A SURVIVOR'S STORY

by Sandra Lebeck

I was about to leave after having a “fitting” when the consultant asked me if I was good with a pen. Huh? What did she have in mind? “Well, I don’t know if I am or not,” was my reply. She said they were always looking for survivor stories for the Touch Of Courage newsletter. My reply was that I really wasn’t a survivor in the “whole” sense of the word as I was diagnosed with cystosarcoma and was one of the lucky ones who didn’t have to do the chemotherapy and radiation. She said “no problem” so I decided to tell you all about this stage of my life.

The time was May 1992. I was 51 years of age and things at that time in my life were going well. I found the lump on my right breast as I was taking a shower, about to go to my cousin’s daughter’s wedding. I had a physical already scheduled the next week so I went to the routine appointment. I didn’t tell the doctor what I had found but he found it right away when he did the exam! So, off to the surgeon I went. Because I wanted to know what the lump looked out, I was not out during the surgery.

When the same-day surgery was performed, they found I had a lump as big as my fist. Its removal left a cave in my breast. Oh well, I thought, at least it was out of my body. I was able to go home early because of no recovery time. Support from family and friends was a great help. My good friend, who had been through it all with me when my first husband died of leukemia in 1978 went with me to the follow up doctor appointments.

I knew about chemo and radiation so I was prepared for the worst. I was newly married and my husband had recently begun a different job so he couldn’t go to the doctor appointments. However, he was always there when I came home. In October of 1994, another lump! Not the way we plan our lives but it was apparently my turn again, so I called the same surgeon that had done the lumpectomy. This time he needed to remove the whole breast.

It was really good to have a very caring cancer support woman come to see me in the hospital. She talked to me and cheered me up - then homeward bound with the drain tubes and all. I remember attending a friend’s wedding with the drain tubes under my shirt. There was also the discomfort of fluid build up and several trips to be taped. But all turned out well.

I appreciate all the new bras and prosthetics that they have designed and improved through the years. The associate always makes me feel comfortable and happy. I just want everyone to do what they tell us - self exams, mammograms, visit your doctor for your yearly physicals and take care of yourself. 

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