a SURVIVOR'S STORY

by Kathy Boeckman

Fifteen months ago I was in the busy whirl-wind of life. I had a job that kept me very busy, family life was good, my kids were growing up, I only had my son left at home and his senior year was about to begin. And then....... I had my screening yearly mammogram and life came to a snail’s pace.

One minute I was hurrying from this meeting to that appointment and the next thing I was waiting, waiting for answers that couldn't come fast enough for me. Looking back at the time frame it all happened in less then two weeks. At the time it seemed an eternity. I had my stereotactic breast biopsy and found out my results the next day. I had my lumpectomy 5 days later, by my choice. (I still was dedicated to my job and it's needs) I soon realized my personal needs had to take priority.

The wait for the final pathology report seemed like years. Good News - my lymph nodes were negative and my tumor was 0.8 cm at it's greatest point. Yeah! Then the wait, more time to heal, appointments with the radiation and oncologist specialist. For a brief two weeks after going back to work waiting for healing, life seemed normal again.

Then radiation....once it started the realization of what I was having done to prevent a recurrence sunk in. The treatments themselves weren't bad but the daily trips in for my treatments dragged on. I never had weeks go by so slow. I wanted it over and behind me. I wanted my life back as it was before. But I know now that will never happen. I have breast cancer and I am a survivior.

I know a day will not go by that I won't think about breast cancer. I don't dwell, it's just there.

The Iowa Breast Cancer EduAction group is wonderful group of women dedicated to their mission of finding a cure and helping other women through a very difficult time with breast cancer. They have helped me! I have learned so much from them.

Most importantly, they have helped me understand breast cancer and to be strong. I have so much to learn and share with the people I come in contact with. I want so much to help someone else get through this time a little easier if possible. I really want no one else to ever have to go through what I went through. And until there is a way to prevent breast cancer, I will work to help the women in need of comfort and strength. 

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