After a May 8th mammogram came back all clear I was doubly startled to feel a lump at the end of June on the left side of my left breast. The funny thing was, even though I got that clear mammogram, I immediately knew this was cancer when I felt it. And that's the key to this blog. You know yourself and your own body way more than you may think.
This all occurred last June late in the month--I got to my ob-gyn a few days thereafter--and oddly even though my mother had died of this in 1987 and even though I have all the risk factors involved with breast cancer, nothing appeared on his records as he sat at his computer and asked me "has anyone in your family died of this?" "Yes", I said appalled. "My mother 22 years ago--and I have been your patient for nearly 30 years!"
Cut to the chase--he clearly had just been writing orders for screening mammograms for me all these years and those DO NOT WORK on women like me and probably on women like many of you. As I write this blog in the coming months I will take you on my journey of how this all happened to a person who thought she was "on top of it"--how I ended up a hair away from Stage 3 breast cancer, and my upcoming treatments and battle--both to fight this ubiquitous disease and the injustice of the medical system that misses so many crucial things. I am doing this for my 25 year old daughter seen here with me above.
Thanks, Rhonda, for taking your time to do this. It's important to Sam, but also to the rest of us. I look forward to taking this journey with you!
Posted by: Nikki Sells | 10/22/2009 at 01:49 PM
Rhonda,
I have absolute faith that you will beat this! It will be a rocky road, but you won't be traveling it alone.
Jackie
Posted by: Jacquelyn Lynn | 10/22/2009 at 01:54 PM
R-
You are the perfect person to carry this message. Your diligence and effort is already touching us. Sharing this information is a great gift.
Brenda
Posted by: Brenda Fellinger | 10/23/2009 at 09:15 AM
Rhonda, thank you for sharing and taking a stand on what needs to be said for all women and men who are also at risk for this dreadful disease! I will be praying with you and here if you need anything..Gina
Posted by: Gina | 10/27/2009 at 08:03 AM