Breast Cancer Survivor

My name is Denise and I am now 46 years old. I had breast cancer just over 8 years ago. I had found a lump on my breast so I went to my doctor and was sent to have a mammogram and a sonogram. After the radiologist looked at the film, a nurse came in and told me I was ok. I stood up and I said no I am not. The radiologist didn't even look at me at this point. I told her I was suppose to have a sonogram also and the nurse said that the radiologist said I didn't need one. I told the nurse to go back and tell him I want the sonogram.

I was taken back a bit later and after the sonogram was done and the doctor looked at the film. He told me it was a cyst and not cancer. I asked him how can he look at film and know that for sure. He says that I had them before and I was prone to them. I said to him this lump is different. It was hard, not circular and it didn't move. Then I asked him about the lymph node that was swollen next to the side of the breast and he said it was from an infected hair. My response was if that's the case then where is the bump on my skin where the hair would be.  Needless to say, there was NO bump.

I left the office very upset and called a breast surgeon and made an appointment for the next week. The breast surgeon had the report from my doctor and it was written "OK" on the report.  We were both upset.  We set up surgery to remove the whole lump and remove the lymph node. All of it came back stage 3 cancer. The surgeon removed 3 lymph nodes and the first one, the one I felt was full of cancer and the second one had a little cancer and the third one had none. I went through 5 months of chemo and about 32 treatments of radiation. I was told by my radiation oncologist that the cancer I had was very aggressive and doubled it size every month.

He told me that had I not been aggressive with this and having my breast removed and all the treatments I would of died within 6 months.

My reason for writing about my story was after I read from your site about Fran Drescher's cancer experience,  I believe we are our best judge of our bodies. We need to stand firm on what we know and believe what's going on with our bodies. Most women want to hear after a mammogram that you're ok. Most women would of walked out the door happy that the lump was nothing. Had I walked out the door I would of died within six months and left behind 3 children.

In my world around me I have told my story to many.  Be your own advocate and trust your inner voice. Do not let emotions be your voice.