Q4: Have you ever been diagnosed with cancer?
Question:
I've just had successful surgery on some skin cancer. I'm not completely out of the woods yet but am definitely optimistic. Still, even the mention of the dread c-word can be a frightening experience. Have you ever had to face this terrible disease, no matter what the form? How did it affect you and your outlook on life? Please answer with whatever details you feel comfortable with and know that you are not alone. Thank you.
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Answers:
That would be me too. I was diagnosed on St Patrick's Day 2004 with breast cancer. I was 8 months pregnant with my 2nd child, the first was 18 months old. I was induced the next day and gave birth to my second daughter who weighed in at 8 pds 1 oz. My dr said she would have been 11-12 pds if I went full term. Yikes. My first was a hair under 10 pds.
Anyway, I had a mastectomy a week and a half later where they confirmed the three tumors, the biggest being 4 cm. No positive nodes, but the size of my big buddy tumor put me at a stage 2. Ok, I did 12 weeks of AC chemo (the A of the AC is horrible stuff..Adriamiacin--not sure of the spelling, but it's the one that make everything go to hell in a handbasket.), had testing done where they found my tumor markers had gone up. I had a CT and PET scan done where it showed something in my chest nodes and my lungs. My onc wanted to start chemo again for another 6 months, but we went for a second opinion to Mayo clinc. They did a biopsy of my nodes and tah-dah.....negative. They labeled it Sarcoidosis and within a month or so, everything was back to normal. We decided to stay at Mayo. There I did 5 weeks of radiation, and then did a year of Herceptin. Meanwhile I had a second mastectomy after a scare, and in the spring of 05 I had my TRAM reconstruction. I finished Herceptin in May and here I am now. I take Tamoxifen every day for 5 years total, and I am in a study for 5 years also. I have 3 years left of both.
So that is all of the factual information. As far as emotional, I have no clue as to where I am right now. I think I am angry, although no one around me would know that. I have a lot of pressure to stay upbeat so those around me don't look at me like I am dying all of the time. They say that they are pretty confident that I will be fine, but I know of too many people who have it return after 2, 3, 10 years. It's scarey. I am 31 years old now, possibly will not be able to have any more kids, but I guess from day one I didn't think that cancer would kill me, but who knows?
I think I will be able to answer the outlook on life a little better when my anger emotion settles down a little. I try to be positive, I am trying to move forward, but man, some days are harder than others.
Yes, I heard the C-word in 1985 when I was pregnant with my 1st child. I had to have a biopsy performed during my pregnancy which compromised my cervix. Baby was born 8 weeks early and back then that was scary! We almost lost him and he was on oxygen for 30 days but now he's a buff, strapping, gorgeous US Marine on deployment to Iraq! I don't think about it. I stay healthy. I detox twice/year to remove dangerous toxins from my body. Try to stay stress-free and stay OUT of the sun, no matter how good it feels. If you have to be in the sun, cover up your face with hat & dark glasses and wear 50 sunscreen on your body. I lie on a chaise lounge and have my face in the shade of the umbrella and leave the rest of my body out. Take care of your body... it's your humble home.
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