May of 2004 was my very last day of radiation I was finally able to ring the bell.   Not just a bell but the “I Kicked Cancer’s Butt bell”!  One of the best days!

Susan

#yayasurvivors

At the beginning of October 2003, I was busy being a wife, a mother of two girls, and working full time.  It was an exciting time for us; our senior was applying to colleges, our eight grader was cheerleading, there was a family cruise, and the holidays were almost upon us. Then I found a lump!  Not exactly what I was planning on.

The timeline moved quickly. I called a friend who worked at the Ann Baroco Center that I had known since High School.  I was scheduled the next day for a mammogram.   They confirmed that it was “something” and that I needed a Core Biopsy.  The results were back in a week or so and it was Cancer.  On October 22nd I was scheduled for a Lumpectomy and a Sentinel Lymph Node Injection. A week or so later I received a phone call and was told “Bring your Husband”. This is never a good sign.  I was diagnosed with Stage ll Invasive Ductal Carcinoma ER Positive.  Two of the five lymph nodes were metastasized. 

My first question was “when do we get started with treatments?”  I’ve got a lot of life and stuff to do!!  

The rest of 2003 and into the new year I had chemo and radiation.  May of 2004 was my very last day of radiation I was finally able to ring the bell.   Not just a bell but the “I Kicked Cancer’s Butt bell”!   One of the best days!

I joined the Krewe du Yaya’s in 2006.  I have been active member since.  We are large group of women who raise awareness of breast cancer through fund raising, education and giving back to the community through support.  Sidenote… pink is my favorite color!