Living with Breast Cancer

I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH MEDULARY CARCINOMA OF THE LEFT BREAST IN 1989, I CHOSE TO DO ELECTIVE CHEMO AND RADIATION, AFTER THE TUMOR WAS REMOVED. I WAS 38 YEARS OLD. I AM NOW 56 YEARS OLD. THE DOCTORS TOLD ME I DID NOT HAVE TO UNDERGO RADIATION OR CHEMO BECAUSE ALL OF MY LYMPH NODES WERE NEGATIVE UNDER MY LEFT ARM… HERE IS WHY I CHOSE TO DO THEM.

I WAS WORKING AS A CNA IN A HOSPITAL, AND GOING TO R.N. SCHOOL. THE ER DOCTOR GRABBED ME BY MY LEFT ARM AND TOLD ME TO COME INTO THE ER TO SEE SOMETHING. HE Had AN OLD LADY WITH BREAST CANCER SHE NEVER EVER WENT TO THE DOCTOR AND HER BREAST WAS JUST AN OPEN SORE. THE LADYS DAUGHTER WAS STANDING OVER HER MOTHER CRYING AND SAYING, IF MAMA HAD JUST TRIED CHEMO SHE MIGHT NOT BE DYING. THIS HELPED ME MAKE MY DECISION BECAUSE I HAVE THREE DAUGHTERS OF MY OWN AND I DID NOT WANT THEM TO GO THRU WHAT THIS DAUGHTER DID.

SO I CALLED ALL MY DOCTORS AND TOLD THEM LETS DO IT. GOD SENT THIS ER DOCTOR MY WAY TO HELP ME MAKE MY OWN DECISION OF WHAT TO DO. I WAS MARRIED TO MY HUSBAND FOR 32 YEARS AND I THOUGHT I WOULD DIE BEFORE HIM, BUT GOD SAW IT DIFFERENT. MY HUSBAND DEVELOPED A BRAIN TUMOR AT THE AGE OF 50 AND NEVER HAD BEEN SICK IN HIS LIFE. HE WAS GIVEN 4 MONTHS TO LIVE, BUT WE WERE BLESSED TO HAVE HIM FOR 21 MONTHS. THIS GAVE HIM TIME TO TELL HIS FAMILY BYE, PLAN HIS FUNERAL, GO DEER HUNTING AND WE TOOK A CRUISE.

I AM A REGISTERED NURSE AND HE WAS AN OWNER-OPERATOR TRUCKING FIRM. I BELIEVE USING A CELL PHONE ATTRIBUTED TO HIS BRAIN TUMOR. SO IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE THAT USES A CELL PHONE, PLEASE TELL THEM TO SWITCH EARS SOMETIMES. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. ONE THING TO KNOW IS THAT STRESS IS THE NUMBER ONE FACTOR IN DEVELOPING CANCER OF ANY KIND, AND ALSO KEEPING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE WILL HELP. I AM A HOSPICE NURSE AS WELL, AND ONE THING I HAVE LEARNED FROM MY PATIENTS IS THIS… THEY DO NOT WANT THEIR FAMILY TO HURT OR SUFFER BECAUSE OF THEIR DISEASE, AND THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT CANCER, AND DO NOT AVOID SAYING CANCER TO YOUR LOVED ONES…