Ann Bartos

My name is Ann Bartos. I was 48 when I found a lump while showering just before Christmas 2002. On January 14 2003 I received the call that no one wants to hear, yes it is cancer. My family doctor immediately made appointments with a surgeon Dr. Richard White and an oncologist Dr. Gary Frenette. If there are angels on earth these 2 doctors are it. After meeting both doctors it was decided to try chemo first to see if the tumor would shrink. It was decided that I was to have 8 chemo treatments then surgery followed by radiation. After the 1st chemo treatment the tumor did shrink. I ended up having a lumpectomy. I had 13 lymph nodes removed that were negative. Then it was decided to have 36 rounds of radiation after I healed from the surgery. Because I am ER/PR positive I am taking tamoxifen for 5 years and I am now in my 3rd. I can tell you that during this journey it has made me look at my life differently and I have also been lucky enough to have met some of the most beautiful women in my life. This journey has been rewarding in so many aspects. I have been married for 30 years in May of 2006. I have 3 girls Melynda (28) Amanda (25) and Emily( 21). I could not have made it through this without each of them. Just recently I was genetically tested and I am BRCA 1 which is having me make more decisions in my life. I know that I have a long road ahead of me and I am hoping that my girls get tested soon but are negative. No matter what the future brings to me and my family we will handle it together.