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A mammogram saved my life in the fall of 2013! My cancer was not the typical lump and was evident by a change in breast tissue. I had had an appointment earlier in the year, but other health concerns had led me to put it off. Long story short, it was Stage 2-B— 6 centimeters without spread to the lymph nodes. I feel certain that if I had put it off much longer, it would have spread to those lymph nodes and further.
The following nine months saw a biopsy, port insertion ( l heartily recommend), chemotherapy with three different drugs, a bilateral mastectomy, 30 radiation treatments and numerous visits to various doctors, hospitals and clinics. I was on an oral chemotherapy drug for 10 years and only recently was able to discontinue that drug.
When they tell you that after the start of chemotherapy that you will lose your hair in 15 days, believe them. The hair actually died and began to come out in clumps. I decided to have my head shaved and called my hairdresser. She was reluctant until she touched my hair and came away with a clump. It was traumatic for her and well as for myself. Luckily my hair returned after treatments were completed, but still have a collection of hats from those days and wear my favorites in the winter. The wig I was given was uncomfortable and hot, and I eventually donated it to someone in need. I would occasionally forget to put on a hat and those were some of the funniest moments of that time period. Co-workers in the area around my office became used to seeing me without a hat, but anyone unaware who ended up in my office would be startled — that deer-in-the-headlight look! The guy at the gas station on a very hot summer day took one look at me with my gloves and bald head, hurriedly got back into his truck and drove to the other side of the station as if I had the plague. The door-to-door salvation sellers were horrified and couldn't get off my porch fast enough. The humor was needed and plus I didn't have to shave my legs for months!
Give yourself Grace. Even in the darkest hour, God is there to help you — trust him! Accept help from family and friends — they want to help, and for Type A's like me it hard to ask for and accept help! Accept that close-in parking space, accept the offer of a meal, a ride, a prayer or a conversation. Find the laughter and humor. Some of the most beautiful words are "no evidence of metastatic disease found."
Get the mammogram, do the self-breast exams, know your body. Don't put if off. I am blessed to have had a great set of caregivers, co-workers, friends and family who looked after me. After 10 years the journey is not over, I'm just traveling down on a different fork in the road!
Kathleen Blackwell