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Michelle
I started having breast pain in October of 2004. I went to my
Ob/Gyn who prescribed antibiotics for mastitis. When I was still
in pain a month later, she sent me to a breast specialist, who
prescribed 2 more rounds of stronger antibiotics, which took 2
more months.
By Christmas, I was on Vicodan daily for pain. They did a
mammogram, and it showed nothing but fibrous tissue. The breast
specialist doctor said: 'I'm sure it's not cancer.' Because of
the pain, she said we could do a biopsy.
On Jan 10, 2005 I was diagnosed with IBC, 5 cm. That week I began 4
rounds of Adriamycin/Cytoxan at 2 week intervals, which shrank
the cancer to literally an undetectable level (thank you, God).
On April 1, I had a radical mastectomy and 8 lymph nodes removed.
Two weeks later my gall bladder flared up something terrible (I
had lost 30 pounds in 60 days from the first chemo) so on April
19th I had my gall bladder removed.
Beginning in May, I then had 4 rounds of Taxotere at 3 week
intervals, then in September had my other (simple) mastectomy.
Late September I began radiation for 5 weeks and completed that
on Halloween. When I began the Taxotere, we also started the
antigen drug Herceptin, and I will continue that every 3 weeks
through June.
They are doing MUGA (heart) scans every 3 months.
I also just had a bone-density (dexascan) to get a baseline for
my estrogen-starved bones, as at the ripe age of 37, the chemo
put me full-throttle into menopause.
What a year! Thank God for my husband, who was so supportive and
terrific through this horrible time. Our church was incredible,
too.
My best friend arranged meals and visits for me every couple of
days, along with rides to all my appointments so that my husband
could go to work.
At first, I was very angry and depressed about this situation, but
now I have realized that cancer is a mixed blessing. Never
before in my life have I felt so loved and so useful. This
sickness has enabled my estranged family to come together with
more unity than I ever imagined possible.
I have been able to reach out to so many people, and I never
would have before being ill. I feel like God has given me my
'niche' in life - to help others and be able to empathize with
their suffering.
I don't take a single day for granted, and my prayer life has
been renewed and refreshed. Each day is truly a gift.
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