stories of survival

Robin DeMonia

Here's my story, in a nutshell:

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. My UAB surgeon recommended a mastectomy with a sentinel lymph node biopsy, so that's what I had. There was some spread to that lymph node, so they did the whole lymph node dissection thing. (I had reconstruction surgery later.) I had chemotherapy and will soon finish up five years of Tamoxifen. At that point, I believe I will be able to claim that I am a five-year survivor.

Just some other tidbits: Five months after I finished treatment, my fiance (now my husband) was diagnosed with testicular cancer. So we went through another round of surgery and chemo. He passes his five-year mark in January, which will also be our fifth wedding anniversary. So I say we should take a trip!

I have occasionally written about cancer, in the newspaper where I work as an editorial writer and in other forums. On a more personal level, I am the “boob czar” to people around me (ask my sister) who make the mistake of letting me know they are overdue for a mammogram. 

Also, I have to say my Dr. Lisle Nabell, is the best.

Robin

stories of survival

Dr. Violeta B. Caceres

On August 13, 2003 an invasive ductal-cell carcinoma was removed from my right breast via a lumpectomy. As I woke up from the anesthesia, I heard the surgeon tell my husband: “It is cancer”.

Read More of Violeta’s Story