What do you do when almost every woman on your mother's side of the family had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had their life taken away from it? You fight! Below is a touching story of how one of our patient's wouldn't let breast cancer rear it's ugly in her life.
"1978. That was the year that breast cancer changed our families lives. My mothers youngest sister Jodie, (who I shared a birthday with, she was exactly 10 years older than me!) at 30 years old, had just had a baby girl, and while nursing, found a lump in her breast. Through a biopsy she found that she had stage 3 breast cancer with a year to live. Surgically, they removed both of her breasts. She underwent horrible radiation - burns and all - and even worse chemo. This was all going on while she had a newborn baby at home! She had reconstruction, which in those days meant skin was taken from her back to create breasts. I remember. Her saying how painful it was - she couldn't sleep on her stomach or back. - just her side. BUT, things got better! She ate healthier, exercised and even ran in a marathon! My 30 year old aunt/sister/friend recently passed away at 59 years old. While still too young, she beat that 12 month estimate by almost 30 years! Unfortunately, her cancer had metastasized.
Shortly after Jodie was diagnosed in 1978, my Grandmother was also diagnosed with breast cancer. Then my grandmothers 2 sisters. And, come to find out, my grandmothers mother also had breast cancer.
My mother, at age 49, was also diagnosed with breast cancer. Because she was afraid of the burns from radiation and the side effects of chemo, she chose NOT to have treatment after the mastectomy. Very quickly, her cancer metastized to her brain. Surgeons were able to remove the tumor. She then decided that radiation and chemo were her only options to slow the monster down. Unfortunately, it was too late. The cancer had metastized to her liver. My mother died on May 25, 1988. She was 50 years old.
As an only child, I still miss my mother everyday! She would have been 78 this year.
Cancer has taken the lives of all of the women on my mothers side of the family - with two exceptions: my cousin (Jodie's newborn daughter) who is 37 and me, at 57. Not surprisingly, we both tested positive for the BRCA gene. She had a double mastectomy in January. I had mine in July. We both decided that breast cancer was not going to rear its ugly head in our lives!
She lives in Colorado and had immediate reconstruction with silicone implants. I had Dr. Bassinger remove my breasts and the next day, Dr. Miles did TRAM flap reconstruction. So far, so good!!
My cousin and I see each other often, and we have both agreed that our mothers would be proud of us for doing preventative surgeries. I can't speak for her, but I suspected that I had the gene, but wasn't really worried about it. Just because you have the gene doesn't mean you have cancer! The reasons why I had the surgeries were many. My aunt, at age 59, was the catalyst. I promised her that I would take care of her daughter after she passed, and my cousin (her daughter) felt strongly, well, she was insistent - that we both do this. Although I did not have breast cancer, I had seen too many women in my family die much too early of the disease.
As I said above, I miss my mom everyday. I often wonder if she had undergone treatment after the first mastectomy, would she be alive today? I don't know. But I understand now. Facing cancer is scary. It was hard to make the decisions that I did. But I had choices. All the women in my family did not.
After speaking with many plastic surgeons, who didn't give me options - it was either implant, implant or implant! I found Dr. Miles' office. Even setting the appointment was so easy and pleasant! They worked around my schedule and stayed late to see me - how often does that happen with a Drs office? Never!! Dr. Miles and Tara gave me options - I had never heard about the TRAM flap. They spent quite a bit of time with me so I understood the pros and cons of implants vs TRAM. Overall, it was a pleasant experience. Dr. Miles even suggested what size would best fit my frame. He told me about the pros and cons of the TRAM flap surgery.
I decided on the TRAM flap - using my own tissue vs an implant. The surgery was a success, and the follow up has been phenomenal! I have been in their office once a week since leaving the hospital, and both their professionalism and great attitudes have never changed. They are genuinely vested in the quality of my care - coming in early, staying late - everything has been way beyond my previous experiences and expectations.
Ladies, research your options! Know that you do have choices! There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to surgeries. Go see Dr. Miles and his staff- you won't be disappointed!!"
