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
Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama makes its largest donation yet to UAB
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA), a longtime and dedicated supporter of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, has presented its largest annual gift to date: $400,000.
Since its inception in 1996, the BCRFA
announcements
Gardendale Youth Football Raises $17,350 for Breast Cancer Research!
helpful websites & info
- The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Living beyond breast cancer
- Young Survival Coalition
- Mesothelioma Information
- House Cleaning Help for Cancer Patients
- Confronting Cancer with Faith
For more helpful web sites, click here
Check out the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of AL on FACEBOOK!
stories of survival
Kathy Kemp
I was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer in January 2002. Doctors originally thought I had early stage cancer. But less than a month after my lumpectomy, I started having back pain, and a scan showed the breast cancer had spread to my bones.
I was devastated and couldn’t really talk or read about it for several months. By May 2002, though, I was still alive and more comfortable with the diagnosis. I wrote my first Birmingham News column about my situation on Mother’s Day 2002.
