As some of you may or may not know, Carol's stepmom, has been having a fight with breast cancer for the last several months. Being breast cancer awareness month she wanted me to post something she wrote....here you go!
October is breast cancer awareness month I thought you might like to share my story as a prod to those women who don't schedule their mammograms on a regular basis and those who may find a lump but don't take it serious. May 2009, I found a cyst in my left breast, two days later I had a mammogram in the morning and the Radiologist said that it looked suspicious, but not malignant however said to come back for an ultra sound in the afternoon. Both reports showed negative for malignant tumor, but the radiologist suggested that I find a surgeon and have it removed because of what might be hiding behind the cyst and to see what was causing it. I talked to two different surgeons and decided on one of them to do a biopsy. The biopsy also came back negative. The surgeon and I were still suspicious so we decided the surgeon should perform a lumpectomy on July 24. The pathology report from the lumectomy came back stage IIB Lobular Carcinoma, breast cancer. Okay now what to do? I found an outstanding oncologist and surgeon and had both breasts removed on August 17th. A single mastecomy on the right and a modified radical mastectomy on the left. I am currently undergoing 12 weeks of chemo which will probably be followed up by several weeks of radiation. Now all of this was pretty shocking as I am in relatively good health and get my exams faithfully. So my message to you is not to bury your head in the sand if you think something is wrong. Sometimes we can wait too long and then the consequences could be much worse. I am so glad that I was persistant in having the lumpectomy. October is Breast Cancer Awareness so not only this month but every month do as the slogan suggests "Fight Like A Girl". Do self exams and get your exams faithfully. Of course the hardest part of all this besides the obvious is not being able to spend the time right now like we would like to with Scott, Carol, and our Grandbabies. Miss them - Judy Vance (Carol's Step Mom)
4 comments:
Hi Scott....
I follow your postings and keep Carol and your entire family surrounded by good thoughts and prayers.
Please thank you mother-in-law, Judy, for sharing her "journey" and giving us all a reminder about how important it is to take care of ourselves.
Judy certainly followed her "instinct" and knew to keep testing until she knew for sure what she was dealing with.
I will share her message with my friends and I'm sure by circulating her story, lives will be saved.
Please know that I definitely have developed a fondness for your family and appreciate that you've been able to continue to share your story through this blog.
Carol & Scott Decker most certainly have a marriage to be emulated.
janice
Wow! What an amazing story. It's scary that it could have been overlooked with all those negative test results. Thank you Judy, and get better!
The strength of the women around me in this world is amazing! Devistating happenings keep occuring and the strength that follows blows me out of the water everytime.
Thanks to every woman out there who through all odds stays strong and continually inspires myself and others with their persistence for good health and happy lives.
Thanks for sharing her story Scott!
Judy ~ Praise the Lord you had docs that were insistent on looking further into the lump.
I make embellished bandanas and I would love to send you one.
If you could email me your address, I will get one in the mail to you.
Please let me know your fav color.
My good thoughts and prayers are with you. Lorena
reenielou@hotmail.com
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