Cyndi Hull

Kicking Breast Cancer 1 belt at a time:

I am now an 8 year survivor of breast cancer! I first felt a lump in my left breast while taking a shower. It was tender to the touch and I thought that maybe my underwire had irritated my breast somehow and didn't think too much of it. That was Nov of 2005. My mom had just been diagnosed with her 2nd round of breast cancer and I thought to myself "I need to keep and eye on that". The new year came and I decided to schedule an annual visit with my oncologist in Feb 2006 and she too said "cancer lumps usually aren't sore" so she thought it was irritation as well or related to my birth control. My mom had just under went BRCA testing and we discussed what she was dealing with and I demanded a mammogram any way. I was only 36 but have a heavy history of breast cancer in the family (both grandmothers and my mother). So in May 06 I went in for BRCA testing myself and a mammogram. That forever changed my outlook on life. I will NEVER forget the day I received both results. I was sitting in the office awaiting my mammogram results (of which I knew something was up because they had called me back in for follow up) and while waiting received the news that I indeed tested positive for BRCA 1 and then my mammogram showed not only 1 but now 2 lumps side by side. I scheduled a biopsy and found that the cancer was triple negative and was invasive inductal carcinoma. I started researching heavily and everything I read pretty much indicated a death sentence. It was like a really hard look at reality and how fragile life can be taken away. I was under 40, had a 2 year old son. I was NOT ready to die.

I under went a mastectomy and followed up with an oncologist who said to me in our discussions "with out chemo you won't make it to see your son turn 10, with it it increases your chance of survival 2-4". After asking him some hard core questions, researching more, following up with radiologist and surgeon I opted NOT to do chemo. My margins were all clear and there was not enough research with BRCA etc at the time to really show that chemo would increase my chances without further determent to my body. I opted instead to make some hard life style changes. 2 years later my mammogram on the right side showed early signs of detection and I yet again under went another mastectomy. During that period my son and I joined Taekwondo. Research shows that diet and exercise can make an impact and I thought what other way to really "FIGHT " this thing, get back in shape, be a good role model for our son as well as teach him discipline, health etc.

I have with in this past year earned my 1st degree black belt and am now 8 years out as a survivor! I have lived to see our son now turn 11. Our son also stands a 50% chance of fighting this battle himself some day as breast cancer NOT only affect women but men as well which most people do NOT realize.

I have not hidden anything from him. I want him to know that as in Taekwondo- Life too is a battle and survival CAN be achieved no matter what the odds.

I want others to know that you HAVE to know your body, listen to it, be YOUR OWN ADVOCATE for it, research, know ALL your odds, know the terms that the doctors use, look for other avenues, get involved in case studies etc. Most importantly DON'T give up and be ready to FIGHT the battle!