Tell us about your survivor journey.
My story began in 1987. I was a clinical assistant in our local health department. I noticed a lump in my left breast and watched it for about a month thinking it was nothing since I had just turned 30 years old. But when I had the nurse in the clinic check it she wanted me to see my doctor asap. He checked it and suggested I obtain a mammogram, so I went across the street to our local hospital and the mammography machine was broken, they made an appointment for me the next day. The following day I returned the tech obtained a picture of the right breast but then when she attempted the left the machine broke again. So they made an appointment for me in another town. I obtained the mammogram they would send the report to my physician and for me to call and make a follow up appointment. This appointment was made and when he reviewed the report the radiologist deemed the lump as just a fluid sack. So my physician aspirated and drew off 4 vials of fluid. He informed me they would send it off to the lab and for me to return in one month.
When I returned for the follow up appointment, the lump had returned, when the staff checked my chart there was no pathology report to be found, somehow the vials had been lost or the report lost. My physician said, since it had returned he was sure that it was in fact just a fluid sack and that he would aspirate it again and place a pressure bandage over my breast. I had to call his office the following day as I was having a reaction to the tape. When the tape was removed, the lump was present and the pathology report from the last fluids showed A typical and dysphagia cells. Therefore I was referred to a surgeon for lump removal. The day before I was scheduled I fell in our backyard and broke my right wrist, having to have a cast applied from hand to past elbow.
I was admitted to hospital for the lumpectomy and since it was so late in the day, I was kept overnight and discharged the following morning. The surgeon told us the frozen section was benign. He also told me, “I have preformed 100’s of surgeries, and I must say that was the angriest one I have ever seen!”
I returned home and the third day I received a phone call from the surgeon’s office that the final report had returned and in fact the tumor was malignant and I would need to return for a mastectomy. I had my general physician cut down the cast so that I would be able to receive IV’s in the right arm. The surgeon preformed a modified radical mastectomy and removed 13 lymph nodes. All remaining breast tissue and nodes were clean. I received a series of 5 chemo treatments, the first in the recovery room and one each day for the following 4 days. The following year I had the right breast removed with a simple mastectomy because being large breasted, I was having neck complications and shoulder drop even with the prothesis. This tissue was also clean with my cancer cells.
What has been the biggest source of support through your journey?
My family, our church and our friends rallied around me and made sure that everything was taken care of for me. My husband changed bandages and never left me side through the entire process.
What are some lessons you have learned throughout your survivor journey?
If I had not been presentent, the tumor could have grown and spread to other areas or lymph nodes. I became a supporter for other ladies and took them to appointments, sat in hospital with them, did whatever I could to support them. I became a Reach for Recovery Volunteer in my community. Then I was employed by a Durable Medical Equipment company and received training in being a Mastectomy Fitter. In 2007 we opened our own business and we have a dedicated Mastectomy Boutique where we can assist ladies from initial diagnosis to following them for years. This has been such a blessing for me and hopefully for the many ladies I have had the pleasure of serving.
Do you have any advice for a newly diagnosed survivor? What would that advice be and why?
You know your body better than anyone else, don’t settle for answers that you are not comfortable with. Take a proactive approach.
In the space below, feel free to add any additional information like extra stories, lessons to live by, meaningful life quotes, advice or unique factors that contribute to your survivor journey.
I lost my mother in a car accident 8 days before I turned 12. I am a survivor of incest resulting in pregnancy at the age of 13. I become an orphan at the age of 16, then they lived with my aged, poor health grandparents. Life has not been the easiest, but God has always been by my side and sustained me through everything. I know these life stages has provided me with compassion and understanding to assist and comfort to others.
Retailer Information:
At Home Medical
837 US Highway 68 W
Benton, KY 42025-7418
Phone: 270-252-0897
Toll Free: 1-866-515-0897
Fax: 270-252-0899
Showroom Located In Draffenville
Email: info@homemedical.biz
Website: http://athomemedicalky.com/
