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.
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.
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.
Breast cancer touched my life when I was 23; my sister was 28 when she was diagnosed. When I heard the news, I cried and cried thinking her life was over.
She had a lumpetomy then did chemo and radiation. I took care of her a lot during this process. I had to shave her head when her hair started falling out, I took her to the doctor and to chemo treatments. But she BEAT it! She was cancer free! She even made the 5 year Survivor mark.
I don't know where to start, so I guess the beginning is good. My baby sister, Terri Lynn was diagnosed with breast cancer in April of 2009. 1 year later to the day, our mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. My sister has a wonderful support system, which includes her husband who has stood by her through all of her sickness. Her daughter, Emmy who is 16 and has been a real trooper through everything, as well as her other family. My sister is the strongest person I know! She has undergone a double mastectomy and various other health issues and still manages to hold her head high and fight.
At age 41, with no significant family history, I was diagnosed with breast cancer on Cinco de Mayo 2009. After work that day (I am a nurse) I went to my doctor because of a lump that puckered my skin. I knew what it meant, I just needed confirmation. Like all others affected by cancer, this day changed my life irrevocably. Though given the choice to change circumstances, I wouldn't.