I felt like I had been hit by a Mack truck when my doctor told me that the biopsy samples showed I had breast cancer. Thank goodness my husband came with me. It was surreal, and I think the reason that I got many opinions (surgical and oncological) was in the hope that someone would tell me that the diagnosis was wrong. Couldn't happen to me.
I did not know what a gift good health is until I was not healthy. It was such an affront, as I had always been careful about eating right, exercising, not drinking too much. It took me a long time to realize that I had done nothing to bring this on myself.
The news got worse after the mastectomy, when we learned that I had 17 or 18 lymph nodes that had cancer in them, and that the cancer was spread through the breast.
For several weeks I was extremely depressed and cried a lot. Once we had a treatment plan in place, I think it became easier because I could focus on the treatment and I felt like I was doing something to help return myself to health.
Bea from Texas:
Once the treatment was over, oh the relief, elation, celebration…it was a happy time. I threw a party. I had seen a t-shirt that said "Cancer? Hell, I Survived Chemotherapy!". That expressed my feelings adequately. My energy level came back up and I was able to go on with my life.
Elizabeth from New Jersey:
Once my treatment was over, I was grateful to be alive. I remember thinking just a few days after my last chemotherapy treatment that if all I got out of it was that day, it was enough. My whole attitude turned around. Being alive is good.
