Breast Cancer
 

Remember Oct is breast cancer awareness month.
Please remember to get mamograms. I am a one year
and 6 month survivor.

I'm a 'stubby and stretch' girl, still here, the 12th is my one year anniversary of the surgery.
Had my annual mammo a few weeks ago and it came back clear.

We are very fortunate, breast cancer is one of the very few we can have tests for, most of the rest of the cancers are found when symptoms become critical... If cost is a barrier check with the komen foundation, they pay for millions of them every year.

Please don't resent all the pink ribbons on everything. I know they can be overwhelming, but the good they've done is immeasurable...and it could easily be You wearing one one day...

Approaching 5 year survival. Don't let the minor discomforts of mammograms keep you away. Self-exam showed nothing but mammogram caught the spot early.

This month I become a 13 year survivor. In response to what Greenheron said, after mine was diagnosed with the Mammogram, my doctor made the comment, "I know right where it is, but still can't feel it. So please don't rely on self examination only. If my doctor couldn't find it, I know I wouldn't be able to.

Wow, congrats to all the strong gals on here. Funny this post just came up, I am going for my mamo on 2 hours, and am dreading it, but you gals have reminded me to suck up up and just get it done!

Congratulations. It is a great feeling to know yu are cancer free. I am 5 years out of colon cancer.
The "mamo's" arent too bad anymore. I, too, get one on the first available day of the new year.

Hugs and love to all the survivors out there.... over here in the UK we do not get mamo's until we are over 50 and then we only get one every three years.

Some great advice that I read with a smile.....

""""" Go and get your mammys grammed """"""!!!!!

Hugs to all

Caroline

Thanks for reminding everyone how important it is to make time for your annual mammogram. I am also one year and six month survivor. I am so thankful for early detection.

I am so thankful that our medical system recognizes early detection as one of the key compenents in battling breast cancer. My insurance company has an online system where you can set up an alarm email they send to you reminding you to get the appointment. As I shared in the personal section here on the QB, a family member was recently diagnosed with BC after having her annual exam. She had been diligent in having the annual mammogram and they caught this vigorously growing cancer. So don't let these slide ladies.

I am a 4-yr survivor. Just got my yearly mammogram last Friday and waiting on results. I know they say now that you should only have one every 2 years if previous ones have been clear and there is no history of BC in your family. However, I fell into this category and wasn't going to have my yearly one, but was going to wait another year. Well, the card came in the mail reminding me to make an appointment for my yearly one. So, I said OK, keep them off my back. That's when they found something, confirmed by a biopsy. I had Stage 1. Had a lumpectomy and radiation. No telling what I would have needed if I had waited that extra year. Don't put your mammogram off!

It's way too easy to think it won't happen to you, but it could. It happened to me - twice. Cervical and breast. Get your Paps, mammos and colonoscopies - they may be uncomfortable, but they save lives!

So glad to hear you are a survivor too. I had my first mastectomy in 1979 (37 years old) and the other in 1984. So far so good. My baby daughter (at 27) had her first one in 2001 and the other one in 2007. She found out about the second one a month before her wedding. Her, now husband, supported her through it all. He told her he loved her no matter what.

Yep! Go gett'em. It only hurts for a little while and the treatments are so much worse!

I was so mad at my mammo tech two years ago when she even bruised my collarbone with that machine, but she found something early, and I am nearly two years out from my diagnosis. Worth it for sure.

I am a survivor of breast cancer, 26 years and counting.

Congrats!!!! for me, it's 3 1/2 yrs

You go Girls!!!

I'm still fighting. Was diagnosed in 2008, came back in 2010 and again this past June. I'm considered Stage 4 now. BUT that doesn't mean the fight is over.

A few minutes of discomfort is worth it!

interesting summer-went for the yearly squish and squash-tech saw 'something'-did an ultrasound-nothing-but she persisted and they did a biopsy-came back positive for LCIS-had a partial mastectomy-go back in 6 months for a recheck.
I am glad it was caught early and that it was taken care of immediately.

Do get the exam-it is worth your life.

2 years cancer free!!! Mammograms are part of my yearly thing to do!

quiltmau, holding you in the pocket of my heart...

I really appreciate hearing from the long time survivors. Is there ever a point when you stop thinking every itch and bump is cancer?

I had my test last month and my results came back with no problem. However, I feel there is something wrong, maybe just my fear, but wondering if I can get a retake. I don't think insurance would go for that, but I might try.

Congrats! So glad.

Like Tartan said the new digital ones are so accurate. They found the tumor in my Left/Louise with not problem, but the Right/Thema was just some very tiny early calicifications that could possibly developed into cancer later down the road. The tech couldn't find it at first, but the radiologist had highlighted a spot for her on the prior mamo to zone in on and there it was. I had a double. Figured if there were already precancers stuff going on, I was only going through that surgery once.

Please know that not every lump is cancer. My Mom has what we call "Lumpy Boobs" She has never had a cancerous lump, has had over 20 large lumps removed over the years, now just has them aspirated. Her's are fibroyed (sp?) tumors. I've had a couple other lumps that were "fatty tumors", not cancerous.

The ladies here that have had or currently do have cancer will tell you there are more than just one type. 3 ladies at work, all 3 of us have had a different type. My Aunt had one type of cancer, I have another. Her's could be hereditary, mine is gene related but not hereditary. You can get cancer at any age. I lost a 16 year old student to Breast Cancer. And guys get it too. Knowledge is power, even in cancer.

As you can see by the ladies here, Breast Cancer is not a death sentence. They are finding new treatments all the time. I honestly believe that ATTITUDE is 99.9% of winning the battle. If you think it's going to kill you, go ahead and get your casket picked out because it will. But, if you have the Belief that you are going to beat this, you can. Even a Stage 4 like me can make it!! I tell people all the time, if the Grim Reaper wants me anytime soon, he better send a bus to run me over because cancer isn't going to get me.

Keep fighting Girls!!

Congrats to all the survivors!!

Congrats, had to go today for more iews and a sono, third time i had to do this. Everything is o.k.
Everyone, get xked it doesnt hurt

No, you never stop thinking about the cancer coming back, but I try not to dwell on it. I try to live each day to the fullest and now that I am 70 and fully retired, I do what I want and I am here for my girls and grandkids when they need me.

Don't play around with the cyst thing. That is what my daughter had and she decided to have the cyst removed and that is when they found the cancer. The doctors kept draining the "cyst" but the fluid kept coming back. You may be wise to have a biopsy, just to be sure. She was only 27 for her first mastectomy and five years later the other breast. So far she is ok.

You go girl, I love your attitude. I had the same attitude when I had mine at 37 and raising three young children alone. It was hard but the Good Lord saw me through it. I prayed for Him to let me live long enough to see them grown and independent of me before He took me. He has answered my prayers and then some. Positive thinking is the key. I think it is in our genes as my mother died with ovarian cancer and my sister has had cancer in both breats also. I look at it as "some good comes out of bad" as they say. I don't use as much deoderant now due to sweat glands gone and losing my period at a young age was a blessing too. We just do what we have to do when it is necessary (sp). Take care and keep you chin up. I've survived 33 years now and still counting and you will too.

29 years for me !! It's hard to believe it's been that long but God,family and friends got me through and of course quilting. You are all in my thoughts. Lorraine:)

It will be 12 years at Thanksgiving for me. Congrats to all the survivors! Prayers and love go out to those still fighting. Isn't it wonderful how many survivors we meet now?

I too am a BC survivor ... one year and six months. Have had annual mammograms for 25 years. My case was somewhat unique ... diagnosed w/metastatic BC but there was no cancer in the breast. My immune system had pushed it out to lymph nodes. That was scary ... 34 cancerous nodes removed ... PET and CAT scans revealed no cancer elsewhere in my body .... Hooray ... didn't have to go through Chemo and Radiation. Taking medication ...probably for the rest of my life ... but at age 74 I couldn't be happier.

Am so not looking forward to my mammo on Oct 17, but willdo it anyway.

9 yrs and going strong.

GOD IS GOOD!!!! Congratulations and I am happy that there was no spreading. Take care..

My mom died of Breast Cancer-NOT me, I have had an annual mammogram since the age of 30, and don't regret it at all early detection is the key, and the tight squeeze reminds us all, as soon as the tech releases the machine-"It's over" and you get the results mostly right away from the tech, if there is a problem, they take another exam, and the Radiologist will send you a beautiful card or letter in the mail, putting your mind at ease.

I am old enough to have lost several dear friends over the years to this terrible disease, and lucky enough to have some other friends who have fought the battle successfully. This is terribly important, people. Don't let distractions and excuses get in the way of doing what you can to keep yourself safe, and remind your loved ones.

I just made my appointment. My sister and my mother both had breast cancer, so this is one appointment I always keep. Thanks for the reminder.