A SURVIVOR'S STORY

My name is Peggy Beard, and I am a breast cancer survivor! It was March in the year 2000 and I was 57 years old. I was going for my annual mammogram. The gal called me in and right away saw an indentation in my right breast. It wasn’t a lump you could feel but you could see it in the mirror. I went to a surgeon who did a needle biopsy and got the news that I had breast cancer the next day.

It all happened so quickly. I chose a mastectomy for fear the cancer could return but chose not to have implants. I suppose being married to the same man since I was 16 had something to do with my decision. On the outside I was joking about stuffing my bra, but on the inside I was scared to death. After the surgery I had little pain but my incision would not heal. Apparently there wasn’t enough skin to pull together. For seven long months I went to the doctor twice a week to have dead tissue removed. With my husband’s help, we packed the incision with gauze and cleaned it with peroxide every day. I was close to having a skin graft when things took an upward turn. At last I was being fitted for a bra! I have since survived a stroke and many other surgeries, but the surgery for breast cancer was the most memorable. Even though many women do die with breast cancer each year, many women also survive. I lost my husband and both parents in 2001 but still feel fortunate to have my kids, grandkids and many wonderful friends. I feel very lucky to be a strong woman who was unfortunate to have had breast cancer. I sometimes now regret not having implants, but with today’s beautiful bras, and a gal like Jill Roberts at Clark and Associates, you can still feel pretty! Please support breast cancer activities as progress is being made everyday in the fight for the cure.