Breast Cancer Survivor

Although my mother died of breast cancer, I guess I thought I would be older than 38 when I was diagnosed. (My mother's sister died of breast cancer, and I have a cousin who was diagnosed at age 30--so for me it was a matter of WHEN and not IF.) I wasn't actually looking for a lump when I found one, but there it was. I immediately made an appointment with my OBGYN. It was May, and I'd had a mammogram the previous February. I showed my doctor where I felt the lump but he couldn't feel it so he told me since I had just had my mammogram, to come back in six months. I was considering going to a different OBGYN for a second opinion but my best friend got me the number of a well known breast cancer clinic about 2 hours from my house, so I decided I'd feel better knowing I had a real expert opinion. The doctor there couldn't feel it either so she gave me an on-the-spot mammogram. It didn't show anything. But I insisted I could feel it, so I then had a "magnified mammogram" (who knew about that?!??.) Well, it showed a small lump which she biopsied then and there. An hour later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I have to admit I was stunned, despite my family history. I had gone alone, thinking it was just a formality. Anyway, long story short, I had Stage I breast cancer (a 1/2cm lump- very small) which had fortunately not gone to my lymph nodes. After a lumpectomy, I had 6 weeks of radiation and spent 5 years on Tamoxifen. I have been cancer free now for 10 years!! I was truly blessed and consider myself a poster child for early detection! My advice is to advocate for yourself and get treatment at a facility that treats alot of people with your type of cancer.