A GivStory by Marilyn | Illinois

In late July 2004 I was informed after a standard / annual mammogram and immediate sonogram that I had a colloid carcinoma in one breast.  It was biopsied within a few days and was found to be malignant. The strange thing about this situation was that I was not due for this mammogram that month.  I asked for it to be done early so at my next appt. I would be able to hear the results and not have to wait out this process. I feel there were angels around me whispering in my ear to start this process in the summertime instead of autumn that year. 

The three weeks of waiting for the lumpectomy surgery were truly the worst moments of this experience.  Then after 2 more weeks of healing, I had to endure another surgery (using the same incision area) for a follow up surgery to clear the margins of cancer cells.I was one of the fortunate few who did not have to undergo chemo treatments but did have 6 weeks of weekday radiation treatments.  Those were over the end of the week before Thanksgiving 2004.  We took ourselves south to Florida where we visited with our oldest son’s family (and our only grandchildren) the day after that last radiation treatment.

You can see by the dates that I have recently passed my 5 year anniversary and am cancer free. God bless the doctors, nurses, and the wonderful facilities we have here in the Peoria, IL area for their care and concern.My motto is: Listen to your gut and your instincts.  I feel mine saved my life as this cancer was about to invade my system deeper when we caught it so early.

As well as supporting other women who are fighting this disease with words of encouragement and prayers, I have been giving to St Jude for the children for many years; and that is the organization where I shower my support for fighting this dreadful disease.