Hello,
My name is Melva Johnson and I am an 11 year cancer survivor. My story begins like this...
The day that I was told that I had breast cancer scared me. I didn't know how I was going to tell my family and friends. On the way back home from seeing the doctor I was really concentrating on how I was going to tell my family, especially my children. I was only 36 years old.
In August 2010 I went in for my annual mammogram. I was not worried, as no one in my family had a history of breast cancer. I was right not to be concerned. My mammogram was clear. One day in early February 2011 while in the shower, I noticed that my breast began to cave inward. I knew this was not a good sign.
If you know Dana Nowland, you know she is a fighter. The past three months have been particularly rough, and life has thrown a couple of pretty hard punches at her and her family. The first being the unexpected loss of her father, Rich Nowland, on June 17th. It was that week she had scheduled an appointment to have a painful and suspicious change in her left breast checked out. Convinced it was a clogged duct; trying to cope with the loss of her father, and assist the family with arrangements for his memorial she nearly cancelled the appointment that afternoon.
My journey with breast cancer began in utero. My maternal grandmother had her breast cancer at age 67, my Mom had her cancer at age 52, and I had my cancer at 38. Being a Third Generation Survivor has given me a unique opportunity to pay it forward. I advocate for others going through their cancer journey. I volunteer in the community to provide education, awareness, and raise monies for The CURE. I know that together we will eradicate cancer in our lifetime! Grateful for those of us that have survived; pray for Warriors and Remember the souls we have lost to this insidious disease.
My name is Tina Marie Vucci and I'm 44 years old. I found a lump the size of a pea in my left breast and it grew for 2 years. It was then the size of a golf ball and I had 3 the same size in my lymph nodes. It was 3rd stage breast cancer at 33 years old.
I have had lumps removed since I was 27 years old. I have a family history on both sides of the family. I'm married with young children and felt that a benign fibroid was changing. I knew I wasn't due for a mammogram because it was less than my 2 year routine check. My PCP thought it was still benign but referred me back to Betty Ford for further investigation. I had a mamm and ultrasound and discovered that my fibroid was still benign, but they found calcification that looked suspect.
Hello my name is Michelle. I really think it’s a great idea for The Pink Carts to help with Breast Cancer Awareness and allow others to share their stories to help others! I feel very lucky to share my story and pray that it helps somebody.
Cancer is on both sides of my family. I have had my grandfather pass away from lung cancer, my aunt pass away from Breast Cancer, and another aunt from cervical cancer. Right now in my family there are several of us that have cancer. Unfortunately, my case is the worst. Right now I have stage 4 cancer in my stomach and breast. I may be sick, I may have stage 4 cancer, BUT that doesn't mean I'll just lay down and let this awful thing called Cancer ruin all my hopes and dreams! I refuse to let this beat ME...
Ashley and her husband, Scott, have been faced with many obstacles over the last three years, but nothing could have prepared them for the trials 2013 would bring.
It all started for Ashley when she was injured at work in 2011; she fell and broke her ankle which caused her and Scott to fall into financial distress because she was unable to work, and workers compensation wasn’t following through with their obligations. This injury has left Ashley with permanent loss of partial motion, and severe nerve pain that may never subside.
When you're living with cancer your number one priority should be to focus your energy on getting well... not on keeping track of all the insurance paperwork, test results, and bills coming from your various doctor visits or hospital stays. That is why The Pink Cart takes pride in our partnership with an organization as outstanding as the American Cancer Society, because they offer so many valuable resources to cancer patients and their families.
I had just turned 49 years old when I felt a small lump up towards my right armpit. The sad thing is I ignored it. I had just had a mammogram 2 months earlier - nothing to worry about. This was September of 2009. By the beginning of November I FINALLY decided to make an appointment to have it checked out - still, no worries. I'm a teacher and I was in the middle of parent/teacher conferences. The day of my appointment I cancelled. I was just too busy. My OBGYN even emailed me "Are you sure you want to cancel?” My response was "Yes". I wasn't too concerned.