Tell us about your journey
In June 2016 my husband had a scaffolding come out from underneath him at work and he fell 8ft and broke his left foot. He broke his cancellous in three places and 2 of the fractures are near joints. Surgery wasn’t an option for the risk of infection was too great due to him on blood thinners for his heart and smoking. In November, he started physical therapy and in December he finally could wear tennis shoes. On August 15, 2016, my dad went to the hospital and had pancreatitis and was admitted in Columbus, Georgia. On Aug 18 they found spots on his liver and pancreas he had a biopsy on Aug 19. On Aug 22, he was released from hospital and on Aug 24, the results came back, and he had pancreatic cancer which had spread to his liver. On Aug 27, my dad was in the ICU. They removed part of pilonidal cyst on his butt and will try to remove more on Monday. My dad is now recovering at the hospital. On Sept 13 my dad is finally out of the hospital and now relaxing at home. On Sept 29, I got a call from my stepmom, and she told me to start looking at flights to go out there. He was back in the hospital and when he got out, he just turned into a vegetable. He hasn’t given up, but he’s in pain. I made it out there on Oct 1 and on Oct 3, 2016, my dad passed away.
On Dec 8, 2016, I had to have a breast biopsy and the results came back on Dec 13, 2016, and I have Invasive lobular carcinoma. I met with the surgeon on Dec 28, 2016, and it is Stage 1 possible Stage 2 Cancer. It hasn’t spread anywhere else yet. Will have surgery in 2-3 weeks once genetic test and receptor test come back. This has hit too close to home for me emotionally. My grandma had breast cancer and lost both her breast in the same mobile home park that I am living in now. My grandparents lived here in Redding from 1985-1992. I never thought I would come back. Then to meet my husband in the Bay Area in 1998 and his grandparents moved to this park in 2003 then when they passed in 2013 & 2014, we inherited it. Just a lot of memories and my parents both passed of health issues my father was 46 and passed from liver cancer and my mom was 52 and passed from Asthma. So, a little scary. I know I can beat this, and I am glad I have had to have mammograms every year since 35 or else I wouldn’t know about this for 2 more yrs.
After my check up on Feb 8th, 2023, I received a call in the afternoon. The Dr had found 2 spots on my breast. Went the next day on Thursday for biopsy. I got my results yesterday morning. The Cancer has returned to a different spot on my left breast. I have invasive ductal carcinoma. Wow a different cancer in the same breast 6 years later. I have 2 choices. Mastectomy or Reconstruction. I am not sure which surgery I’m doing. All I know is God isn’t done with me yet & I have another survival story to share. A friend told me “You have had such a rough childhood & young adult life you deserve a break of happiness in your life.” I chose to have a single mastectomy with DIEP reconstruction.
In July 2024 it will be 1 year since my surgery and still cancer free. I am proud to be a 2-time cancer survivor and I’m gonna keep on kickin!