Reply #17: I was diagnosed in 1997

[Contrary1]

with stage 2 breast cancer. (I refuse to dignify the disease with caps) I found the lump myself 6 months after an "all clear" mammogram. Turned out that the tumor was visible on that mammogram. The technician had circled it, drawn an arrow to it, and had even drawn a big question mark on the film. For whatever reason, it was never written up.

By the time it was biopsied, it had already spread too far to save the breast. I had a modified radical mastectomy. I followed that up with 4 rounds of chemo (Adriamycin/Cytoxin). After that was over, I started 5 years of Tamoxifen, and volunteered for a dosage study
on one of the anti-angiogenesis cancer drugs. That lasted one year.
The drug will most likely never hit the market as it generated severe cases of bursitis in many of the trial participants. Also, they could
not pinpoint a tolerable dose that could be used by all. Too bad, as it had showed real promise in the treatment of several forms of cancer.

In 2000, I started finding lumps in the other breast. After serious thought and talking with my surgeon, I opted for a prophylactic mastectomy on the remaining breast. Turned out to be the right thing to do, as the pathology reports showed the presence of what they call "pre-cancer".

I remember one cold winter night, (after I had lost my hair) that I was having a late night pity party for myself. I was channel surfing, trying to take my mind off everything, when I stumbled upon one of my all-time favorite movies, Shawshank Redemption. One of the lines from that movie slapped me upside my head, and became my battle cry. I still use it today, when I talk to other people with cancer.

"Get busy living, or get busy dying."

You are your best advocate in your own health care. Ask questions, research, ask to see scans, xrays, and reports. Get second and third opinions if necessary, and do not ever forget...it is your body, not the doctor's, or anyone else's.