Breast Cancer Survivor
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Thank you everyone for your thoughts, prayers, messages, understanding It has meant a lot to me.
If you would like to be updated on my progress and find out more information about cancer and cancer treatments continue to check here for the latest posts about cancer.
Want to talk? Skype with me, a Young Breast Cancer Survivor in Austin, Texas.
Even with insurance it’s amazing how much everything ending up costing from doctor’s visits to medicine. We had additional expenses for help from babysitters to housecleaning since many days I was not able to do everything.
I’m a young adult, mom, breast cancer survivor living in Austin, Texas. Here are some of my breast cancer updates and videos.
- 9/30/10 – My Cancerversary (1 Year after diagnosis) Video and Giveaway
- 7/1/10 – Breast Cancer Update – 6 Months Later (pic)
- 4/26/10 – Breast Cancer Reconstruction after Double Mastectomy (video)
- 4/7/10 - Breast Cancer Update April 2010 w/ pics
- 2/26/10 – Light at the End of the Tunnel w/ pics
- 2/15/10 – Breast Cancer Update (video) – Done with Chemo, Now What?
- 1/23/10 – Dallas Doctors
- 1/7/10 – Appointment with the Oncologist
- 12/31/09 Last Chemo and Video
- 12/30/09 – Getting Ready for Chemo #4
- 12/27/09 – Still Recovering from Chemo and Video
- 12/10/09 Chemo #3 and Video
- 12/1/09 -Sleep… Finally and Video
- 11/19/09 – Chemo #2 and Video
- 11/17/09 – Wigs and Makeup
- 11/10/09 – Video Update – My Breast Cancer Story – Diagnosis to Chemo
- 10/30/09 – The Beginning of Chemo
- 10/15/09 – Good News After Surgery
- 10/10/09 -€œ Post Surgery
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For those of you that don’t know what’s going on read here… otherwise skip to the next section.
A few weeks ago I noticed a lump. A few different doctors all thought it was just a cyst. My ob/gyn said to wait a few weeks and see if it went away. Since breast cancer runs in the family, my parents insisted I get it checked out sooner. I went to have the cyst aspirated (drained), but when it wouldn’t drain a biopsy was done. Even then, the surgeon said not to worry, it was probably just tissue that needed to be removed. To everyone’s surprise, I got the dreaded news on Friday, September 25. All they knew at that point was that the lump was cancerous. Other test results were still pending.
We were able to get an appointment with a top breast surgeon at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas on Thursday 10/1. So, we all made the trip to Dallas for what we thought would just be a consultation. We had a very long day that Thursday. We met with various doctors. I had a lot of tests done. We were very impressed with everything and decided to go ahead and have surgery in Dallas.
The cancer was only on one side, but we (and the doctors) decided the best thing in my case was to have a double mastectomy. I most likely have the BRCA1 gene mutation which gives me a 50% chance of getting cancer again on the other side. Since I’m young (31) they said just going ahead with that surgery (rather than just a lumpectomy) would give me peace of mind for the future.
They were able to quickly fit me in for surgery on Monday (10/5). So, 10 days after getting the bad news I was at the hospital having the surgery. I am glad we got things moving so quickly.
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If you have any questions, want to talk, or know someone in my similar situation please leave a comment or email me.
Rachel
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Rachel,
When do you think Google will get your blog up and running? I have a friend, age 39, who had a double mastectomy on 12/2 and would really benefit from your wonderful blog. She has 2 young boys and is a teacher here in Austin. Thank you for sharing your experience and helping so many.
Kelly
I’m working on it. Who knows how long Google will take. This is really frustrating. Please have your friend email me or leave a comment on here. I’d love to get in touch with her. How is she doing?
Hi,
I just came across you on youtube, and I think you are an amazing woman. I recently had a bilateral double masectomy, and I am now “Under construction” I found your video so informing. I am right now with tissue exapanders, and I may go for one more expansion. I was wondering you said you were at 325 cc. what bra size is that. I know it seems like a silly question, it’s just i dnt know whether to go for the extra 25 cc or stay where i am.. thanks again for your info. Lisa
Hi Lisa,
thanks for stopping by. Sorry you have to go through this too.
For me, 325 put me at about a 34c or 32D. I’m still on the small size. I was around a 34b naturally before all of this and wanted to stay close to the same size.
Hope you are feeling ok. Keep me posted on what you decide.
Rachel
Are you in remission now?
I have/had cancer, and I am waiting on the news of whether I am in remission yet or not. I had a BMT and several doses of chemo + radiation, and surgeries to repair what the treatments tore apart.
Possibly the hardest thing I went through was my lack of support. People online called me a “drug addict” when I posted of needing pain medicine. Before that, they commented that I was “abusing my kids” because I couldn’t spend hours cleaning house as I did when I was 19 or 20 or 21. That lack of support really angered me.
I hope you’re doing better!
Jamie,
I’m so sorry you are going through that. Please keep me updated.
How are you?
Hi Cha Ching Queen,
I was fortunate enough to come across your amazing and inspirational video on YouTube.
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Hi Rachel, I found your videos on YouTube and found that your situation is very similar to mine. On Feb 1, I was diagnosed with stage 1, grade 3 invasive breast cancer. My lump is above my right breast, not in it. I am awaiting my BRCA results as breast cancer does not run in my family, to determine which surgery I will have (although I am seriously considering double mastectomy with reconstruction.) I would like to chat with you and ask some questions if you have the time. Also, I am in Tyler, Texas and in good hands with the Trinity Mother Frances and Texas Oncology staff.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Heather
Hi Heather,
Sorry to hear that you are in the same boat. I sent you an email. Let me know when you’d like to talk.
Rachel
Thank you for your informative videos. I’m scheduled to have a double mastectomy and reconstruction march 21. I had breast cancer 7 years ago and had a lumpectomy. I have a genetic mutation that has not yet been identified, so they basically do not know if I have the breast cancer gene or not. I had my ovaries removed after chemo, but have hesitated on getting a mastectomy until having a scare last summer. After a routine breast MRI a lump was found in the same breast. Within 8 days I had another lumpectomy and had the results it was benign. I’m not sure I could go through that stress again so I’m moving forward. Watching your video was comforting to me tonight when I’m still wondering if I’m doing the right thing. Like you I had two small children when I was diagnosed (18 months and 4). I went through 8 rounds of chemo and thirty days of radiation. I know I want to do everything I can to avoid that again.
Chris
Hi Chris,
Thanks for commenting. If you have any questions let me know. Good luck and let me know how it goes. I’m sorry you had a scare last summer.
thanks, Rachel
I have recently had a double mastectomy with expanders incerted. Not doing well. There are several things that I would like to ask you but do not know how to get you on your e-mail. Please e-mail your address to me. Thank you. ~~Linda