You have Breast Cancer

February 9th, 2008 Julie

Last summer I was diagnoised with Fibromyalgia.  Fibromyalgia is just a fancy term for being in pain all of the time for no really good reason.  I was in so much pain this summer, I couldn’t even sit up.  My 12 year old son took care of me while I laid on the couch all summer.  It was terrible.   It took me several months of physical therapy and medication to get my fibro to a level  I can stand.

While I was so sick this summer, I lost a lot of weight in a very short period of time.  I had lost about 50 pounds at the peak of the Fibro.  After I lost so much weight, I started to notice a large mass in my right breast.  My Mother and Sister have had fibrous tumors in their breasts, so I didn’t think anything of it.  To be honest, I didn’t care if it was cancer I was in so much pain from the Fibro.   After I started to get the Fibro under control I turned 40 so my doctor told me I needed to get an appointment for my very first mammogram.

When I went in for my mammogram I told the x-ray technician that I had a large lump in my right breast.  She chewed me out a bit for not telling my doctor and then took the pictures she needed.  She sent me for a follow-up ultra sound about a week after the mammogram.

On Monday January 21st, 2008 I went for my ultra sound with my husband while our kids were at school.  As I lay there, I started to notice that the ultra sound technician didn’t look real happy.  When she left and brought the radiologist in I knew I was in trouble.   The radiologist used the ultra sound wand on my breast and then sighed.  She said, “we think you have breast cancer.”

I couldn’t believe it.  How could I have breast cancer at 40?  I have no family history what so ever of breast cancer.  I have never smoked.  I do not drink.  I usually eat right and I have always been into exercise.  Not to mention I have had more than my share of medical problems the last 4 years.  How could this be happening?

I started to cry.  The radiologist was very kind.  She asked her technician if they could do a biopsy immediately to make sure that it was cancer.   In a matter of 15 minutes I was having a biopsy.  They stuck my breast with a needle full of medicine to numb it and then took 3 or 4 cross sections of the tumor and put them into a test tube to be sent off to a lab.  A few days later the radiologist called me on the phone and said that the biopsy confirmed that I have breast cancer.

 Ribbons Breast Cancer.  Cross Stitch pattern.

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2 Comments Add your own

• 1. Tammy  |  February 14th, 2008 at 4:14 pm

  My sister Julie was such a stubborn kid when we were growing up together. Now I say this with love and not to be mean. It seemed like she never feared anything and she would always forge ahead no matter what she faced. Now as an adult, she is about the strongest women I know. She will conquer the monster we call cancer and be that much stronger for it. I love you, sis!! You are my hero!!!

• 2. Julie  |  February 14th, 2008 at 4:22 pm

  Thanks sis! I love you too. Jul

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