stories of survival
Jennifer Andress
In 2004, I was 35 and in my fourth month of pregnancy with my second child in as many years when a lump appeared. Even though my mother and her sister had both battled stage one breast cancer since the year 2000, I did not think in a million years that my lump was anything other than a clogged milk duct. My OB watched it for a month or two, and then sent me for a biopsy. It was Ductal Carcinoma In Situ, throughout the entire left breast.
My general surgeon, my husband and I wanted to be as aggressive as possible when evaluating my treatment options. Because of my pregnancy, I could not immediately pursue a double mastectomy with reconstruction. While 26 weeks pregnant, I underwent a single mastectomy. After my second son was delivered, I underwent 28 treatments of radiation. Once my skin had healed, 5 months later, I underwent the second (prophylactic) mastectomy and reconstruction.
The second surgery was the best decision I have ever made! My husband was fully supportive, and our family and friends helped us through the recovery process. I am thrilled with the results, and feel we have been as aggressive as possible in this fight. My doctors (plastic surgeon, radiation oncologist, OB/GYN, and general surgeon) and their staffs are a very important part of my life, and I always enjoy seeing them at my check-ups.
I am amazed at the women that have been diagnosed with breast cancer. They are such fighters, and they always have such an amazing support system in place, as well as loving and caring doctors and nurses. I am always happy to share my story with anyone. If I can help one woman in any way, however small, it brings me such joy. It is a journey, for sure, but one that has many, many supporters along the way.
(My mom and aunt are doing great, by the way!)
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BCRFA News
Gift of 100 free pre-commitment for the Funding Breast Cancer Research in AL specialty tag have been claimed!
Mary and Charles Welden of Birmingham, AL graciously provided a gift to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama to provide 100 Alabamians with the “Funding Breast Cancer Research” license plate. As a breast cancer
announcements
The BCRFA donates $227,500 to the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center on December 6, 2007.
stories of survival
Robin DeMonia
I was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, when I was 37. My mother had been diagnosed with advanced breast cancer in her 40s and died when she was 49, so my doctors were vigilant with my care. I had been having regular mammograms since I was at least 35, and a routine mammogram found my tumor when it was still small and had not had much of a chance to spread.
