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
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BCRFA News
Dolly O'Neal "Pink Power Mom" for 2010 by Bright Starts
Dolly A. O'Neal, Co-Founder of the BCRFA has been chosen as one of eight women who have been an inspiration to women and the fight against breast cancer. Bright Starts will donate $5,000 to the BCRFA and $1000 for the next five years.
Dolly will
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
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.
