Jenny's Story

We have all seen the slogans for Breast Cancer Awareness…

- Save the TaTas~

- Fight like a girl!

- I’m here for the Boobies :)

- Feel for lumps, Save your bumps!

- Big or small, Let’s save them all

There are so many that I could fill up an entire page with them!

We all see them and we chuckle at the cute ironies. We all realize that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Some pray for those that are fighting and some donate to the cause. We take it seriously but our brains say “It can’t happen to me”. It can.

My story:

I tell my story not because breast cancer defines me and not because I feel like my breast cancer fight makes me any different than anyone else fighting their own battles.  I simply tell it in an effort to save one more wife, sister, mother, daughter or friend.  

Seven years ago, I was floating in the lake with four of my girlfriends.  It was one of those all girls weekends that you leave your phone in your purse and your worries at the house and just relax.  We caught up with each others lives, floated till our skin puckered, laughed till our sides hurt and prayed for other friends going through a hard time.  Casually breast cancer was brought up and we shuddered at the statistics that one of the five of us would battle the disease in our lifetime.  Little did we know three of the five women floating in that lake would battle breast cancer and WIN.  We each have our own, unique stories with one common thread...Early Detection.

In August of 2012 I scheduled a long overdue mammogram. I had been having a weird sensation in my left breast that was not quite pain but also not comfortable. When they took me back and asked if there were any areas of concern I mentioned the sensation. They squished that area more (oh the joys of being a woman).

They called me first thing the next morning and asked me to come in for a sonogram, assuring me that 80% of the time it ends up being nothing. Immediately after the sonogram, the radiologist spoke to me and said that he was 90% sure that the spot he was seeing was benign but he scheduled a biopsy to make sure. Three weeks later, the doctor performing the biopsy said he would be “shocked” if the matter he was extracting was cancerous. So imagine my surprise three days later…”You Have Cancer”.

My amazing husband, who has always been strong, stoic and protective, collapsed as soon as the words were spoken. This is a man that is solid as a rock. He doesn’t respond to situations with emotion, he rarely gets upset and he never cries.  His reaction scared me worse than the doctor's statement. Many people have asked what my first thoughts were when I was told. I love my kids immeasurably, however my very first thought was “I’m only going to get 20 years with my husband and that’s not enough”. I wish I could say that I had an epiphany or some kind of selfless reaction. NOPE!  I was really, really angry. I was angry that I wouldn’t be with my husband anymore. I was angry that I was leaving my kids so early in their lives that it would leave scars on their hearts. I was angry that I wouldn’t travel with them, see their weddings, meet my grandkids. I cried.I shook. I threw up. I held my husband’s hand. I heard no more words the doctor said. All the while, getting angrier and angrier. And then I snapped and said ‘No! I’m not done being here with my family yet”.  

I won’t bore you with the details of surgery, chemo, radiation, shots, blood draws, handfuls of medications, endless doctors appointments, etc. What I will bore you with is the proverbial silver lining. My marriage is stronger now than ever (didn’t even know that was possible). My kids are happy, healthy, beautiful, successful people that positively impact the world. Our family is closer now that we have been through this experience, and it has helped us all deal with the other devastating experiences that life throws at us. I have a new attitude about life. This new outlook helped me start an amazing career that I never dreamed I would love this much. This new outlook is basically to live a fabulous life (that includes pink feather boas)!

Because of early detection, I was able to fight hard and beat this battle. I’ve heard all the reasons why women don’t go for mammograms.  What reason even comes close to the reward of being with your loved ones? Your significant other...your kids...your friends....your dog...they all need you. Let them be your inspiration to schedule that appointment!  

Warmly,

Jenny