Many of my friends don't know this,but I am a breast cancer survivor. Five years ago, a week before my 40th birthday, I had a modified radical mastectomy, losing my left breast and surrounding lymph nodes. The tumor was 7.5 centimeters and 4 out of 9 nodes were positive for the cancer. It was classified a stage III cancer because of the lymph node involvement and the size of the tumor. A couple weeks after my surgery, I was started on an aggressive chemotherapy protocol to take care of any cancer cells that may have been remaining in my body. I had six treatments spaced three weeks apart in which I received intravenously a combination of Adriamycin, Cytoxan, and 5-fluorourcil. During the chemo I lost weight (much needed) but also lost all my hair, head to toe. Once chemotherapy was finished, I embarked on a round of radiation therapy. Five days a week I had to go in and have the area that used to be my left breast zapped with high levels of radiation to help insure that future cancer cells could not grow and multiply here. Finally, the treatments were over and my hair was returning. It was time for the plastic surgeon to weave his magic. I had the skin gradually stretched and a saline implant inserted to give me, what I refer to as, my faux breast. It's as much mine as the one that God gave me, I have the bill of sale to prove it.

I was not diligent about self breast exams (never remembered it). I didn't have the recommended mammograms (never got around to it). Because of this a cancerous tumor was allowed to grow and begin to branch out and what could have been a simple lumpectomy became a much more invasive procedure. I also had the added knowledge of knowing I was a prime candidate for this disease. My mother has been a breast cancer survivor for over 25 years now. My daughter must be especially aware of this legacy which she has inherited.

The army surgeon (Dr Holcomb, wherever you are, I love you) told me the odds of surviving 5 years was only 50%. It's now been five years and there hasn’t been one recurrence. I believe in miracles. I believe in angels. God has given me both. I look at that year I turned 40 as a special gift. I learned that life is precious, we're all dying, just on different schedules. We all face obstacles on this journey we are on, it's how we handle them that makes the difference between merely surviving and embracing life. I truly believe that we are not humans on a spiritual journey, but rather spirits on a human journey.

Please check out my links on breast cancer. Become aware of breast cancer and the toll it takes on us. We can make a difference.

Learn how to perform a self breast exam
Race for the cure
The latest information on mammograms
The National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations
NYSERNet breast cancer information clearing house
Breast Cancer Network
National Cancer Institute
Breast Cancer Net
Community Breast Health Project
Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization
Carol Sutton, designer of the pink ribbon on this page

"It is the time you have devoted to your rose

that makes your rose so important"