It all started like any other day. I got up, went to work, and came home to my husband. We were sitting and watching a movie when it happened. It is a day I will never forget. With five little words, just an off-hand comment, changed my life forever. My husband turned and said, "Why is your shirt wet?" That is how it started.
The Initial Symptom
As weird as it sounds, I was not concerned about the bleeding. Yes, many women would be freaked out if they were bleeding from the nipple. Not me though. Ten years earlier, when I was 22, something similar happened.
Back when I was 22, I was taking weight lifting in college. During a bench press, my right nipple started bleeding. Then, I was freaked out. I went to the doctor and had test done and even had surgery. It was nothing. I had torn my ducts. No big deal.
Therefore, at 32, I was not concerned as I thought the same thing happened. I even went to work the next day and left a little early to head to the doctor.
The Doctor Visit
Immediately, I knew something was wrong. The doctor felt a lump and sent me for testing the same day. Then she gave me an option. I could either biopsy then or wait to Monday when they could do surgery and remove it. Either way, I needed to remove the lump because it was bleeding.
I decided to wait until Monday. It was not as if finding out I had cancer a day later would make a difference. So, we scheduled it for Monday.
On the way home, I made a joke to my husband. If you are familiar with Seinfeld, there was a scene were George thought he had cancer. He asks the doctor and the doctor says I don't know. George says the doctor is supposed to say, "Cancer? Get out of here!" I told my husband that when I asked, she said she didn't know. She should have said, "Cancer? Get out of here!"
The Biopsy
Monday, right before my biopsy, I got a call. My aunt, 64 years old, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Suddenly, I went from no family history of breast cancer to my aunt has breast cancer.
Then, I had the biopsy and lumpectomy done. The next day, I went to work still thinking everything was going to be fine. On the way home, I got the call. I knew immediately, I had cancer. If I didn't have cancer, the nurse would have called. When the doctor called herself, I knew.
Telling My Family
I had to call my dad. He would have to tell my mother. It would be hard for us all but they had to know. This was only one of two times I can ever remember my dad crying. It broke my heart that day and it breaks my heart still today to remember that call.
Surprisingly, my family sprung into action. I think it was the only thing they knew to do. The next thing I know, my brother is raising money. My brother-in-law is running in breast cancer races. He even had his fire department raise money by wearing pink shirts one day. The support was overwhelming.
More Surgeries to Come
In my next article, I will discuss the mastectomy and how that affected my family and me.
Sherri has been writing articles for nearly 2 years. Come visit her latest website over at http://charbroilgrillpartsreview.com which helps people find the best Char Broil Replacement Parts
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