I started to have pain in left breast 2 1/2 yrs. ago. Felt a golf ball size something. Figured it was a fibroid cyst. Went to Gyno and he said same thing. Went for mammogram (hadn't had one in 12 yrs., shame on me). Suspicious, so had ultra sound, then MRI. Had biopsy. Turned out to be Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. Wow!! I was shocked. Asked why pain, as with cancer there isn't any and was asked if I drank caffeine. Yes. That's what aggrevated the tumor. I thank God for that pain, because once I made the Gyno appt., the pain was gone!!
First Oncologist wanted to do surgery right away, plus augmentation in both breasts, then chemo and radiation. The surgery would have been a partial mastectomy, due to the size of tumor. My son-in-law insisted on my getting a second opinion-and I am soooo glad I did. This Oncologist was wonderful. First, had lymphnode surgery, nothing found, all clean (10 removed). Had 8 sessions of chemo, every other week. Tumor shrank from golf ball size to new pea!!! Only bad experience with chemo was with Taxal!! Had surgery, lumpectomy. Then a month later, went for 36 radiation treatments. I thank God for being with me, in comfort, peace, chemo and radiation (not even red from radiation and very few side effects from chemo). I cannot state hard enough to get a 2nd opinion!! What a difference it made.
This September I will be 2 years cancer-free and I thank God daily.
Please, please, please, ladies, get your mammogram's done on a yearly basis. They said I had this cancer for 10 years!!! I didn't do self-exams either. Please realize the importance of self-exams and mammograms!!
Piqua, OH