In September of 2008 I had been fighting kidney infections. My doctor finally sent me for a cat scan. They found a mass on my left kidney. They could not tell us how extensive the cancer was until they operated. My husband and I went through hell waiting to find out if I was going to have to have a transplant, go through years of treatment or even live through the surgery. At 68 I had no experience with cancer of any kind. No one in my family had ever had any kind of cancer, going back to great grandparents, cousins, aunts or uncles. I was so lucky only the one kidney was affected, no veins or tubes had to be removed. You can survive just fine with one kidney. We felt so blessed. Now all I had to do was recover from the surgery.
Six months later we were planning a trip to Mt. Rushmore and loving life. One night in late April for whatever reason I went in the bathroom and checked my breast. Low and behold there was a lump the size of a quarter. Back to the doctor. Then a mammogram and a needle biopsy. Of course it was Stage 2 cancer. On May 3, 2009 I had a mastectomy, again only the lump had to be removed, no nodes were affected. Then 6 months of Chemo. When I lost my hair I could have cared less, I was fighting for my life again and hair just wasnt my big priority. I am now a true survivor of almost 6 yrs,.
My message to everyone I meet is Do not let the cancer define who you are, go about your life, savor everyday of it and Fight, Fight, Fight.
WYOMING, MI