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40-49
Sharon Hoffman
breast cancer
stage one

I am a breast cancer survivor - not once, not twice, but a three-time survivor.

My story starts in November of 1993 at age 39. My gynecologist had insisted on mammograms for me since age 32 (because of my large breasts) - and thank goodness he did. He saved my life! The tumor could not be felt, even after it was located on the mammogram. My surgeon suggested we remove it, and it was cancer - Stage I. I went through the traditional six weeks of radiation (left breast) and I thought I as "cured!" ha!

To me, reoccurrence is much scarier than the original diagnosis. I was nearing my five-year anniversary of being cancer free. I had wanted to have breast reduction surgery ever since I was in my 20's, so I scheduled the reduction surgery for January 10, 1998. Doctors found cancer (Stage II - this time in my right breast) - and of course that came as a big shock to all of us (gynecologist, oncologist, and surgeon) because I had been having regular mammograms. But the "mass" was very soft, very close to the skin and just under my armpit (which as you all know is an area that is hard to "grab" in the mammogram). So I did four rounds of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation (right breast).

Things went smoothly in 1999. But I had major scarring, both from the reduction surgery and the radiation. By the time I had my mammogram in April of 2000, I suspected that a mammogram was not going to find everything because of all of the scarring. (Scars show up on the mammograms - and it's difficult for the radiologist to decipher scars from tumors.) So I had a MRI in May of 2000. Sure enough, there was a "suspicious mass" back in my left breast this time. Doctors thought it "might" be scar tissue, but wanted to watch it for three months and do another MRI. In August 2000 I had another MRI, followed by a needle biopsy and - you guessed it - cancer (Stage II).

Since I'd had three months to think about it, I knew that if the tests came back positive, I would have a double mastectomy (I mean, enough is enough already)! So I had the bi-lateral mastectomy at the end of August and my plastic surgeon put in the expandable implants (because I was trying to avoid another reconstruction surgery. By the way, I don't recommend the expandable implants. It did not turn out well for me). Also, knowing what I know now - I would have opted for mastectomies (instead of the lumpectomies). Oh well, live and learn!

Throughout it all I've had my best friend and nurse, my husband, loving me and supporting me. We spent our 13th wedding anniversary in the Infusion Room, holding hands and thanking God that the cancers were found early. I say "early" - Stages I and II. I never really felt sorry for myself - "why me!" I do get angry when I see the statistics and that billions of dollars have been spent on research for this disease and no one can find a cure. I understand that great strides are being made, but what's taking so long to find a cure?

I really feel like early detection is the key to survival. Have your mammograms every year and do your self-exams! I was not good about doing my self-exams, and I'll always wonder if I could have found the second cancer sooner. Also, include your underarm and side areas in your self-exams. I think cancer is very sneaky. It likes to hide where you can't find it! The trick is to be smarter than the cancer.

Also, try to keep a sense of humor and take charge of your care. You'll need to do a lot of research on your own. I love all of my doctors, but they did not tell me everything. I had to do my own research on stem cell transplants, tamoxifin, etc. Knowledge really is power. Make yourself do the research. There is a lot of information out there.

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