THE BEGINNING OF MY STORY
To begin my story, my name is Judy. I was 51 years of age when I first went to my GYN doctor about a lump that I found in my right breast. I should have gone 7 months earlier, when I noticed a strange happening in my nipple. It would invert half way on one side, but since it didn't stay inverted or do that daily, I didn't bring it to the attention of the technicians during my April 2000 mammogram or in June, to the attention of my GYN doctor, during my routine yearly check-ups. I know now that what was happening was the tumor underneath the breast was pulling the nipple sideways, as it was growing. I should have told them what was going on that was unusual, but since there was no lump present and since my nipple wasn't inverted on the day of the mammogram or my yearly GYN visit, I just didn't want to mention it. BIG MISTAKE! By putting this off, the cancer was able to spread into one of my lymph-nodes under my arm, but just slightly so. However, because of that one lymph-node being slighly cancerous, after my surgeries, I had to take chemo treatments and radiation treatments. If the cancer had not spready into the lymph node, then I would have just have taken the radiation treatments and not had to lose my hair, due to the chemo side-effects. LIVE AND LEARN, I do believe!
When I went to my GYN doctor, Dr. Keen, in Nov. 2000, she felt the lump and sent me on Dec. 19, 2000 to an excellent breast surgeon, Dr. C. Alan Henry. He compared my April mammogram x-rays to the new mammogram x-rays, which were made that day, and after examining the lump, he did an almost painless needle biopsy in his office. I was first given a shot to numb the area, which only was like a tiny little bee-string (no big deal at all) and then he did the needle biopsy in his office. Two days later on Dec. 21, 2000, my husband and I went back into his office for the results. It was cancer! (MERRY CHRISTMAS, HUH? - LOL)! It is so much better keeping a sense of humor during trials and tribulations. My Christmas and New Years were very merry and happy, with no tears shed! I knew I was in God's hands; that HE had created me and wouldn't be taken me back home to Him, until the time was right! GOD does know what is best!
Many people might take the view point of "OH NO, WHY ME?" But I took the view point of "WHY NOT ME!" Truly a thought to ponder! I am no more special than anyone else on this planet, though I do love my
LORD GOD
and am so happy to be His child! He does take care of His children! My FATHER GOD gave me the strength to face everything and was with me all the way. The main thing to remember is NOT to PANIC, to turn to GOD and stay focused on HIM . HE will be there for you and never leave your side, if you will only ask HIM to. GOD will be with you ALL the way... HE is the way, the truth and the light! Trust in HIM !
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT EARLY DETECTION IS SO VERY IMPORTANT! At the first signs of anything becoming adnormal in your body, please go to a doctor and tell him everything, as soon as possible. DON'T PUT YOUR BODY OFF...IT IS A GIFT FROM GOD AND IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THAT GIFT!
May
GODcontinue to bless each of you and keep you healthy and well!
IF I CAN BE OF HELP TO YOU, RELATING TO MY EXPERIENCE WITH BREAST CANCER, PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT:
kwgjcg@cox.net
BACK TO
ABOUT BREAST CANCER - MY EXPERIENCE
HOME
