I’m a Survivor of Breast Cancer for 4 years and 9 months.  I’m sharing my story to help others become aware of Breast Cancer.  I was diagnosed on January 15, 2021. Here is how I was diagnosed, I had my regular mammogram in July of 2020, but they told me as I was leaving my imaging appointment that they would call me back for a second type of mammogram in a month because of insurance. I thought that it was strange so I called the lab back and the receptionist told me that they could not tell me that and so I must have heard them incorrectly. Well in Texas teachers’ insurance changed that year in September. (Our insurance went from September 1st to August 31st, of the next year, like the school year). Then on September 20, 2020, I got a letter from the Imaging company saying I was being called back to get another mammogram (I was thinking they’re just trying to get more money).  Since I had to change doctors because of insurance. I picked a new doctor and got an appointment on November 10, 2020. In the meantime, during my monthly breast exam that they say you do regularly, I felt a lump in my right breast. I discussed this with my new doctor. She said I could go back to the same imaging place or start over with another imaging mammogram company. She thought it would be better to go back to the imaging place from where I had the original image done. I called to get my second mammogram, the earliest I could get an appointment was December 28, 2020. So, I’m thinking this is not that important. They’re just trying to make money. When I go for the mammogram, they are looking in a different section of my right breast, than where I found the lump from the self-exam. There was not anything on the mammogram this time. I asked the technician what the reason was, that I was called back, she showed me the image and where they thought there was something. I asked her about the section of the breast that I felt the lump. She showed me the image on the computer and that you could not see anything there either. (When they did biopsied that section by the radiologist, Cancer appeared). I told the technician that I felt the lump in another part of my breast & my doctor had found it, also.  The technician told me that women have different densities of tissue in their breast area: A, B, C or D. Areas of C & D are difficult to see images on the Mammogram. She said you have C-density. I asked her what does that mean? She told me that it is difficult to find Cancer with a mammogram imaging machine with C or D density breast. I then asked if there was another way to see inside my breast, the technician told me that maybe a sonogram image might see it. Then I requested can I do that here. She referred me to another technician with Sonogram imaging. Since it was during COVID no radiologist was on duty. The technician could not find anything with the paddles; she said that everything was alright. I could go they were done. I did not feel that my questions were answered, so I told the first technician that I did not feel like we had solved anything. She requested that I see the sonogram technician again. This time talking to the technician, I told her that she was putting the paddles in the wrong area, so I asked to put the paddles on the breast area of concern, the sonogram image still showed nothing. She told me that I was crazy at trying to make nothing into something. They kept telling me there was nothing there. Then I requested a biopsy, which again they told me that I was crazy for asking to get a biopsy. They finally gave in to me. My doctor’s office called Baylor to set up biopsy for January 13, 2021, they called me January 15, 2021, with news that I had Breast Cancer.  I cannot explain or express the FEAR that overcomes you at that moment. There’s denial this can’t be true! Oh, no this can’t be happening to me! I remember saying Jesus I did not know I needed to grow closer to you. I thought our walk was already close, you are my best friend. There were uncontrollable tears, just pure shock.

 This is what I can say that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, My Best Friend, and I Praise Him because he has been there every step of the way. He has gone before me to work to make this journey a miracle of His doing.  I’ve leaned on Isaiah 41:10, “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  I’ve also leaned on Psalms 23:4, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.”

These are things I’ve learned about Breast Cancer is that 15% of women are not diagnosed from a mammogram. You can ask your doctor or Mammogram technician about your breast tissue density, if you have “C” or “D” density breast tissue you could qualify for with your insurance to get a MRI breast exam, especially if Breast Cancer runs in your family medical history. That was the only way they could see my Breast Cancer.  Please have your yearly Mammogram and ask questions. Education about our bodies is how we fight and win our lives with this disease. If you have questions or know someone that I could help mentally through this process, please contact me. You can share with family and friends.