Another Survivor
Hi, I just joined this group because when I saw it, I thought maybe something I say or even what I've been through might be a help to someone else. My story follows:
I was lying in bed one night and my hand fell cross my chest and I felt a LARGE lump. I didn't have to try and find it. I'm surprised I didn't know it was there, it was so obvious. The next day I called the doctor. A few days later I went in to see him. He said he thought it was just a cyst, nothing serious. He sent me to have it aspirated.
When I went to the next doctor, he said he wanted to do a mamogram before aspirating it so he could see it better. Get this . . . the mamogram DID NOT show it at all and you could feel it because it was the size of a nickle. Anyway, he couldn't aspirate it because nothing would come out. His comment before leaving the rooom was, "This is NOT a cyst." That's when it hit me that it really was cancer.
The first doctor, who specializes in that type of surgery, set me up for surgery. While in surgery, he had sent a biopsy to the lab, which is probably normal, and it came back positive. He didn't do a mastectomy, just a lumpectomy. He said he cut out a large portion around it to make sure he got all of the cancer. He thought he got it all.
After that, I had chemo for 6 months and radiation for 6 months simultaneously. As I went for these treatments, I saw that there were many, many people going through this thing terrible thing called cancer. I saw hopelessness iin their faces and fear. I didn't want to be that way . . . no one does. We have to have hope or we die.
It doesn't matter what doctors say is wrong with you or what the outcome may be predicted, you must have HOPE. I sang songs of my faith, read my scriptures EVERY day. I decided that I was going to be happy because I was going to rejoice! I did it all the way to the treatments, all the way to the doctor, and at home when I wasn't going anywhere.
Eventually, that rejoicing did make me happy. When I would go to the doctor or for treatments, sometimes the nurse would ask, "Are you sure you're sick? You look so good!" I would answer, "No, I'm not sure I'm sick."
I kept my mind on good things and higher things. I did as much as I possibly could to enjoy things, but when I was too tired, I rested. I didn't try to overdo it. When the treatments were over, I was soooo glad.
It's now been 12 years! I'm still cancer free and enjoying life. The best thing, they tell me, is to avoid stress as much as possible. Well, that's not always possible, but sometimes it can be done. Stress is not good for us. It is a contributor to cancer.
I haven't meant to bore you or be too long winded. I just hope someone can be encouraged or helped in some way by what I've shared.
God bless you and keep you.
I was lying in bed one night and my hand fell cross my chest and I felt a LARGE lump. I didn't have to try and find it. I'm surprised I didn't know it was there, it was so obvious. The next day I called the doctor. A few days later I went in to see him. He said he thought it was just a cyst, nothing serious. He sent me to have it aspirated.
When I went to the next doctor, he said he wanted to do a mamogram before aspirating it so he could see it better. Get this . . . the mamogram DID NOT show it at all and you could feel it because it was the size of a nickle. Anyway, he couldn't aspirate it because nothing would come out. His comment before leaving the rooom was, "This is NOT a cyst." That's when it hit me that it really was cancer.
The first doctor, who specializes in that type of surgery, set me up for surgery. While in surgery, he had sent a biopsy to the lab, which is probably normal, and it came back positive. He didn't do a mastectomy, just a lumpectomy. He said he cut out a large portion around it to make sure he got all of the cancer. He thought he got it all.
After that, I had chemo for 6 months and radiation for 6 months simultaneously. As I went for these treatments, I saw that there were many, many people going through this thing terrible thing called cancer. I saw hopelessness iin their faces and fear. I didn't want to be that way . . . no one does. We have to have hope or we die.
It doesn't matter what doctors say is wrong with you or what the outcome may be predicted, you must have HOPE. I sang songs of my faith, read my scriptures EVERY day. I decided that I was going to be happy because I was going to rejoice! I did it all the way to the treatments, all the way to the doctor, and at home when I wasn't going anywhere.
Eventually, that rejoicing did make me happy. When I would go to the doctor or for treatments, sometimes the nurse would ask, "Are you sure you're sick? You look so good!" I would answer, "No, I'm not sure I'm sick."
I kept my mind on good things and higher things. I did as much as I possibly could to enjoy things, but when I was too tired, I rested. I didn't try to overdo it. When the treatments were over, I was soooo glad.
It's now been 12 years! I'm still cancer free and enjoying life. The best thing, they tell me, is to avoid stress as much as possible. Well, that's not always possible, but sometimes it can be done. Stress is not good for us. It is a contributor to cancer.
I haven't meant to bore you or be too long winded. I just hope someone can be encouraged or helped in some way by what I've shared.
God bless you and keep you.
posted
by NanaOfSix
