tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77378679589139986012024-03-13T00:02:27.437-04:00Get Up SwingingThe boobs are fake. The snark is real.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.comBlogger279125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-58637715997577425262013-12-31T11:46:00.002-05:002013-12-31T11:46:29.767-05:00Get Up Swinging has movedGet Up Swinging Version 2.0 has moved <a href="http://www.getupswinging.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. I hope to see you all there!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-2884394211746981422013-11-26T16:46:00.002-05:002013-11-27T08:55:07.853-05:00Invisible in a corner<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At a recent baby shower for a friend of mine, I walked into the dining room just in time to hear an acquaintance, an old drinking buddy of mine, say to my then-expectant friend: "I think it's so great you're having a baby. It's so awesome that <i>everyone </i>in the group have babies now. We all grew up together, partied together, and now we all have families. You're the last of us."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I stared at this acquaintance - someone who I had spent many nights in the past getting drunk with - and felt like someone had punched me in the gut. I stood there in the corner of the hostess' dining room, feeling not just invisible but enraged. I debated whether or not to speak up, announce myself from the corner and say, "Well, not everyone has a baby, you asshole." I also imagined flipping a table and moon-walking out of the room with my two middle fingers ablazing. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zu1fO-UJWsM/UpQKVYSdhyI/AAAAAAAABmk/8wGTXNUOF_8/s1600/anchorman6.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="174" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zu1fO-UJWsM/UpQKVYSdhyI/AAAAAAAABmk/8wGTXNUOF_8/s320/anchorman6.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Given that the day was about my pregnant friend, who was just radiating happiness, I just quickly left the room and realized that my decision to "lose" this woman's phone number well over a year ago was an excellent decision. A true friend of mine would realize that I was in the room.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm 33 years old, and the odds of me starting my own family are pretty much slim to none. Every day, I have to accept that fact and learn to live a Plan B life since Plan A never came to fruition. Breast cancer took my mother, and it likely took away my ability to ever become a mother. Before you might think, "You can just adopt," just don't. Adoption is just as expensive, long and drawn out, and many places have restrictions for people like me - former sickies. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before I began chemotherapy, at the recommendation of my medical oncologist, I visited a reproductive endocrinologist. I took some steps to safeguard my fertility, such as monthly Lupron shots, to minimize my chance of chemo destroying those parts responsible for babies. In a follow-up visit with that same reproductive specialist, he told me that the Lupron worked, but so far nothing has happened on that front.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A question I have been surprisingly asked a lot: "Did you freeze your eggs?' </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The answer: no. My insurance didn't cover it, and I have yet to find that money tree (always looking, though.) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Infertility is a common side effect following cancer treatment, not just breast cancer, for women in their child-bearing years. According to an April 2, 2012 <i>Time </i><a href="http://healthland.time.com/2012/04/02/most-young-women-with-cancer-dont-try-to-preserve-their-fertility/" target="_blank">article</a>:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Each year, more than 120,000 U.S. women under age 50 learn they have cancer, but only 4 percent of women of childbearing age who have cancer are preserving their fertility, according to a study published in March in the journal <i>Cancer</i>. The news puzzles advocates of oncofertility, and suggests that efforts to educate women about ways to safeguard their fertility need to be stepped up.</span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A March 26, 2012 <i>ABC News </i><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/women-cancer-freeze-eggs/story?id=15988472#.T3k4fHi3ofM" target="_blank">piece</a> stated:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just as it is automatic for patients to consult with a plastic surgeon to discuss reconstruction after a mastectomy, [Dr. Mitchell] Rosen said fertility consultation should be a part of the process, as well. But, while reconstructive surgery is covered by health insurance, fertility preservation is not, and it can cost as high as $20,000.</span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Infertility in of itself is a horrible condition to go through when you want a child but your body fails you. Infertility after a disease that completely changes your body and your world is just a whole bunch of a salt in a deep wound. I know what it feels like to have my body to fail me, to feel like I was physically slipping away. It would bring me the utmost joy in the world to bring life into the world. That joy just hasn't happened for me yet. Until then, I plan on being the World's Best Aunt for my brothers' awesome children.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I hope any friends or family members of mine reading this don't think, "Oh gosh, I shouldn't tell Lara about my pregnancy or the birth of my child." Please, don't think that at all. Tell me your good news, and never shield me from the goings on in your life. I just hope that you </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(the general you)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> think about what you say around a woman without children or what you you ask her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>"When are you and [your boyfriend/spouse/partner] having children?"</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6bgYGVteQFs/UpURvBk_s8I/AAAAAAAABm4/amb0oZZilT8/s1600/youneedtostop.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6bgYGVteQFs/UpURvBk_s8I/AAAAAAAABm4/amb0oZZilT8/s320/youneedtostop.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you find yourself about to ask this question, stop yourself. This is an extremely personal question that you shouldn't ask any woman, not just someone who has been through cancer treatment. According to the CDC, 6.7 million of women between the ages 15 through 44 have the "impaired ability to get pregnant or carry a baby to term." You don't know what's going on in a woman's life, and that question could just be a reminder of something very painful. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Or a woman might not want to have any children, and your question put this person on the defensive, having to explain their life choices. You don't want to defend why you had kids, so a child-free man or woman shouldn't have to defend why they didn't have any kids. Just in general, don't ask that question. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When in doubt, don't be a dick. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A great question to ask: <b>"So what's new and good happening in your world?"</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now to make this all cancer-related, don't ever say this to someone who had recently been through treatment for cancer:<b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>"So now that cancer is behind you, are you thinking of having kids?"</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No, no, no. First, at least for estrogen-positive breast cancer, women have to take Tamoxifen for five (sometimes ten) years. (I should have been one of those women, but due to the side effects of that medication, I stopped taking it after six months.) Be aware that you may be asking someone who cannot and should not get pregnant about when they are going to start a family. Also, that question may be dismissive of what they have been through - this person might not feel that cancer is "behind" them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A great question to ask: <b>"How are you doing? What's new?"</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Overall, just be a friend. Notice that friend in the corner and be aware of what you're saying or asking. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-------------- </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you were just diagnosed with cancer and you think you might want to have children in the future, then you should speak with your oncologist about your fertility preservation options. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For more information about fertility options after cancer treatment, please visit <a href="http://www.fertilehope.org/" target="_blank">Fertile Hope</a> which provides "reproductive information, support and hope to cancer patients and survivors whose medical treatments present the risk of infertiliy." Cancer treatment is brutal and barbaric, so it's understandable to concentrate solely on the Now and not the Future. If you want to have children after cancer treatment, then fight like hell to make that happen. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-26306146865940111992013-11-17T11:39:00.000-05:002013-11-17T11:39:44.966-05:00Marie Rose<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The next story comes from Marie Rose, another young woman diagnosed with breast cancer in her 20s. She is proud to tell the world she has been cancer-free for three years.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Age and Diagnoses</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/breast-cancer/AN00495" target="_blank">Her2+</a>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Family History or BRCA positive</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No family history and negative for BRCA.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Who caught it? </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I initially found it when I was twenty. I showed my mom and one of my sisters. They both said they didn't really feel anything and that it was normal. I have had irregular menstrual cycles and at 22. I decided to finally see an OB. It may sound odd but in my family we do not believe in premarital sex so there should be no need to see an OB unless you were pregnant. I was not active but I wanted to know if it was normal to have irregular cycles and would this affect my ability to have children. Upon getting checked the doctor wrote the lump off as being a part of "puberty." I am not sure if it is because I have a youthful face or if this doctor was truly paying attention. Fast forward to me at 26 years old. My best friend told me that if I really wanted to have children that I should get checked out by an OB. She referred me to hers. At 26, I still had abnormal menstrual cycles. Growing up I was told it was because I was athletic. Anyway the OB gave me a routine pap with a breast exam. She found my lump and told me not to worry because it is probably nothing. She referred me to a surgeon just to be sure. I met with the surgeon and again was reassured that it was nothing. Two days after my lumpectomy I received the phone call that would and will continue to change my life.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What were the signs/symptoms? </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No symptoms--I just had an instinct that something wasn't right with my body.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Did your doctors listen to you? </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is an ongoing issue with people in the medical field. They see tons of people and it is easy to slip into the cracks and become just another number. My doctors, however; were amazing. They listened to me and became like family. Being diagnosed so young I was able to give my doctor's insight on how cancer can affect someone at a young age.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What would you say to a young woman who thinks something might be wrong? </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I tell all of my friends and family to check themselves, know your body better than your doctors, and that early detection is key. It is your body and your life--treat it as a gift and take care of it as such.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-4058790637967274142013-11-12T22:05:00.001-05:002013-11-12T22:06:03.392-05:00Nicole<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The next story comes from Nicole, and you can find her blog, When I Speak His Name, <a href="http://whenispeakhisname.blogspot.com/p/my-breast-cancer-journey.html" target="_blank">here</a>. If you click on the provided link, you'll find more details about what she has been through. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Age and Diagnosis</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was 28 when I was diagnosed with <a href="http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-stage-3" target="_blank">Stage 3c</a> invasive ductal carcinoma. [</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>When I heard that her breast cancer diagnosis was stage 3c, I actually lost my breath</i>.]</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> It was grade 2 Estrogen and Progesterone positive and HER2 negative.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Family History or BRCA?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My mom was diagnosed with stage 0 DCIS and after 2 lumpectomies without clean margins she opted for a mastectomy and they found Mucinous carcinoma. My paternal grandfather on my had esophageal cancer and then 12 years later was diagnosed with breast cancer and he eventually died from cancer. My maternal grandmother died from lung cancer.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So with all this family history my doctors were a little surprised when my BRAC Analysis came back negative. They held a sample back for the new BART (BRACAnalysis Large Rearrangement Test), but my insurance didn't cover it. Six months later my insurance decided to cover it and they found a rare mutation on my BRCA2 gene. It was surprisingly passed down my father's side of the family. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Who caught it?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was putting lotion on one morning after getting in the shower and rubbed the side of my breast from right under my armpit forward and had I not pressed a little harder than normal I could have completely missed it. But it was in my right breast closer to my chest wall and it was big. I remember calling my husband in and asking him to feel and I will never forget the look on his face.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Did your doctors listen to you?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I actually had to wait six weeks to go to the doctor for my insurance to become effective. By the grace of God my company had decided after six months of me working there to offer insurance. I love my doctor and I will never forget what she said, "Let's not worry until there's something to worry about. It's a one and a million chance, but let's just be on the safe side." During my chemo induced insomnia I actually did the math - it's actually 1 in 7.4 million. But a week later I was in for an ultrasound and mammogram and thanks to an amazing radiologist My lump (which a new one had popped up so there were now two) was biopsied the next day.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What would you say to a young woman who thinks something might be wrong?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Be your own advocate. I always worried that I was a hypochondriac when I didn't feel good, but in my heart I knew something was going on and I knew when I found that lump that it was cancer. Had I been doing self exams I may have found it sooner. I think as women, God gives us a special intuition that men don't have....It's why we make good mothers. And it's that intuition that can save your life. "Better safe than sorry" has taken on a whole new meaning in my life. Had I waited much longer I would be talking to you now as a stage 4 cancer patient.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-43602848482119984052013-11-07T20:27:00.000-05:002013-11-07T20:27:43.626-05:00Jenna<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is Jenna's story. To learn more about her and her story, please visit her <a href="http://jennasjugsjournal.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fTv4npvU7gs/Unw8yvU7sII/AAAAAAAABkw/zIXKJsuGXmo/s1600/Jenna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fTv4npvU7gs/Unw8yvU7sII/AAAAAAAABkw/zIXKJsuGXmo/s320/Jenna.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Age and Diagnosis</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Age 33 stage 2B invasive ductal carcinoma, estrogen and progesterone positive, her2 negative, grade 3</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Family History or BRCA?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A great aunt was diagnosed at age 70 but no other family history. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Who caught it?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I woke up one morning and brushed my fingers along the underside of my left breast. There was a large lump not too far under the skin. How could I have not felt this before? My heart stopped, I got nauseous, dizzy, and broke into a sweat. I had never had lumpy breasts and this lump was hard as a rock. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Did your doctors listen to you?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was able to get into the doctor that day. He assured me that it felt smooth and moveable so he didn't think it was anything, but he wanted me to have an ultrasound to be sure. 2 days later I had the ultrasound and a day after that I had my diagnosis. I am so thankful my doctors acted fast and didn't blow me off.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What would you say to a young woman who thinks something might be wrong?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do your self exams. I never did mine because I incorrectly assumed that because I was young and had no family history, I was not at risk at a young age. My tumor was rather large when I found it. If I had done checks I could have caught it earlier. Please insist on an ultrasound if you find a lump. Insist on a biopsy if its determined to be solid. It's not the most fun I've ever had but its much better to know what you're dealing with and get treatment started than to ignore it. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-25911142066879108122013-10-31T21:05:00.000-04:002013-11-01T10:05:03.365-04:00@Zapladybug<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Next up is <a href="https://twitter.com/zapladybug" target="_blank">@zapladybug</a>'s story. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Age and Diagnosis</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Age 38, invasive ductal carcinoma - stage 2b with one positive lymph node. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Family history or BRAC?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My father had prostate cancer and my aunt (his sister) was diagnosed with <a href="http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-treating-stage0" target="_blank">Stage 0 in SITU</a> breast cancer two years after I was diagnosed. Other than that, we have no family history with cancer - women's or otherwise.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My BRAC test came back negative, for what that's worth.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Who caught it?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I found a lump in my breast seven years before diagnosis. I immediately saw my doctor. He thought it was a cyst based on how it felt and told me to come back after my next menstrual cycle. I did and at that point, it was a lot smaller, so he confirmed it was a cyst. He told me not to worry about it because there is "no connection" between cysts and breast cancer and to stop drinking caffeine. (Ironically, I was getting most of my caffeine from green tea.) Over the years, I felt less concerned because my doctors weren't and from what they told me, it fit the profile of a cyst. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After seven years the lump felt different - it was more solid and it didn't change depending on my menstrual cycle. I put off going to the doctor for a couple of months because I thought it was still a cyst, but two months later I started to feel pain in my breast. That's when I went to the doctor and learned I had breast cancer.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Coincidentally, within a week or two of my diagnosis, I heard that researchers found there "may actually be" a link between breast cysts and breast cancer.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What were the signs?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Solid lump and pain. I think the pain aspect is really important because I was repeatedly told that "breast cancer doesn't hurt," and since diagnosis, I have met countless women who experienced pain before diagnosis. I think this makes sense - the tumor was pushing tissue, ducts, etc., out of the way - why wouldn't it hurt?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Did your doctors listen to you?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At the time of diagnosis? Yes and no. My general practitioner tried to get me an appointment with a breast surgeon the same day she felt the tumor. (I went in the next day.) I am African American, but mixed race so people often think I'm Caucasian. I told the breast surgeon that I'm Afrian American, but she asked me repeatedly if I was certain that I didn't have an Ashkenazi Jewish background. My husband and I were flustered that she asked me that question so often. Many young women get breast cancer - not just Ashkenazi Jewish women.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After I began treatment my medical onologiist didn't listen to me about Herceptin and Tamoxifen side effects. AFter three visits, my husband took the day off from work to tell my doctor the same exact things I repeatedly told him. He then took it seriously.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What would you say to a young woman who might have something wrong?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Advocate for yourself. If you notice any changes at all - and if you're diagnosed with a cyst - insist on regular mammograms and perform regular self-exams. Don't assume that everything's fine just because you're young or your doctors say it's just a cyst and you have nothing to worry about. Although statistically speaking you have a very small chance of developing breast cancer, it happens.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you are a young woman with breast cancer, know that you are not alone. <a href="http://www.youngsurvival.org/" target="_blank">Young Survival Coalition</a> is a fantastic resource for young breast cancer patients and survivors. Also, be sure to look into ways you can minimize the risk of developing <a href="http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/physicalsideeffects/lymphedema/whateverywomanwithbreastcancershouldknow/index" target="_blank">lymphedema </a>and, if you do develop it, go see your doctor immediately. My doctors told me not to worry about it, but it's the one side effect of breast cancer treatment that impacts my life every minute of every day.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-64559833626742956862013-10-30T14:18:00.005-04:002013-10-30T14:19:46.209-04:00Shellie<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The next story comes from another friend of mine - Shellie. Please see her blog <a href="http://www.clevercancertitle.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Clever Cancer Title</a> to learn more about Shellie and her story.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Age and diagnosis</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was 31 years old when I was diagnosed. November 18, 2012. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Stage 2B.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Family history of BRCA mutation?</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">No family history. But I did have Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma when I was 13. They say by the time you find breast cancer it has been growing for about 20 years. If this is true, I see some connection with the fact that I was in my puberty years and receiving multiple CT Scans and MRI's. I never got radiation which I've heard plays a big part in young non-hodgekin fighters in getting breast cancer later on.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Who caught it?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Actually the person who caught it was a plastic surgeon. I went in for a consultation to get breast implants in May of 2012. It was very small, and I hadn't even felt it yet. But he did, but brushed it off that I was too young to worry about it. I actually scheduled surgery for December of that year (giving myself time to save up money for the surgery) I put $500 for the surgery. They never asked me to get clearance for the lump he found. When I called to cancel the surgery because I was diagnosed with cancer they denied refunding me the $500 down payment. Which at the time was a blow.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What were the signs?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">From May 2012 to November when I went it... it had quadrupled in size. It was large and painful. I felt it all the time. I can't believe I just thought it would "go away' with having cancer history ... I was just in so much denial. How could I get cancer again? No, I already did my cancer time.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Did your doctors listen to you?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yes, from the time I went into my obgyn I had a mammogram set for the next day. It was less then a week from my first visit to my diagnosis. Maybe that's why I put it off for so long. Anytime I went in for anything I always got the 3rd degree and had multiple tests that usually cost me a lot of money.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I just thought it would be one of those situations. And after 20 years of going through multiple tests... it had gotten old. I just kept thinking it would have the same outcome. You're fine.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What would you say to a young woman who thinks something might be wrong?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Don't put it off, breast cancer is a deadly disease once it spreads out of your breast. It is then stage 4 and there is no cure. It can spread, and given time it probably will. As soon as you sense anything is wrong, go in. Don't wait. It's really scary, but people are here to help every step of the way. My favorite quote is "Parts are just parts and the only one that truly matters is the heart." Whenever I get sad or scared I say that to myself like my own mantra. And its true.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-6961632436768490442013-10-29T09:48:00.000-04:002013-10-29T09:48:29.862-04:00LexieThe next story comes from Lexie, who you can learn more about at <a href="http://lexiesbreastcancer.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html" target="_blank">Lexie's Breast Cancer</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Age and diagnosis</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
39<br />
<br />
Left Breast - Infiltrating Poorly Differentiated Duct Cell Carcinoma<br />
Stage IIIc, ER+/PR-, HER2-<br />
Histologic Grade 3/3, Nuclear Grade 3/3, Mitotic Grade 2/3<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Family history or BRCA mutation?</b><br />
<br />
Yes I have BRCA 2.<br />
<br />
[Lexie's blog states that her mother and grandmother passed away from ovarian cancer.]<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Who caught it?</b><br />
<br />
My husband.<br />
<br />
[Here is more from Lexie's <a href="http://lexiesbreastcancer.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html" target="_blank">blog</a>]<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>This was June 2012 the doctor also gave me my prescription for the mammogram to have it done by August. Since we were moving and breast cancer was the last thing on my mind I pushed it off. One day in September [her husband] touched me and felt the lump. For some reason I knew right away it was cancer. So when I went for the mammogram I told the tech. When I went back for the ultrasound you could tell by the look on their face even if they did try to hide it.</i> </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>I am glad I did not wait for my doctor to call me and I took matters into my own hands. I got the whole process started much earlier then if I would have waited and the outcome might have been different. But right now I am happy but scared I am worried that when all said and done this will come back and I won't be around to watch [her son] get older and married.</i></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<b>What were the signs?</b><br />
<br />
Just a lump.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Did your doctors listen to you?</b><br />
<br />
No not in the beginning. I was very proactive and switched surgeons and oncologists,<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>What would you say to a young woman who thinks she might have something wrong?</b><br />
<br />
Listen to your gut. You know what is going on with your body.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-50067631161654859522013-10-25T10:20:00.001-04:002013-10-25T10:23:04.939-04:00Kate<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was introduced to Kate through a mutual friend who wanted me to meet a friend of hers who had children after her breast cancer diagnosis. I was feeling pretty awful about my fertility, or lack thereof, and hearing Kate's story helped me in so many ways. Kate is one of the nicest women I have "met" (since we're online buddies), and it's amazing to know that out of something so terrible, like breast cancer, friendships like these can arise. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Here is Kate's story:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Age and Diagnosis</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was 27 when I was diagnosed, 32 now. I was diagnosed with Stage 2A, slightly Her2N+ (basically triple negative) ductal carcinoma with medullary features. There was no lymph node involvement. My tumor was a nasty one, Grade 3, 2.7 centimeters with a high proliferation index.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Family history or BRAC?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There has been plenty of cancer in my family, but no breast cancer. Both my dad's parents died of cancer in the years leading up to my diagnosis (Grandfather had prostate and bladder cancer, Grandmother had a rare type of sarcoma that metastasized to her lungs), and my dad had received treatment for a melanoma. Since my diagnosis, my dad's younger brother was diagnosed with prostate cancer at a young age.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My BRAC test came back negative, for what that's worth.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Who caught it?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I found my tumor. It was bizarre. One day everything is normal, and the next I had this mass the size of a ping-pong ball sticking out of my chest. It was visible and high enough on my chest to see it in a modest v-neck. My husband and I were house sitting, and one night I noticed it as I was getting ready for bed. Wes thought I should take it seriously, so I showed up at my GP's office the next morning first thing without an appointment.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>What were the signs?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The scary thing was there weren't many signs leading up to my diagnosis. I felt great, didn't have any issues with my breasts. In retrospect, I realize I was coming out of a seriously stressful time in my life and that I might have missed signs. I am lucky my tumor was so obvious, because I would have missed a more subtle one.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Did your doctors listen to you?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have the most amazing general practitioner ever. She has treated me since I was a teenager, as well as treating many of my female relatives. She was even invited to my wedding! She did listen to me, as she has done every time I've gone to see her. She wanted me to have an ultrasound done just in case, though she thought it was probably nothing. I had an ultrasound that afternoon, and Dr. T called me that evening. The results were unclear, so they thought I should have a biopsy done. She recommended a breast surgeon ("He's who I would see if I needed a breast mass biopsied.") and got me in to see him the next day. I was not the first young woman that my breast surgeon had seen with breast cancer. He was reassuring during the biopsy, but did not treat me as if I was wasting his time or that my lump did not need to be addressed. As it turns out, it was cancer. I realize how unusual my situation was, and also how lucky I was to get diagnosed so quickly.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>What would you say to a young woman who might have something wrong?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I would say be proactive and don't procrastinate in getting it checked out. If it is cancer, it will not get better by ignoring it or fitting it in after the other things you have going on. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-3476380392876411132013-10-23T22:29:00.004-04:002013-10-25T11:19:57.592-04:00Open letter to SimplePickup2:<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Douchebros,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I just watched your video where you put these "haters" on blast, saying because of them, breast cancer research just lost out on $7,000. I can't speak for all the other haters, but on behalf of this hater, GOOD.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/m_kCpkto-gI/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/m_kCpkto-gI&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/m_kCpkto-gI&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I heard that the foundation refunded your money and asked you to STOP using their name in any videos, I felt happy. I might have even giggled in glee. You say in your video that this foundation was pressured by a small minority of haters who were offended. To that, I say it wasn't a small group of people who were offended by what you did, you self-entitled douchebags. Fuck you, and anyone who looks like your smug douche faces. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've been through a lot because of breast cancer: three surgeries, seven weeks of radiation, four and a half months of chemotherapy, and countless hours of therapy. On top of that, my mom died of metastatic breast cancer. When I heard that dudes were motorboating to raise money for breast cancer research, I wanted to nutpunch every single one of you. For testicular cancer awareness, of course.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What you did was offensive and crossed the line so far, I don't think you can see that line anymore. It's another state to you. Why is it offensive, a douchebag might ask?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Using the guise of breast cancer awareness to give you pass to motorboat a pair of breasts you otherwise had no chance of touching, it's trivializing and sexualizing a disease that's deadly and disfiguring. My mom = dead. Me = no breasts. You think someone like me is going to hear about your pranks and go, "Oh, it's cool that they're motorboating chicks because breast cancer awareness." Hell no. I mean, unless you want to motorboat my reconstructed chest, the same chest that doesn't have any nipples? Oh shucks, the implants that my doctors spent months stretching out my skin to put into my body DO NOT MOVE. You can try to motorboat Barbie and Skipper, but you're going to be hitting your face on hard, stationary fake tits. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But you don't want to motorboat my chest or any other chests that look like mine. You want nice, perky, disease-free breasts to put your cheap cologne-splattered face in between because that's how playas roll, right? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The reality of breast cancer, which is beautifully illustrated in a video (below) made by a group of survivors, would be too horrifying to get your attention.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/tty2B2SRBeE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don't use the disease that took my mother's life and could very well take mine as an excuse to touch boobs, bros. It's gross and unbecoming.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You say you wanted to help a worthy cause, but those who would benefit from your so-called help, like all of us affected by breast cancer, shouldn't have to give up our dignity just for the sake of awareness. Proclaiming "awareness" and then behaving inappropriately, doesn't mean you're excused from any criticism. This disease is deadly and it isn't a joke, and your actions made this horrifying disease a joke.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If being offended by the pranks you pulled makes me a hater, then I'm the biggest hater you'll encounter. If you really want to help women, why don't you take the money you raised and donate it to a women's shelter or RAINN? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lastly, kiss my mastectomy scars.</span><br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
<br />
Lara<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uvw3_dpzU9s/UmiF01nJDSI/AAAAAAAABdY/QvVPgiMx68s/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uvw3_dpzU9s/UmiF01nJDSI/AAAAAAAABdY/QvVPgiMx68s/s320/024.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me before getting my skin stretched out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-59744056974468189692013-10-23T09:00:00.001-04:002013-10-23T09:02:38.012-04:00Webwriter<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The next story comes from a friend of </span><a href="http://getupswinging.blogspot.com/2013/10/michele.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Michele</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">'s - Wendy, aka Webwriter:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Age and diagnosis </span></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was 40 years old when I was diagnosed with Stage 2, Grade 3, IDC </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><strong></strong><div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Family history or BRCA mutation? </span></strong></div>
<strong>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I had zero family history and tested negative for BRCA. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Who caught it?</strong> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My very first “baseline” mammogram caught it. I was FINALLY going to schedule the hysterectomy I had been begging for when my new GYN realized I’d had a birthday. So, and I’ll never forget the words, he said, “You’re 40! Congratulations! It’s your lucky year. We’ll schedule the surgery right after we get this baseline mammogram out of the way.” </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>What were the signs?</strong> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I knew I had a lump. I’d known it for a long time. But in my twenties, on the other side, I had pretty much the same lump in the same location, sitting high up, right over the top of a knot of muscle. My GYN back then laughed at me. He was sure it was related to child birth and then described a needle aspiration in such grisly detail, that I, as he intended, took his word for it and let it go. Twenty years later I was again, the mother of a young child. My OBGYN hadn’t said anything about this lump, despite all of my very regular checkups. It was painful sometimes. Sometimes shooting, stabbing sharp pains. Sometimes it ached like a sore muscle. So, it fit, just like last time. Knowing I was “still too young,” I let it go again. I shouldn’t have. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I also suffered uncharacteristic depression, fatigue, joint pain, and a general moodiness from the birth of my daughter until chemo-pause. I was unable to produce enough milk to properly breast feed her, despite a massive intake of Fenugreek, a script from my OB for Reglan, and a hospital grade breast pump used like clockwork. I was diagnosed with PPD, and placed on many different kinds of meds to fight it. Nothing worked. I kept telling my husband, “I just feel hormonal. Something has got to be off.” </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong></strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Did your doctors listen to you?</strong> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">No. Despite hormone testing which showed pretty normal for my age, if high in testosterone, I was convinced I was in peri-menopause. I was sent to counseling and placed on every anti-depressant in the book. Finally, I demanded birth control. (Not recommended for smokers over 35) It helped, A LOT. No one who knew me doubted something was hormonally wrong after that- except my doctor. I changed GYN’s twice. The third agreed to the hysterectomy, in lieu of continued hormones, and sent me for the baseline. (After a breast exam by each of them that did not find the lump either.) </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What would you say to a young woman who thinks she might have something wrong?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Listen, listen, listen to your body. It knows when something is not right. Do not doubt yourself. You CAN trust you. Do NOT be intimidated by the white lab coat either. These guys are working from experience and averages. They don’t know YOU, not the way you do. If you feel in your heart that something is wrong, don’t stop until the answer you get feels right. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />After examining my Grade 3, highly hormone positive tumor, which had, by then, invaded my lymph nodes, my surgeon approximated its growth and age at three years- without knowing the history I just gave you. My daughter turned three during chemo. Had I listened to my body, had I insisted with my doctor, there is every reason to believe we’d have caught this at Stage I. You are wiser than you know. Listen to you. It is much easier to say, “Silly me, how embarrassing.” than it is to say, “Oh My God, I could’ve stopped this in its tracks.” </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-47204000202766992892013-10-22T20:59:00.000-04:002013-10-22T20:59:39.842-04:00Frances<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After I asked a group of young adults with cancer for their story, Frances was one of the first people to reach out to me. This is her story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">------------</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was 32 when I got diagnosed. I had noticed a lump about a year before dx but with hectic life and not imagining it, the observation was dismissed. A year earlier also I was with a lover who noticed a milky discharge coming from my nipple, but that only happened a couple times, and again, dismissed. I was feeling exhausted the months leading up to my diagnosis and the final straw came after having to leave a party one night because of shooting lower back pain and dizziness. I went to a gynecologist who told me I was fine, and never did a breast exam. About a week later, after not feeling fine, I remembered the lump and told a friend who urged me to get a referral for a mammo, which I did, and they found it right away. I was in later intermediate stage. I had also had two unexplained pancreatitis the year before my diagnosis. Also I had a deficiency in vitamin D. That's all I knew was wrong before my diagnosis. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hope this helps. I too got sick of the "but you're so young line." I had it for a while before that and I was younger, visiting doctors and no one caught it, so, go figure. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z9j0hrR_d30/UmcXwMA11hI/AAAAAAAABbA/VMmt8g-v6sw/s1600/image+(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z9j0hrR_d30/UmcXwMA11hI/AAAAAAAABbA/VMmt8g-v6sw/s320/image+(1).jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w5Ih98D11eA/UmcXv87fxUI/AAAAAAAABa8/tISaej1qwj0/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w5Ih98D11eA/UmcXv87fxUI/AAAAAAAABa8/tISaej1qwj0/s320/image.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-59825355828897074932013-10-21T15:18:00.001-04:002013-10-21T15:23:59.632-04:00Michele<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I met my next friend, Michele, through a mutual friend. We instantly bonded over our mutual disdain toward Komen and what the pink ribbon has become. Neither of us are friends with the woman who was our mutual friend. I never knew a friendship could form over a hatred toward Komen, but it can. It's not the only thing we have in common (running <em>does </em>change everything).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Age and diagnosis </span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">36. Stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma. - triple negative breast cancer. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Family history or BRCA mutation?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2 aunts (1 ovarian, 1 premenopausal BC). No mutation. [Interesting; like me, a strong family history but no mutation.]</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Who caught it?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong></strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Me. [I then asked her for more details regarding <em>how </em>she caught it.]</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The story of finding it is actually odd-- </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I found it Christmas day 2008. I had been feeling horrible and exhausted for a couple months and thought it was because of the holidays and having 3 kids. In retrospect, I think it was the cancer but there's no way to prove it. My in-laws and my parents were in town and I had just pulled off DAYS of Christmas stuff-- mass, going to see lights, cookie decorating, Christmas Eve dinner for friends & family, santa, Christmas morning presents, brunch for family, a big dinner Christmas day... not to mention all the cleaning in between. To say I was stressed out was an understatement. That night, I took a bubble bath. I almost never take bubble baths (who has the time??). As I slumped into the water, I rested my hands across my chest... and felt the lump. I instantly knew it was cancer, I just knew. It was small and firm. It didn't hurt at all. I was still breast-feeding my toddler so I knew what my breast(s) should feel like and this was different.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The next morning, I called a colleague and asked him to see me *that day*. He did and ordered a mammogram and ultrasound. After seeing the images, my fears were confirmed although no one would actually say "you have cancer" until after the biopsy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Did your doctors listen to you?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yes but I teach at the medical school so they had to. :)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What would you say to a young woman who thinks she might have something wrong?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I would tell any young woman to listen to their own body and intuition. It doesn't matter how educated you are or who you know. YOU are in charge of your own body. YOU know YOU best. If you think something is wrong, there likely is. I would also tell any woman (young or old) that your treatment is up to you. In my case, during the diagnosis and treatment phases of my illness, my MD's and I saw eye-to-eye. I had a bad-ass cancer and they agreed with me to use a "big gun" approach. However, when all was said and done and I wanted a prophylactic mastectomy of the other breast and a prophylactic oophorectomy, I had to fight like hell to get those procedures. My surgeon didn't want to "maim" me (yes he said that)... as if a uni-boob is good for much and my ovaries were chemo-fried anyway. My oncologist was concerned that I was acting out of fear and not fact (hell yes it was fear!!). In the end, I got that *normal* breast removed (and the ovaries too!) and haven't regretted it. SO, like I said before- YOU know what is best for YOU. (And, it is perfectly OK to act out of fear and not fact sometimes... ESPECIALLY if that "fear" is robbing you of your sanity.) </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-42844156905404453972013-10-20T21:52:00.001-04:002013-10-20T22:00:10.853-04:00Is it November yet?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At the end of September, I decided, "Hey, I should take pictures of all the pink items that come across my path." You know, after awhile, I had to stop because it never ends, it seems. Damn you, Pinktober. You got me. <b>You are too much beast for me to slay.</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h09VAc7B69U/UmSBoSPBQiI/AAAAAAAABVI/KOxXOzMYfnM/s1600/094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h09VAc7B69U/UmSBoSPBQiI/AAAAAAAABVI/KOxXOzMYfnM/s320/094.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H8aK6nta4p8/UmSBoitY1KI/AAAAAAAABVM/4ACjHWaBSSM/s1600/095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H8aK6nta4p8/UmSBoitY1KI/AAAAAAAABVM/4ACjHWaBSSM/s320/095.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CVk4le_RU-I/UmSBoO4KPsI/AAAAAAAABVE/Bc9AL9iMS6Y/s1600/096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CVk4le_RU-I/UmSBoO4KPsI/AAAAAAAABVE/Bc9AL9iMS6Y/s320/096.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The ad doesn't even say if proceeds go to anywhere.... at all. It's just an almost $60-moisturizer that slapped a pink ribbon on it.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7xlSX8qoPdM/UmSBqTeHyXI/AAAAAAAABVc/FLiq6-QGQ-o/s1600/097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7xlSX8qoPdM/UmSBqTeHyXI/AAAAAAAABVc/FLiq6-QGQ-o/s320/097.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yoplait and Breast Cancer Action tussled before - read about it <a href="http://thinkbeforeyoupink.org/?page_id=10" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s2H583CGgvI/UmSBq9AFcZI/AAAAAAAABVg/e6_uKJnVfyU/s1600/100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s2H583CGgvI/UmSBq9AFcZI/AAAAAAAABVg/e6_uKJnVfyU/s320/100.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>THIS DOESN'T EVEN GO TO A BREAST CANCER AWARENESS CHARITY!!!!! </b>I don't even know what Entertainment Industry Foundation <a href="http://www.eifoundation.org/about-us" target="_blank">does</a>. A foundation that gives to other foundations?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3obtrEckF8/UmSCXJDDAeI/AAAAAAAABVw/DggDED-ZISQ/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3obtrEckF8/UmSCXJDDAeI/AAAAAAAABVw/DggDED-ZISQ/s320/001.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MW-6_mk_ZAQ/UmSCXLHpteI/AAAAAAAABVs/n_-f1vvv70I/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MW-6_mk_ZAQ/UmSCXLHpteI/AAAAAAAABVs/n_-f1vvv70I/s320/004.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is what I encountered just trying to fly from Pittsburgh to Kansas City, complete with pink balloons as I checked in for my flight.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mu02XXgCUow/UmSCYqDLexI/AAAAAAAABWE/PdjOj2oDtkU/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mu02XXgCUow/UmSCYqDLexI/AAAAAAAABWE/PdjOj2oDtkU/s320/011.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tt4uFG2-Wo8/UmSCaGCiyyI/AAAAAAAABWM/MvNcxC2oq08/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tt4uFG2-Wo8/UmSCaGCiyyI/AAAAAAAABWM/MvNcxC2oq08/s320/012.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2LG3Dyavd2k/UmSCkKdurdI/AAAAAAAABXk/5iZNN58eN1w/s1600/091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2LG3Dyavd2k/UmSCkKdurdI/AAAAAAAABXk/5iZNN58eN1w/s320/091.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I just walked into a Hyvee store and holy crap, pink tchtokes everywhere. You can be head to toe pink if you want!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5S6BwxmLigs/UmSCbsfcSvI/AAAAAAAABWU/ITl3jBi6D4M/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5S6BwxmLigs/UmSCbsfcSvI/AAAAAAAABWU/ITl3jBi6D4M/s320/047.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vYHWptauB2M/UmSCb-rV_rI/AAAAAAAABWY/qXbPBxgZ1Ls/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vYHWptauB2M/UmSCb-rV_rI/AAAAAAAABWY/qXbPBxgZ1Ls/s320/048.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Show me your tits... oh wait, sorry, ma'am."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CwHu4ppdBUs/UmSCdTnaw5I/AAAAAAAABWk/jZWRkDI4CnY/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CwHu4ppdBUs/UmSCdTnaw5I/AAAAAAAABWk/jZWRkDI4CnY/s320/068.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here, you can have awareness tissues to dab away the tears that all this pink crap causes you. Yes, I'm crying too.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZJ8c6BbE2w/UmSCedhOc9I/AAAAAAAABWo/d4xcrUBwltc/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZJ8c6BbE2w/UmSCedhOc9I/AAAAAAAABWo/d4xcrUBwltc/s320/070.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Uh, men can get breast cancer, too. Brothers, fathers, grandfathers....</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-npgz6YO0uEA/UmSCfValcfI/AAAAAAAABW0/THWUpoTCE2k/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-npgz6YO0uEA/UmSCfValcfI/AAAAAAAABW0/THWUpoTCE2k/s320/071.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wy12XIstF4c/UmSCheexk3I/AAAAAAAABW8/4Ah5lPMBZXc/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wy12XIstF4c/UmSCheexk3I/AAAAAAAABW8/4Ah5lPMBZXc/s320/072.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Is it really support if your shoes cover up these socks?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XR52TRce5Dk/UmSChpXx55I/AAAAAAAABXA/6nQ6JwI8qVA/s1600/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XR52TRce5Dk/UmSChpXx55I/AAAAAAAABXA/6nQ6JwI8qVA/s320/073.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Push pins? Really?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8f3wSU9W2H4/UmSCiAS-1hI/AAAAAAAABXE/FmBxrY3cdKo/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8f3wSU9W2H4/UmSCiAS-1hI/AAAAAAAABXE/FmBxrY3cdKo/s320/081.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Even my inbox isn't safe from Pinktober.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5AWKWPLHhYI/UmSCjMr5yHI/AAAAAAAABXU/myI7Yg6XbqA/s1600/095.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5AWKWPLHhYI/UmSCjMr5yHI/AAAAAAAABXU/myI7Yg6XbqA/s320/095.PNG" width="180" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3WcvTTOAIIk/UmSCjC1JDPI/AAAAAAAABXQ/GB2fkIQm1jE/s1600/092.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3WcvTTOAIIk/UmSCjC1JDPI/AAAAAAAABXQ/GB2fkIQm1jE/s320/092.PNG" width="180" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b8UEG4TE55w/UmSCYS1mOsI/AAAAAAAABV8/QvdPFj0GFa0/s1600/013.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b8UEG4TE55w/UmSCYS1mOsI/AAAAAAAABV8/QvdPFj0GFa0/s320/013.PNG" width="180" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_9ea0ORL_nU/UmSCk1iG6oI/AAAAAAAABXo/CNmJ-JtrIUU/s1600/096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_9ea0ORL_nU/UmSCk1iG6oI/AAAAAAAABXo/CNmJ-JtrIUU/s320/096.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lastly, I'm going to sanitize my hands from all this pink crap with pink anti-bacterial soap.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-75401415473319135192013-10-18T09:21:00.000-04:002013-10-22T20:21:07.014-04:00Marisa<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Next, this is Marisa's story. Please see her </span><a href="http://birdsandbunting.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">blog</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> to read more about her story:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mWvPwMj6-SA/UmcWYnXNHGI/AAAAAAAABa0/uw4EFQulZhE/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mWvPwMj6-SA/UmcWYnXNHGI/AAAAAAAABa0/uw4EFQulZhE/s320/photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5FMqSM6mqpY/UmcWPHvRFXI/AAAAAAAABas/S12LcSSgRIU/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5FMqSM6mqpY/UmcWPHvRFXI/AAAAAAAABas/S12LcSSgRIU/s320/photo+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>Age and Diagnosis</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was 27 when I was diagnosed with stage 2b invasive ductal carcinoma.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I have no family history of breast or ovarian cancer. I have done the genetic testing but won't get the results for another month or two.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Who caught it?</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />I did. I have 2 year old daughter who I breast fed till she was almost 16months. When I stopped breast feeding I noticed a mass in my left breast and thought it was just a build up of milk. By the time I took her for her 18month checkup the lump was still there and I could even see it. I asked the doctor to have a look at it and he didn't make a big deal about it but gave me a referral for an ultrasound and told me to check it out. I was still convinced it was just a result of breast feeding. My daughter sat on my lap while the ultrasound was being done and they found three lumps and also some swollen lymph nodes. The next day I had a mammogram and biopsy and the day after that it was confirmed that I had cancer. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>What were the signs?</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Other than feeling the lump, there weren't any signs. Three years earlier I had found a pea sized lump in my breast and had an ultrasound but was told it was nothing. I now know it was in the exact same place as my cancer but can't be sure they were related. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Did your doctors listen to you?</strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yes. He didn't make a big deal about it, in fact I almost didn't have the ultrasound because I had to keep rescheduling it, but he told me to have an ultrasound to check it out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>What would you say to a young woman who thinks she might have something wrong?</strong> <br />
Since being diagnosed I have taken my sister for a breast ultrasound (which luckily turned out to be nothing) and have been told by friends that their family members have been to the doctors to check out lumps that they were too scared to bring up before. My advice to anyone who has any health concerns, whatever they may be, is to bring it up with a doctor. There is no harm in seeing a doctor if there is nothing wrong, but there can be a lot of harm in ignoring it. <br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Everyone from the obstetrician to the ultrasound technicians told me I <em>looked too young</em> to have breast cancer. We then did IVF to harvest my eggs before starting chemo, and I every time I had to tell a new nurse or doctor why we were doing IVF I got the same response. </span><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I even wrote a </span><a href="http://birdsandbunting.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/life-not-fair-but-it-sure-is-beautiful.html?m=1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">blog post</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> about it:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm really starting to get sick of hearing this. I guess I understand people thinking this, but i still get surprised when someone actually says it, especially health professionals like doctors, nurses, and even sonographers. And what am I supposed to respond with? 'Yes I am too young to have breast cancer', 'Actually I must be older than you think', 'cancer doesn't discriminate'? Surely these people have some sense to know that telling me this is not a compliment, nor is it helpful. It certainly doesn't make me feel any better, and it just reminds me of how shit this whole situation is. At first I didn't mind too much. I guess it was a little comforting knowing that other people were as shocked as I was about my cancer, but I'm over it now. It's just the way things are. Every time I have to explain my situation to a new person, I don't need to be reminded of how ridiculous this all is. I was almost going to say 'how unfair' this is, but I stopped myself. As an adult I have learnt that there are few things 'fair' in life. Bad things happen to good people. Good things happen to bad. Incredibly strong and wonderful people can be taken from us by cancer, among many other things, and 'fairness' just doesn't come into it.</span> </span></div>
</span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-25485039537202399212013-10-17T10:54:00.003-04:002013-10-17T10:55:50.163-04:00Becca<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Next up is Becca H.'s story. Please visit her blog <a href="http://www.beccasbattle.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Becca's Battle</a> to get to know this beautiful woman better. Here is her story in her words:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am 27 now, 26 when diagnosed. <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was diagnosed stage 2a initially because lymph node biospy and MRI/pet were clear but ended up stage 2b after mastectomy with sentinel node coming back with mircomets. I am triple negative.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I felt a lump myself and it was passed off as a cyst by doctors for 3 months by ultrasound until it grew bigger, and they recommending aspirating it. I didn't think cancer until they went to aspirate it and it was solid not fluid. My mom did have cancer four years ago but tested negative for the gene, as did I. My PCP who is also a family friend who had breast cancer pushed me to do early mammos for years and I never did making the excuse that my mom didnt have the gene. Boy was I wrong and maybe had I listened we would have caught it sooner.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Listen to your gut and your body. I wish i had the first time and may have caught my cancer sooner rather than allowing a doctors advice of it being a cyst and to just let it be for months. If there is something there-benign, cyst or not -it's not supposed to be there, I would always get it checked and removed just to be sure, because you're not too young-as I found out the hard way.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-42560777213577975432013-10-16T22:11:00.001-04:002013-10-18T10:16:15.813-04:00Lara (me!)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Age and diagnosis </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was diagnosed with Stage 1, grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma at the age of 30.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MtRSz3VefJc/Ul9IB-_LQFI/AAAAAAAABRw/T3rL3dZouyM/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MtRSz3VefJc/Ul9IB-_LQFI/AAAAAAAABRw/T3rL3dZouyM/s320/022.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b>
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Family history or BRCA mutation?</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My mother was diagnosed with late stage breast cancer when she was 35, and she died of metastatic breast cancer when she was 40 years old. No other aunts, cousins, grandparents with breast cancer. I tested negative for the BRCA mutations. Obviously there was some genetic link between my mom and me, but nobody knows what it was.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Who caught it?</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Routine mammogram caught mine. Since my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at 35, I began routine screening at the age of 25. Every year I'd get a bilateral mammogram, plus ultrasounds. When I was 28 years old, the radiologist told me that I had fibrocystic breast tissue and I had multiple benign tumors in each breast. "You're a complicated breast case," he said to me. "At least I'm not a head case, right?" I joked. He didn't laugh.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The radiologist saw that in my mammogram when I was 28 years, I had these calcifications in the right breast. The calcifications had doubled since then, which meant cell growth, which meant.... malignant cells. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What were the signs?</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There were no signs for me. That's the scary part. Since I had dense breast tissue and been told I had multiple cysts, tumors, etc. in each breasts, I didn't bother doing self breast exams. My breasts were just lumpy and bumpy. Since I have generalized anxiety disorder, I didn't want to get myself worked up by obsessing over all the lumps in my breasts. Looking back, I'm glad I did that or I would have driven myself mad.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Did your doctors listen to you?</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My doctors took everything pertaining to my complicated breasts seriously. A couple of years, I thought they were putting me through too many invasive procedures and ultrasound guided biopsies. Because of my mom, every doctor I encountered took any potential threat in my breasts very seriously. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HXnre71Qdxk/Ul9FnAdmmzI/AAAAAAAABRk/obgRBhxHcaM/s1600/Swanson2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HXnre71Qdxk/Ul9FnAdmmzI/AAAAAAAABRk/obgRBhxHcaM/s320/Swanson2.gif" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How I felt after every mammogram.</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What would you say to a young woman who thinks she might have something wrong?</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I echo all my friends whose stories I have published so far - listen to your body. If something feels off, like that lump isn't going away or maybe that pain isn't normal, go see a doctor. If you feel a doctor didn't take your concerns seriously, then find another doctor who listens to you. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-84041220143001075742013-10-16T13:05:00.000-04:002013-10-16T22:26:05.917-04:00Nikki<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The next story I want to share with you is my friend Nikki's. I love this woman like she's my sister. I would seriously cut a bitch for this woman, and I know she'd do the same. Nikki is a photographer hobbyist and she used art therapy to help her through treatment. Please see her blog <a href="http://www.dollsindystopia.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Dolls In Dystopia</a> to see the amazing art she has created.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><br /></strong></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Age and diagnosis</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was 36 years old and diagnosed with stage 2, <a href="http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/her2" target="_blank">Her 2+</a> IDC. It was very aggressive, rating an 8 on the Nottingham scale (the scale of aggression that measures from 0 to 9). Both of my tumors were grade 3 at the time of my radical mastectomy in October 2010. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Family history or BRCA mutation?</strong> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I did not test positive for any of the known gene mutations, but there is a family history (that I didn't even know about until after my diagnosis.) My grandmother and all but one of her sisters have each had a granddaughter diagnosed with breast cancer at about my age. The good news is that each of my cousins are 20+ year survivors - so while we may have some sort of genetic predisposition to breast cancer, we seem to also be predisposed to kicking its ass. *Knock on wood.*</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Who caught it?</strong> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> found it. I had just gone to the funeral of a young woman who passed away from breast cancer at age 32. The funeral was out of state and a dear friend asked me to make the drive with her because she was still nursing her baby boy and needed to take plenty of nursing breaks on the drive down. The funeral had a huge impact on me and I am now close to the mother of this young woman I never knew. She was clearly loved by so many people and left behind 2 beautiful children. I credit her every day with helping me find the tumors in my own body. I wasn't doing regular SBE's and the day I found the breast cancer, I was doing it because of Kim - a young woman I never met, but who I feel saved my life. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>What were the signs? </strong></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">n retrospect, probably more than I realized. So many other young women I know talk about having gotten really sick shortly before diagnosis. And it is no different for me. I became gravely ill in late July of 2010 and had a lingering cough that I couldn't shake even after my diagnosis. Most of this was attributed to living in an apartment with black mold (which I promptly moved out of) but I find it interesting that so many other young women note the onset of a strange illness shortly before diagnosis. Other than that, the main signs were the two lumps I could feel - the primary tumor that was underneath the nipple of my left breast, and the lymph node which was on the side of my left chest near my underarm. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Did your doctors listen to you?</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Absolutely. I had a history with breast biopsies of my right breast due to dense, fibro-cystic tissue. My nurse practitioner could feel the tumor but barely - and she could not feel the lymph node at all. She did arrange for me to have a mammogram and an ultrasound though to be sure even though she thought it was probably a cyst. Nothing showed up on the mammogram, but both tumors were clearly visible on the ultrasound. I walked out of the doctor's office that day knowing I had breast cancer even though no one could formally diagnosis me until after the biopsy results came back two days later. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><br /></strong></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>What would you say to a young woman who thinks she might have something wrong?</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">NEVER ignore your body. If something seems wrong or you feel something that you don't remember being there before, have it checked. And be insistent. You have to be your own advocate when it comes to your health. As a young person, doctor's often miss our cancers because they assume it is something else. I was told by one doctor "Cancer is a disease of the elderly." Well, I wish someone had told my breast cancer that. The truth is body awareness is key for many reasons - not just cancer. So many illnesses can be treated effectively - but that often hinges on early diagnosis. I recently had major kidney surgery to correct a birth defect in one of my kidneys. This was an issue I knew existed and I also knew may have to be addressed at some point. But I suddenly began having discomfort while urinating a few months ago that sent me to the doctor. It was totally unrelated, but it led my kidney doctor to the realization that my left kidney was almost fully obstructed and I needed the surgery urgently in order to not damage my kidneys beyond repair. I had the surgery three weeks ago and am now on the road to full recovery. We never figured out why I had the painful urination. But I know it was my body talking to me. If you listen, I think you'll be surprised at what your body is willing to say to you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T0lDkpvBCoc/Ul9KdJ4G8XI/AAAAAAAABR8/vc9zdx3eim4/s1600/105A1638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T0lDkpvBCoc/Ul9KdJ4G8XI/AAAAAAAABR8/vc9zdx3eim4/s320/105A1638.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-49416646186249277062013-10-15T11:56:00.000-04:002013-10-15T12:00:48.758-04:00Lorna<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is Lorna R.'s, who was diagnosed with Her2+ breast cancer at the age of 21 but who had no family history of breast or ovarian cancer, story:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 21. I honestly never ever thought it would happen to me. Breast cancer is a cancer I consider women in their late 50s+ get.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I remember during the process of diagnosis that my consultant and doctor kept on repeating only 2 people your age a year are diagnosed with this. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I had no signs at all other then a lump which I thought was a cyst due to my age, I until after months it didn't disappear. I didn't feel ill. I felt normal. I remember staring at the scan looking at this beast of a mass and my consultant saying if this was a 50 year old+ breast I would be saying this is breast cancer. But he wouldn't commit to it. But that's when I knew.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After being diagnosed with the breast cancer, I had all the scans which was a scary experience as it was. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was told that it was secondary breast cancer. The cancer had spread from my breast to my lymph nodes and a vertebra. Due to the cancer being secondary my oncologist wanted to start my treatment as soon as possible and look to have surgery at a later date. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was given two weeks from diagnosis to inquire about egg harvesting, etc., as chemo effects your reproductive system. I was told I had no time for this. So I'm there 21 with cancer and being told after treatment I may never have my own children. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But I couldn't just sit and feel woe is me - I had to stay positive. I took every day as I could, and I was lucky to have the support from my family, boyfriend and friends to help me stay positive.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The hardest thing I found was the change in appearance I felt unsexy and attractive. I also felt that I was looked at and treated differently when all I wanted to act as a normal 21/22 year old. I ended up doing exactly what I wanted to do. I didn't let cancer weigh me down. I didn't let chemo mess up anything I had planned. I lived life as full as I could and be as positive as I could. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Luckily for me chemo shrank the tumour to a pea size so they considered surgery. So I had a breast margin and lymph node clearance. I then had radio therapy. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was told at the beginning the cancer in the vertebra would never go away and that they can maintain it like diabetes. Yet after chemo, it wasn't showing onmri or bone scan. Now they are saying it may never have been there in the first place, that it was so slight, but they can't test it now as it's not there. So I have to accept that it's a maybe and love like it is there. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have been told I will be on maintenance drugs for the rest of my life due to it being in the vertebra. But hey, I'm alive </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, it's hard having cancer so young. Yes, it changes everything. But cancer isn't easy at any age. Cancer doesn't care about age. Yes cancer changed everything in my life, but I wouldn't change anything about it. I've met some of the strongest people I'll ever know in my life. I have the strongest relationship with my family and boyfriend. I have a whole new life perspective. The only message I want to say is, just because you're young doesn't mean you're exempt from cancer. Cancer cares not for age, gender or race so never ignore anything, it's always worth checking. </span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-35272644896369193632013-10-14T09:55:00.005-04:002013-10-14T09:56:18.633-04:00Anne<div style="text-align: justify;">
Next up, is Anne's story. Please visit Anne's blog, which can be found <a href="http://www.annefightsback.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Age and Diagnosis</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
28 years old, and stage 1 breast cancer .</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Family history or BRCA mutation?</strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
No family history at all, but I am BRCA2+. [Please see <a href="http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA" target="_blank">here</a> for more information regarding the BRCA mutations.]</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Who caught it?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I found it myself, in the shower. Brought it up to my OBGYN who said it was most likely a cyst. After a radiologist confirmed it was a mass, my breast specialist also told me it was probably nothing. His exact words to me were "I don't think this is cancer. If I did, I would tell you". But he finally agreed to biopsy it. When he called with the biopsy results that it was indeed cancer, I could tell he felt very guilty for telling me it was "nothing". </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>What were the signs?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A small, hard pea sized lump </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Did your doctors listen to you?</strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
No. In fact had I not been pregnant at the time (I subsequently lost the pregnancy), I don't think my doctors would have felt pressured to pursue it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>What would you say to a young woman who thinks she might have something wrong?</strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Be your own best advocate. Pressure your doctors to give you an answer. Young women CAN and DO get breast cancer. Even the youngest, healthiest, least suspecting ones who "did everything right" to live within the lowest risk factors. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-74988713373490806262013-10-11T10:10:00.002-04:002013-10-11T14:31:11.132-04:00Sophia<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hello Friends! The next amazing young woman I'd like for you all to read about is Sophia. I can't say enough great things about this woman. Seriously. She's one of my inspirations that got my behind into running. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Diagnosis and Family History?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">•Diagnosed at age 28 – Triple Negative Breast Cancer – Stage 2A</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">•Mother diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer – Stage 3B (OBGYN was made aware of this once I found out)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Who caught it?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In February of 2012 I felt a small pea-sized lump on the lower inside area of my left breast. The lump sat right on-top of the wire of my bra. I continued to monitor it and a few weeks later went to the doctor to get it checked. During my appointment, my OBGYN assured me it was "normal" but advised that I stop drinking soda and coffee because "caffeine often leads to overactive milk ducts". I quickly responded with, "I don't drink coffee or soda." She giggled and said, "Well then I'm sure it's just something that will go away with time."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I left the office and felt this uneasy feeling in my gut. I continued to monitor the lump and a few months later it became painful. Often times I would be sitting at my desk at work and feel a sharp pulsating sensation. Every time I would go for a run, I could feel the lump rub against my sports bra and it became increasingly painful. I decided to hop on the computer and started to research my symptoms. To my surprise, I came across many blogs and forums where women described their breast cancer discovery very similar to mine, but they were all older women so I felt at ease. "It can't happen to me, I'm 28, these ladies are all over 40!"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally, I decided to return to my physician and demand an answer. A few weeks later I met with the nurse practitioner who conducted the usual breast exam. Once again, she assured me it was nothing serious and that it felt very much like a cyst. <i>I questioned her – and I'm glad I did.</i> I asked if it could possibly be cancer. She chuckled. "No, I highly doubt it. You're so young and full of energy" She was right. I was young. I am young. I was full of energy, thankfully enough energy to push and demand a mammogram despite my age. After hours of controversy with the imaging center, I was able to make an appointment for an ultrasound ater being told over five times that a mammogram will NOT be conducted due to my age. When I arrived at the facility, I was pleasantly greeted by the check-in nurse and reminded that I "will not be having a mammogram today due to (your) age." I smiled and said, "sure thing. I won't leave until I get one." That visit seemed to have last several hours. The technician took me back to the room and conducted the ultrasound on my breast. Talk about painful. She was surprised to discover how uncomfortable the procedure was for me. Any pressure she applied felt like a knife cutting my breast. After the ultrasound was finished, I was instructed to wait back in the waiting area for the next available OBG. Ten minutes later, I received a mammogram and the rest is history. <i>My OBGYN didn't save my life, my persistency saved my life. </i>The fact that I was "young and full of energy" saved my life. My gut feeling to question the doctors presumptuous diagnosis, saved my life. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What would you say to a young woman who thinks she might have something wrong?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My advice – it's ok to question doctors. They, just like us, are human. They don't feel what we feel. They don't walk our daily lives. If I would've allowed her credentials to overcast my gut feeling, who knows where I'd be. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please visit the <a href="http://www.tnbcfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation</a> for more information.</span></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-53283344257929174852013-10-09T22:06:00.000-04:002013-10-10T10:37:58.147-04:00Ashley<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Friends, meet my friend <a href="http://www.ashleykickingcancer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ashley Blair Doyle</a>. Visit her blog and be amazed at how extraordinary this woman is. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H2eItk-mcUQ/Ula7sP4-tWI/AAAAAAAABRM/Ob-XwAH4gns/s1600/Ashley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H2eItk-mcUQ/Ula7sP4-tWI/AAAAAAAABRM/Ob-XwAH4gns/s320/Ashley.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Age and diagnosis </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">28 and stage 2b invasive ductal carcinoma.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Family history or BRCA mutation?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No genetic mutation. But my paternal grandma had breast cancer at 70 (this was not considered as a possible link to why I got breast cancer because she was much older)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Who caught it?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I found the lump when I was in the shower. I wish I could say it was because I was doing a self-exam but it was actually an accidental find. Luckily I felt it. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What were the signs?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A hard lump was able to be felt on the under side of my left breast. Leading up to it that my breast was itchy occasionally and I would also get stabbing pains in it. These worried me but my doctor assured me that a breast tumour wouldn't cause shooting pains. Also I didn't feel well months leading up to finding it… I was just "off". I was under a lot of stress at the time. I also couldn't handle being in the hot sun and I am a total Summer girl so I had a feeling something was out of whack with my body. Although when I found the lump I didn't actually put that together until afterwards when I got the official diagnosis a month later. I also wrote a journal entry 5 months before finding the lump that said I felt really unhealthy but no indication of why. My oncologists think the cancer was only in me for 6-9 months and I recall feeling really awful exactly 7 months before when we were vacationing in Hawaii. I normally could sit in the sun and swim for hours but I spent the entire trip in the shade.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Did your doctors listen to you?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was concerned enough to go to my family doctor the day after finding the lump but was not too worried because she wasn't too concerned. She said it would be most likely a fibroadenoma but that she would order an ultrasound anyway so we could find out for sure. Thankfully I was taken seriously and tests were ordered, despite her not being too worried and telling me I was too young for breast cancer anyway. This visit was also when I spoke about the shooting pains and she told me not to worry because only inflammatory breast cancer would be painful. (Obviously not the case)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What would you say to a young woman who thinks she might have something wrong?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First off: Set an alarm on your phone each month that reminds you to do self-exams. (Or get Rethink Breast Cancer's "man reminder" app.) Know your body and if you notice anything different that is worrisome please don't brush it off. Go see your doctor and take charge of your health as soon as you can. If your doctor insists that you are too young for any particular type of cancer be your own advocate and push for further testing. Or get a second opinion. Also, a lot of woman under 40 have naturally lumpy and dense breasts… it is common in younger woman… this doesn't mean that every little nodule or bit of lumpiness is going to be the bad stuff…So get to know your breast tissue and you will have a sense of what feels 'normal' for your body. For me, the cancerous lump was an alarmingly hard mass. Much different than breast tissue, so there was no question of "is this just breast tissue?" Also, educate yourself about the various types of symptoms that could occur with breast cancer because it doesn't always show up as a lump. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-38155229295012389402013-10-08T08:24:00.001-04:002013-10-15T12:04:37.989-04:00"But you're so young..." <div style="text-align: justify;">
One of the common response I have received when someone has heard that I was 30 years old when I was diagnosed with breast cancer has been, "But you're so young." Every time I heard that, I came back with: "My mom was 35 when she was diagnosed with late stage breast cancer." </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It got me thinking about all the other young women who have been told the same thing, so I reached out to a group of young cancer survivors that I've befriended on Facebook. They wanted to also let everyone to know that there is no such thing as "too young," for breast cancer. Also, you know what, it's not just breast cancer, though obviously I focus on this cancer since it's <i>my </i>cancer. I'd love to hear from any other young women out there who've been diagnosed with a cancer and have heard, "But you're so young."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Concerning <a href="http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html#survival" target="_blank">breast cancer</a>, from 2006 to 2010 (hey, that's my year), approximately 1.8 percent of those diagnosed with breast cancer were between the ages of 20 and 34 years old. I guess there's some truth in the statement, "But you're so young."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
*Edited to add: I have been burned by people in the past pretending to have had cancer, and they turned out to be fakes. I'm not saying anyone's story I'm publishing here is fake or may be fake, but I'm editing to add that none of these stories have been independently verified by me. Please read them in good faith, as I have published them in good faith.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-27026231099576182212013-09-20T16:02:00.003-04:002013-10-08T09:29:34.317-04:00What the pink ribbon means to me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I want to begin this by saying that I would never speak for any other woman or man who has gone through treatment for breast cancer. <i>This opinion is mine and mine alone</i>. Everyone is different, and no two experiences are identical. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
With Pinktober coming full steam ahead around the corner, I want to come right out and say this: Pink Stinks. I am sick and tired of the pink ribbon, Pinktober and massive amounts of pink-washing products that line the shelves year after year. My dogs Boomer and Mal are more likely to start speaking in full sentences than these crap items will in any way contribute to a cure for cancer.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0UhNjsd5ocg/UjybI0LcwpI/AAAAAAAABOU/gmm_vuPBOFE/s1600/130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0UhNjsd5ocg/UjybI0LcwpI/AAAAAAAABOU/gmm_vuPBOFE/s320/130.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We think pink stinks, too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For almost 10 years before my own diagnosis, I used to participate in Race for the Cure every year to honor my mother. Several years, I raised a great deal of money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. I walked those 3 miles every year, believing that I was honoring my mother, who died of metastatic breast cancer. I purchased several pink items when I saw that proceeds went to Komen. Heck, I even went into my treatment believing that the pink ribbon meant something, that important change was afoot! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After falling down the breast cancer rabbit hole, I came out viewing the pink ribbon in a completely different light. I see the pink ribbon now still as a symbol, but not as a symbol for anything positive. I see the pink ribbon as a symbol of failure or as a way for companies to make a lot of money. Instead of working toward a cure or heck, even a way to prevent this disease from affecting 1 in 8 women in their lifetime (<a href="http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-key-statistics" target="_blank">source</a>), the focus of the pink ribbon has veered violently off course. Companies are slapping a pink ribbon on any product that they can with little to no transparency regarding where the money is going.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nqLZ7AZDgk4/UlP6NYmRAiI/AAAAAAAABPM/kMI-7QLZoz8/s1600/1378123_10152718464227195_1113434774_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nqLZ7AZDgk4/UlP6NYmRAiI/AAAAAAAABPM/kMI-7QLZoz8/s320/1378123_10152718464227195_1113434774_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know a push pin saved my grandmother's life! (Not really.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-202t7wPDLoU/UjyVqWAx5FI/AAAAAAAABN8/sPtLIslEKQA/s1600/pg-controversial-pink-products-03-full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-202t7wPDLoU/UjyVqWAx5FI/AAAAAAAABN8/sPtLIslEKQA/s320/pg-controversial-pink-products-03-full.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Am I supposed to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/03/susan-g-komen-planned-parenthood-handgun_n_1252448.html" target="_blank">shoot </a>my cancer? The hell? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m5QI7a_hLhA/UlP9mZkyarI/AAAAAAAABPk/HIhIqu-9RTI/s1600/Cosmetics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m5QI7a_hLhA/UlP9mZkyarI/AAAAAAAABPk/HIhIqu-9RTI/s320/Cosmetics.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does anybody know if these items are free from <a href="http://bcaction.org/our-take-on-breast-cancer/environment/safe-cosmetics/" target="_blank">carcinogens</a>? Anyone? Anyone?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2wFdCjmNuk4/UlP75256mHI/AAAAAAAABPY/w93ThrLaLj0/s1600/1375650_601862246521688_934524725_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2wFdCjmNuk4/UlP75256mHI/AAAAAAAABPY/w93ThrLaLj0/s320/1375650_601862246521688_934524725_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you buy this, does any of the $58 go to a cause, or is this cause marketing at its best?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last year, the New York Attorney General issued <a href="http://www.ag.ny.gov/press-release/ag-schneiderman-issues-best-practices-breast-cancer-%E2%80%9Cpink-ribbon%E2%80%9D-campaigns" target="_blank">this</a> release <i>Issues Best Practices For Breast Cancer “Pink Ribbon” Campaigns</i>, which made me stand up and applaud: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
While these campaigns have resulted in substantial donations, the Attorney General's review found that consumers often <u>do not have sufficient information</u> to understand how their purchases will benefit charity.</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Doesn't that make your blood boil a tad or a lot or so much so you're about to have a rage stroke? These companies are creating these lines of pink products and customers are just snapping them up, but a majority of these consumers have no idea where their money is going. These companies are profiting obscene amounts of money, and meanwhile, so many (mostly) women are dying of metastatic breast cancer each year. This cause marketing technique is a growing billion dollar industry, but where is the money going? This has to change. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The pink ribbon wants the general public to believe that breast cancer is this:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8EA0B207nJU/UlP-kvroFuI/AAAAAAAABPw/P9J2bqwNkNs/s1600/1238253_10152718464347195_1561147886_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8EA0B207nJU/UlP-kvroFuI/AAAAAAAABPw/P9J2bqwNkNs/s320/1238253_10152718464347195_1561147886_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can have "strength" on my feet!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bdo8OaQvybM/UlP-kmV-OnI/AAAAAAAABP0/ToNXYfql3_Q/s1600/1384124_10152718464422195_1261923717_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bdo8OaQvybM/UlP-kmV-OnI/AAAAAAAABP0/ToNXYfql3_Q/s320/1384124_10152718464422195_1261923717_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laces out, Dan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-euaDAvkQobU/Ujyhe-V5SqI/AAAAAAAABOs/4ZOgy-OifTQ/s1600/Breast+cancer+sexualized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-euaDAvkQobU/Ujyhe-V5SqI/AAAAAAAABOs/4ZOgy-OifTQ/s320/Breast+cancer+sexualized.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this a campaign for breast cancer awareness.... or breasts?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sqGpf0RRcrQ/UjyQsRv0AbI/AAAAAAAABNs/qMWxtNktYrU/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sqGpf0RRcrQ/UjyQsRv0AbI/AAAAAAAABNs/qMWxtNktYrU/s320/016.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh wait, this is me. I think I was just happy to be up and moving.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The pink ribbon campaign wants you to forget that breast cancer is this:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/3IyHJsCdo4w?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was only until <i>last year </i>that Komen actually featured a Stage 4 patient in its awareness ads, according to Peggy Orenstein's article entitled "<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/magazine/our-feel-good-war-on-breast-cancer.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0" target="_blank">Our Feel Good War on Breast Cancer</a>." (This article is a must-read, and I want everyone and their mother to read this.) </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
It isn’t easy to face someone with metastatic disease, especially if you’ve had cancer yourself. Silberman’s trajectory is my worst fear; the night after we spoke, I was haunted by dreams of cancer’s return. Perhaps for that reason, metastatic patients are notably absent from pink-ribbon campaigns, rarely on the speaker’s podium at fund-raisers or races. Last October, for the first time, Komen featured a woman with Stage 4 disease in its awareness-month ads, but the wording carefully emphasized the positive: “Although, today, she has tumors in her bones, her liver and her lungs, Bridget still has hope.” (Bridget died earlier this month.)</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If breast cancer awareness is ignoring the group of patients who will actually die from the disease, then where's the awareness? You can't "bring awareness" to a disease and completely ignore the fact that women are dying from this disease. If the pink ribbon ignores metastatic breast cancer patients, then it ignores women like my mother. She died from this disease, and her story, along with all the other men and women who died from breast cancer, matters. The pink ribbon either stands for all of us or none of us.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Here is an amazing <a href="http://msmagazine.com/blog/2013/05/20/barbara-brenner-and-the-road-less-pink/" target="_blank">quote </a>from Gayle Sulik, the author of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pink-Ribbon-Blues-Culture-Undermines/dp/0199933995/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379701313&sr=8-1&keywords=pink+ribbon+blues" target="_blank">Pink Ribbon Blues</a></i>. </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
Taking a road less pink requires fundamental changes in the way we organize around breast cancer and in the questions we are willing to ask of ourselves, our families, our elected officials, our corporations, our medical system, our scientists, our media, and those who represent us in advocacy.</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I really want anyone reading this to think before you pink every single time. Will your dollars be better served at another organization, like <a href="http://www.standup2cancer.org/" target="_blank">Stand Up 2 Cancer</a> or <a href="http://www.gildasclubwesternpa.org/" target="_blank">Gilda's Club</a> (which provides emotional support to cancer patients and their loved ones) or any <a href="http://theloveyoushare.org/" target="_blank">smaller </a>organizations? Please please please, I beg of you to put your dollars to good use and not to companies using cause-marketing to tug on your heart strings just to get you to buy some meaningless item. The pink ribbon is an empty gesture. You know what's not an empty gesture? Fighting back.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Let's prevent other children from growing up without their mothers or fathers. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7pLrIBKgANs/UjyoVgrD2QI/AAAAAAAABO8/4vPUw_xXeig/s1600/MomandMe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7pLrIBKgANs/UjyoVgrD2QI/AAAAAAAABO8/4vPUw_xXeig/s320/MomandMe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737867958913998601.post-52908163968399524792013-09-16T17:47:00.003-04:002013-09-16T20:24:17.566-04:00Stop making breast cancer sexy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
One common theme of Pinktober that drives me up the wall is the onslaught of sexxxxy ads for breast cancer awareness. Instead of focusing on what actually happens to you once you have breast cancer (i.e. chemo, radiation, multiple surgeries, baldness), they focus on the potentially diseased body part. Boobs, tits, funbags, sweater puppies. It's gotten so bad that these ads aren't for breast cancer awareness, just awareness for breasts.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLliyqFLy575fINHdVEd6j3FVNnlyq5Tr3C1mLzHPiKZwvm4DiPzgrFVphsdjW4nY07EWLFSPIuYyGZrPVSgdxPUoc75GNgWV5WVAJTRGNEUjZnRmye1sO8ckONVKIqQMk40JDr6G-jNZ/s1600/Sexybreastcancer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLliyqFLy575fINHdVEd6j3FVNnlyq5Tr3C1mLzHPiKZwvm4DiPzgrFVphsdjW4nY07EWLFSPIuYyGZrPVSgdxPUoc75GNgWV5WVAJTRGNEUjZnRmye1sO8ckONVKIqQMk40JDr6G-jNZ/s320/Sexybreastcancer2.jpg" width="253" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is an actual advertisement for a benefit for the Susan G. Komen foundation last Pinktober. When you look at the poster, you see a pair of young 20-something (or hell, late teen) breasts, and she doesn't even have a head! Ignoring the problematic "save second base" title, she's a headless pair of perky, well-endowed tits! WHERE IS HER HEAD?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-88qAS_wllQ8/UVzcJfPTbfI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/ZZ2ARN_Y6_Y/s1600/What.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-88qAS_wllQ8/UVzcJfPTbfI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/ZZ2ARN_Y6_Y/s1600/What.gif" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So we're all supposed to rally together and raise money to save the perky, well-endowed tits in the world? If we don't act now, all those beautiful bosoms you see on hot young things will be gone? There's one problem, though. The median age of women diagnosed with breast cancer is <a href="http://www.breastcancerdeadline2020.org/breast-cancer-information/breast-cancer-facts-2012.pdf" target="_blank">61</a> years old.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Older women are much more likely to get breast cancer than younger women. From 2005-2009, the median age for a breast cancer diagnosis was <b>61 years of age</b>. Approximately 0.0% were diagnosed under age 20; 1.8% between 20 and 34; 9.9% between 35 and 44; 22.5% between 45 and 54; 24.8% between 55 and 64; 20.2% between 65 and 74; 15.1% between 75 and 84; and 5.7% 85+ years of age. </i></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You know who's in her 60s and more likely to develop? Your mom. Your grandmother. (Yes, young women, even those with great perky boobs, do get breast cancer, but I'm focusing on the majority here.)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
This <i>USA Today</i> <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/30/patients-decry-sexualization-of-breast-cancer/1630911/" target="_blank">article</a> spoke about how breast cancer patients are sick of the sexualization of breast cancer and included a quote from breast cancer blogger <a href="http://www.chemobabe.com/" target="_blank">Chemobabe</a>, aka Lani Horn<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>And beyond the chemo-induced nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, Horn says, long-term hormonal therapy can cause severe vaginal dryness, making intercourse too painful to contemplate. While many cancer survivors want more information about preserving their fertility and alleviating sexual side effects, very few get help, Horn says. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Cancer "doesn't make you feel terribly sexy. Pain is not terribly sexy," Horn says. "There's a cruelty to this, when you're in danger of losing the very sexuality that they're selling."</i></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You would think that hearing from those who have undergone breast cancer might garner some sympathy, maybe some comments like, "Ahh, I didn't think about it that way. You know what, I do think these sexy campaigns are wrong." Nah, a majority of the comments on the above article were as misogynistic and as full of bullshit as one might expect.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p5wODXSO2lo/UWdpn9y6DGI/AAAAAAAAA7w/jmFjTx9zEng/s1600/Whocares.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="85" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p5wODXSO2lo/UWdpn9y6DGI/AAAAAAAAA7w/jmFjTx9zEng/s320/Whocares.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Seriously, Don? You know who gives a rats ass? WOMEN WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH BREAST CANCER. I read this comment, and I swear my blood pressure just went through the roof, and I came within moments of an actual rage stroke. This guy seriously read, or half-ass read, an article about breast cancer patients despising all the sexiness in the name of awareness, and he still responded, "Who gives a rats ass." In the same thread, this gem of a human being decided to weigh in and show all those women who have had their breasts removed who's the boss.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QiHlwJd410o/UWdrY2MCKJI/AAAAAAAAA8I/2mo6PlC47qc/s1600/Whocares4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QiHlwJd410o/UWdrY2MCKJI/AAAAAAAAA8I/2mo6PlC47qc/s320/Whocares4.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not erasing this guy's last name because fuck this guy, that's why.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Sure, that's exactly what I do, you jackass. Instead of living my life after breast cancer, I have dedicated what time I have on this Earth to complain about women's breasts. I'm a breast-envying bitch. Yep, that sounds right. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cZRwGqd7wkc/UWdqe7ShADI/AAAAAAAAA78/c07TGWWxxyg/s1600/Romymichelle.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cZRwGqd7wkc/UWdqe7ShADI/AAAAAAAAA78/c07TGWWxxyg/s1600/Romymichelle.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This next comment made me laugh, but not in the funny-haha way, more like the oh-my-god-people-like-him-exist-why-god-why. When Komen turned down free money from porn, he gave his money to another "worthy cause."</div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J__6HCgwD1I/UWdwIXMYLHI/AAAAAAAAA8c/OtJYIt9uCUQ/s1600/whocares3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J__6HCgwD1I/UWdwIXMYLHI/AAAAAAAAA8c/OtJYIt9uCUQ/s320/whocares3.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
When women who have had breast cancer dared to speak, exclaiming, "This has gotten out of hand," we are told that we are "idiots," "judgmental," and "arrogant." Oh man, where was this guy when I had a third of my breast and five lymph nodes removed, or when I started choking to death because I was severely allergic to Taxotere, or going through radiation, or when I had to come to the decision to have a bilateral mastectomy when my year check-up came back suspicious? According to this shining example of philanthropy, I should just remain quiet and suffer the indignities of having companies try to make a buck off breast cancer by any means necessary? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Awareness for the sake of awareness is not helpful. Awareness is an empty word if it's not backed up by any action. I would gather that most people don't know shit about breast cancer. Do most know that there are multiple types of breast cancer, all which require different treatment plans: her2 positive, ER positive, triple negative, inflammatory breast cancer, and so on. All that these awareness campaigns do is just make ourselves feel better about not doing anything proactive. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I'd be down for awareness if it meant the public learned that <a href="http://www.metavivor.org/Awareness_30430.html" target="_blank">very little money</a> goes to actual research, that 30 percent of early-stagers go on to develop metastatic breast cancer, that breast cancer <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/10/18/sex-after-breast-cancer-what-couples-face.html" target="_blank">takes away</a> pretty much every aspect of yourself that you find sexy, or that <a href="http://malebreastcancerblog.org/" target="_blank">men get breast cancer</a> too.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sEsxHPKYr1w/Ujd8X4zfwXI/AAAAAAAABNU/7HaPftB4cU4/s1600/Susanlove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sEsxHPKYr1w/Ujd8X4zfwXI/AAAAAAAABNU/7HaPftB4cU4/s320/Susanlove.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Amen.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12662975128724788449noreply@blogger.com0