How Your Life Has Changed with Breast Cancer

Give us a bit of backstory. When were you diagnosed? How is life different now?

I was treated for endometrial cancer and kidney cancer before I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was picked up on a normal screening mammogram. I couldn't feel it even after I knew where it was. Obviously, I was fortunate to have it found at an early stage, as were the 2 cancers before it.

What lessons have you learned since being diagnosed?

The lessons I've learned are to be aware of what is going on with your body and ask questions when seeing your doctor. The only stupid question is the one not asked. I knew there was something wrong when I started spotting. A woman in her 60s doesn't spot unless there is something wrong. Some cancers have no early symptoms as with my kidney cancer which was found when a CT scan was done to see if endometrial cancer had spread. Finding cancers in the early stages makes them easy to treat. 

What advice would you give someone whose loved one was recently diagnosed?

First and foremost get your mammograms when they are due and do self-examination once a month. Then listen to what your body is telling you. Don't be afraid to talk to your doctor, ask questions. As I said, the only stupid question is the one not asked. 

One last thing, Praise the Lord for His mercy endureth forever.