Linda C....going on 11 years
My mom Edna-85 years young.....6 months

I am not a breast cancer survivor, but a cancer survivor of thyroid cancer. My cancer was found just before it was beginning to spread. Oct. will be 10 years for me, my cancer was found in Oct of 1999.

Three of my best friends have had breast cancer. One is a ten year survivor, another 8 and another 4. I had a coworker who is a three year survivor. Our family lost a dear friend to it though. It's the type of cancer that has affected me more than any other, in terms of the number of people I know who have had it. Most are still here, a testament to their strength and determination. They sure do inspire me!

Linda, I sent you an email this morning. Did you get it? It was just a cute email.

Thanks...I sent it on to otehr survivors and friends.

Present and accounted for, and on my early detection soapbox.

Katie...3 years

Last October I began my breast cancer journey culminating with a mastectomy in December, chemo from January through May, radiation in June & July and now drug therapy.

I guess that makes me a survivor...time will tell.

seagrass

I had a double mastectomy January 2007. It wasn't necessary to go to that extreme but it was my choice. No chemo or radiation but so far so good.

Hope to make it 3 years in January.

jude

Seagrass, you are a survivor. A friend of mine who was diagnosed a few months before me told me that you're a survivor from the minute you get diagnosed. Somehow that helped.

Ruth Ann, a breast cancer survivor for 4 1/2 years but still battling off and on with cancer on the chest wall. My cousins Jo Ann and Carol are 6 and 5 year survivors respectively. All three of us did monthly self-examinations and annual mammograms and had no symptoms until a mammogram showed our tumors so it is so important to schedule them and have them done.

My mother was a seven year breast cancer survivor but when it returned, she died within six weeks. My great-aunt Mary was a breast cancer survivor for 60 years until she died of "old age" at age 96 in 1980.

Breast cancer is not something to fear. It's something to get taken care of, just like any other disease. By the time this thread has run its course, you will see how many years early detection has added to our lives. We spend so much time taking care of our families that we should take that half hour for the mammogram to take care of ourselves.

Stepping off the soapbox now. Just do it - tomorrow morning.

Thanks Ruthanna.....I put it it off because I was taking care of a dying husband...
A young friend, my daughter's college room mate and the daughter of a close friend is currently going through all the chemo/surgery stuff. She did everything right....she just got infiltrating ductile carcinoma.

Who else?