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, and Coppin State University for her master's degree coursework in Special Education.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Dawn attended Baltimore County public schools. She matriculated at Virginia State University for her Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, and Coppin State University for her master's degree coursework in Special Education.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 32 in 2001, with no family history. Due to the lack of resources for women my age at the time, I started a group in my community for young women under 40 diagnosed with breast cancer.
Debra D. Sawyer - Her 2 memoirs of a breast cancer warrior
I recently wrote a book that has been published and is available for sale. However, I would donate copies to Komen to be raffled off to raise money for the cause. I wrote the book because I am a HER 2+ survivor and there was nothing but depressing information about my disease, so I decided to write an uplifting, funny and compassionate book about my journey. I also included some short stories that uplift the soul and take the reader away from their cancer world for a moment. Below is an excerpt from my book.
I was diagnosed in November 1997 and had my lumpectomy and lymph node right before Christmas that year. Eleven lymph nodes were involved. I had just turned 50.
How Breast Cancer Turned Me Into a Motherless Daughter
In September 2001, my life changed immeasurably as my Mom began her fight with breast cancer. She redefined "grace under pressure" as she fought stage 4 breast cancer from the very beginning. She won the first battle, but in February 2005 she lost the war.
Diagnostic mammogram 12/10/08, bilateral mastectomy w/ tissue expanders 12/20/08. Node neg, however pathology found 4 cancer cells trying to get into sentinel node. Opted for 4 rounds of chemo (1/30/09 - 4/2/09). Only missed 3 days of work during chemo. Started Femara 5/1/09.
I woke up on October 29th, 2008, the same way I had during the previous 5 months. Our 5-month-old twins got our attention by laughing and crying in their adjacent cribs. Quinn and Keira were born on May 23rd, 2008, after a long and sometimes difficult pregnancy. Imagine a woman who weighs 112 pounds gaining 50 pounds all in her belly. Needless to say, I was placed on strict bed rest for 6 weeks prior to giving birth at almost 39 weeks. For some unknown reason I decided to give myself a self-breast exam that morning. Who knows the last time I had done one.
At the age of 40, I learned I had breast cancer. With no family history and no other apparent risk factors, all I could think was, "This is not happening!”
At the age of 40, I learned I had breast cancer. With no family history and no other apparent risk factors, all I could think was, "This is not happening!”
I lived 6,000 miles across the county from my mother the day that she told me she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. We knew that there was a history of the disease in my family but we never thought that it would be my mother.
My journey and the path that took me threw things I never knew. I never even thought about the path I would be lead onto, not only me, but my wonderful husband who had no idea what path he was about to take.
In 2008, my father was diagnosed with breast cancer. Fortunately, it was caught early. He had a mastectomy and needed no further treatment. Women are more likely to get the disease than men, but the number in men is growing and we all need to be aware.
We talk to our teenage girls about school, boys, safe sex, driving, shopping and tons of other things. But how many young teenage girls get diagnosed with breast cancer?
I was diagnosed with breast cancer after having a mammogram at a University of Maryland Hospital van parked near my office in downtown Baltimore in 1994.
I have a grandmother,Barb Mc Alpin, Who lost her life to breast cancer and my other grandmother, Kay Bittinger who is a survivor of Breast Cancer for almost 10 years.
No matter what happens to us along life's highway, I am grateful that God has given me the extended opportunity to do something positive with my own experiences.
My routine mammogram at age 41 revealed DCIS and LCIS. I was so blessed to have this discovered so early. I had a lumpectomy followed by radiation and now am on Tamoxifen.
I am a BC survivor of nearly 9 years. When I was 43, I was diagnosed I had D.C.I.S. D.C.I.S. is in the duct of a breast. It is no lump so one wouldn't know she had it. A mammogram picked showed this.
No one in my family has had cancer but I went faithfully every year to get my mammography except in 2007. I was scheduled for a gall bladder operation and time got away from me. So it wasn't until September rolled around again that I spoke to my OB-Gyn about renewing a prescription. She asked if I had gone to get my mammogram last year. I said, "no" and she said I had to or she "wouldn't renew the prescription.” That is a great doctor, one that might have just saved my life. I went and the rest is not "history" but more my present.
I have walked for Race for the Cure on and off for the past 10 years. I began because I thought it was a good cause and I had a few relatives affected by breast cancer.
I am 19 years old and this is a paper I wrote for my English class shortly after my mother Passes. I think the ending is the best part :) I Love you Mom
Scars are just wounds of a fighter who didn't just lie down and die...
As a stay at home mom to 5 wonderful boys and a US Army veteran, I had a great life. That is until March 21, 2007 when my doctor said the words that every woman prays she never hears, "Mrs. Hall, You have breast cancer".
My grandmother was diagnosed with cancer a couple of years ago. What makes this story different is she never told a soul until she became sick at stage 4.
I was diagnosed almost three years ago with Stage 1 breast cancer at the age of 41. No one else in my family has had breast cancer this young. It was the biggest shock of my life and couldn't have come at a worse time. Fortunately, I made it through everything and am fine today, but didn't know for a while if I would be fine. The experience I went through will always be with me and has made me appreciate life even more than I already did. I wish I could find a way to help others appreciate every day of life as much as I do now.
A 6 year survivor, who appreciates and supports Komen Maryland to help raise funds to end breast cancer forever! WE are on a mission and want to win the battle!
Brothers For Each Others Mothers is a group of friends that came together to realize the fight that some of their families had endured. Frank and Justin's mothers both endured the fight and when they decided to help find a cure, their friends got behind them and have been there ever since. Now B.F.E.M. has a facebook page with hundreds of fans and it well on their way to surpassing last years total funds raised.
I have been living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer for the past four years and am enjoying a full life. I am just one of the many women with Stage IV living a productive life, but nobody wants to acknowledge us. Yes, we are told there is no cure for what we have, but we continue to survive and thrive.
I wrote this poem for a friend who was battling breast cancer. These were the words she lived by for the last months of her life. She taught me a lot about courage and living each day to the fullest. I hope others who read this will understand and take strength from my poem.
I was 15 the first time I was diagnosed with cancer; 32 the second time. The first was a journey with Hodgkin’s disease when I was 15. It was more a journey that my parents went through. While I barely remember the details, my parents are still scarred from it. This second experience - with breast cancer this time - is my journey.
Being diagnosed with breast cancer is a tremendous shock. Many of us experience feelings of vulnerability. We might also fear we are alone. The truth is, we are not alone. There are many resources available to us including friends, family, and free cancer care programs that may be closer that we think.
I was diagnosed at 40. Who would have thought? I made my decision NOT to treat. When I looked around me and saw all of the people who loved me....I had no choice but to change my mind.
At age 47, I was diagnosed with Stage III Breast Cancer. My biggest fear was that my children would have to finish growing up without me. But I am now 60 and my youngest child is 31.....we made it!
Breast cancer survivor of ten years, diagnosed at 32, two types of breast cancer, 6 rounds of chemo, double mastectomy and 3 years of tamoxifen. Gave birth to first child 8 months ago with no fertility treatments.
