Sandy

Sandy, age 41, stay-at-home mom to an 8-year-old daughter Emily. Married to Chris for 12 years. We have a hamster and 2 fish, but are looking to adopt a kitten or young cat. Our sweet kitty passed away in March, and we miss him so much.

We moved here from New York in May, 2002. I was diagnosed in October, 2004---Breast Cancer Awareness Month---and boy, did I become AWARE! In June, 2004, I had my first mammogram since moving here. I had a few mammograms in New York since age 35 because of Long Island’s high incidence of breast cancer. They compared the new films to my old ones, and everything was “fine.” Four months after a “clear” mammogram, I saw an indented area on my breast below the nipple and felt a round hard lump. I went for diagnostic mammo, ultrasound and core needle biopsy, which determined it to be cancer.

Stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma, 1.4 cm low-grade tumor, ER+/PR+, Her-2 negative.

Mastectomy (my choice) and sentinel node biopsy (4 lymph nodes removed—all negative).

No chemo or radiation; currently taking Tamoxifen.

Still trying to decide about reconstructive surgery (what procedure, when, what doctor).

NO family history of breast cancer.

It was the absolute SHOCK of my life as I NEVER thought I’d get breast cancer. After all, I had no family history and always had normal mammograms, right? Talk about a false sense of security!

What I’ve learned is that we as women must become educated about our health care and be vigilant in taking care of ourselves. We must speak up and be our own advocates. Doctors are only human; if something doesn’t make sense to you, question them until it does.

At first you may feel like your world is standing still and spinning out of control at the same time, but you will eventually regain a sense of normalcy (a “new normal” as they call it). We are forever changed by a breast cancer diagnosis, in some ways for the better. As for myself, I see life in a different way—a better way—and I am much more focused on the important things. The trivial stuff just “falls away” allowing you to pay attention to what really matters.

Sandy