I cannot stress enough how important mammograms and self examinations can be..
I was recently diagnosed with Stage II BC...underwent a 'partial' masectomy/lumpectomy on Nov 11th. I say 'partial' because the tumor was over 2 cm and the tissue surrounding had to be removed.
I also had 4 lymp nodes under my right arm removed...thankfully, they were all negative.
I felt a small lump about 10 months ago, but my alter ego, 'Cleopatra-the Queen of 'Denial' set in as there is no history in my family, and both my sister and Mom suffered from 'Fibrocystic tumors' in their breast.
But in the last 10 weeks is seemed to be getting larger, and when I finally made the appointment with my PP (primary physcian) it had grown to 2 cm., and I was feeling an occasional burning sensation in the area.
When I hear women say they don't have yearly mammograms because...'It hurts'...wah wah wah"...I want to slap them!
"Let me tell you about pain, Girlfriend"...

Thank God for Percocet & Darvocet..
My prognosis is good...I will start radiation therapy the first week in Dec. Five days a week...for 6 - 8 weeks. No 'day at the beach' for sure, but I'm a 'tough ol' broad' and this WILL NOT GET THE BEST OF ME!!..
Bottom line...If you have a Mother, Sister, Wife or Girlfriend over 40 years old...PLEASE!! PLEASE....tell them how important a yearly mammogram is, and God forbid...they feel a lump, no matter how small...GET IT CHECKED OUT!!!.
As my 'treatment' progresses, I'll post again.
Thanks for reading 'my' story...pass it on.
