Jan's story of the cancerschmancer just before chemo and radiation

I'd just would like to thank you for being a voice for women. I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer at age 38. I felt the lump in my breast and it hurt, so I went to my gynecologist, who said it was probably just a little milk gland swollen. I basically insisted that he do a biopsy because my mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer 4 years prior, and I didn't want to take any chances. At the time I had a 5 year old and a 15 year old (10 years apart) and both girls. So I told my gynecologist order a biopsy which proved to be cancerous and had spread to my lymph nodes. I underwent chemo and radiation for 6 months. Needless to say, it was horrible, plus I had a full time job to hold down, because that is where I had insurance with. To make a long story short, my sister was diagnosed 5 years later, and my oncologist suggested that I have a genetic test done to see if I had the BRCA gene......which I did. Then it was like, it is all on you, you have to decide if I wanted to face this aggressively or just do routine checkups and mamograms. Well I consulted several doctors, all of which said if it were their wife, they would have both a complete hysterectomy and have both my breast removed. To say the least, it was a lot to take in. So I started researching the gene BRCA and doctors that performed surgeries for women with this gene.  The doctors removed my breast and cut me at the bottom of my stomach to pull up stomach "stuff" to make my breast. This was done in 2006, and let me tell you, it has been a BIG adjustment, not to mention a painful one. But at least I am still here and cancer free, and I am very thankful for that, and thank God for seeing me through all of this. I am glad I had the surgery, but let me tell you, it is life altering, because you have so much scar tissue which is very, very painful. And at times I have muscle spasms which also causes alot of pain. I can't close without mentioning how I enjoy watching your show "The Nanny". It stops me in my tracks if I see it on TV Land or on Nick. To me, that is the best show EVER. Anyways, just wanted to share with you a little of my journey with the cancerschmancer. Thanks again for all you do. I really appreciate it. Love, your friend, Jan P. from Mobile, Alabama