mdc's Journey with Breast Cancer

I had the sentinel lymph node disection at the same time in 2004.

Initially I had no lymph node involvement. I almost did not take the chemotherapy treatments but am glad I decided to do so.

I was on Tamoxifen for almost two years before we realized it had failed. I had a recurrence. I found a lump under my arm. The disease had spread to my lymph node and into my bones. I felt the lump in December of 2006. I had surgery February of 2007 and received the news that the disease spread.

I received Avastin and Taxol. It seemed to work and I went into remission. I was on hormone therapy for a while and then back on Taxol.

One arm of the study received taxotere and a vaccine. The other only received the taxotere. Unfortunately I was the chemo arm of the study. I was on the study a little over 1.5 years. Towards the end I could not tolerate the taxotere and received 4 vaccine treatments. The diesease came back and I started on Xeloda which seems to be working. I've been on Xeloda since March 2012.

You lose your sense of humility and privacy when undergoing radiation. It is a humbling experience. The care team makes all the difference in the world.