A Women’s Journey of Recovery and Adventure
My name is Michele, and my story begins like the story of many women. In June, 2009, at the age of 36, I found a large lump in one of my breasts. My family has a history of breast and other cancers, and I had a scare with a lump in 1999 when I was 26. That time it was just a scare, but I was instructed to have mammograms every 6 months for the rest of my life. I did not follow my doctor’s advice. I have since learned this is common, and now I’m on a quest to help other women who searching for the courage to ask ‘what happens next?’. I can’t explain to you the rationality of this, but going every 6 months to find out “is this the time I have cancer?” is emotionally exhausting and frightening. I wasn’t right to ignore my health, and when I found the new lump it wasn’t just frightening, it was terrifying.
And so now I’m on a journey. A journey to find out if I have cancer. A journey that will most likely lead to a double mastectomy in 2010.
A journey filled with fear and pain. And hope. And adventure.
A part of me is devastated at the thought of losing both breasts, even with reconstruction methods improving everyday. I’m also frightened of the pain of surgery and recovery.
A part of me wants to hide and go through it all alone.
But there’s another part of me, the adventurer, and she is going to find the good wrapped in the bad. And I have discovered that I can use these challenges as a way to educate women and their family and friends, as well as raise money for organizations all over the world.
After surgery I will be heading out on different adventures, traveling to remote destinations in my Land Rover raising money for charities in the area as well as women’s charities. A devastating event can be a tragedy, but it can also be the moment of clarity that leads to a greater purpose.
My mission is simple: I want to offer a helping hand in any way I can to other women and families facing the fear of breast cancer. I will use my life as an adventurer to bring awareness and funding to the areas I travel. I will use this ‘bad’ event to change my world, and hopefully help others facing the same challenges.
I’m glad to see that you are in the state of mind that you are in Michele. That alone should inspire others to remain calm and focused in a positive way. I’m proud of you, girl and I know you will overcome because your will and determination will not allow you not to. The site is great-i’m going to forward to a friend of a friend who is a survivor & has connections to groups here. Do you have any hard promo material for distribution?
January 14, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Thanks for sharing your story. I am 49, but have been having breast issues since I was 30 and my mother had bc, and an aunt,grandmother and a cousin died at age 52 from bc. Mother tested negative for BRCA. I wish I would have had surgery ten years ago!! My last biopsy came back with atypical lobular hyperplasia (pre-cancer) so I have decided to have a double masectomy on May 6th. It was that or take tamoxifen for 5 years, have MRI’s, biopsies and the worry. Let me know if you have any tips for after the surgery. Glad you are doing well and are at peace with having done the surgery.
March 31, 2010 at 9:01 am
I have been told by my doctor that I am BRAC1 and BRAC2 positive. My mother died from breast/ovarian cancer at 53 and that was 21 years ago.My sister that is 41 has breast cancer and had the bilateral mastectomy,she is also BRAC1 and 2 positive. My daughter that is 29 years old is BRAC1 and 2 positive as well. My doctor wants me to have the prophylactic bilateral mastectomy due to my strong family history. My problem is that I do not have sufficient health insurance to cover the cost of the surgery and reconstruction. I do not qualify for state medicaid help. Do you know of any programs that I can contact to see if they can help me with the cost of this? I need help with this in the worst way. I do not want to live my life in fear of dying from breast cancer because I can not afford the surgery. Thank you for any suggestions that you can give me. Kathy Mabury, Fayette, AL
May 7, 2010 at 8:12 am