I had my annual mammogram in December of 2003. April 15, 2004 had left rotator cuff surgery, on the 22nd found the lump, same side. After being told numerous times by that surgeon plus physicians assistant (males) it was scar tissue "don't worry" I thought it might just be my imagination., I didn't give up, just quit mentioning it to them. In intense therapy sessions, I had no energy to move. Therapy ended July 23, my doctor (female) worked me in July 26, mammo/ultrasound that day - mammogram didn't find, even though we knew something was there (breasts were extremely dense), ultrasound found it, diagnosis 8/11, biopsy 8/20, two surgeries 9/2, removed two lumps and one forming on chest wall,stage 3-b, lymph nodes involved, removed 9/7, port 9/29, first chemo 10/6, hair fell out 10/15, massive mastitis infection 10/23 - week in hospital. On it went. I finished radiation May 20 2005, the day of my first "Survivor Participant" Relay For Life. I wish I had been more insistent about it, but I did not give up. thank God that Dr. S. ordered the ultrasound and from there I had wonderful Drs. who were able to guide me through a horrible experience. My Drs. learned quickly I was afraid of needles and getting stitches and always put me at ease. I relied a lot on humor to get me through, made a "wig" -sewed bright orange yarn onto cap, "rolled" the yarn on curlers, and put a hair net over it, wore that for chemo days. I would like to say, if you think you have found something DON'T GIVE UP, keep telling til someone listens. Even though the shoulder surgeon thought the lump was nothing, rotator cuff surgery ultimately saved my life by knocking that lump loose.

Lynn
Waynesville, NC