Sandra Comeau

Good Morning Joan,

I was first diagnosed with stage 2 aggressive triple negative breast cancer at the age of 39 in May of 2012. I discovered a lump one night and went to doctors to have checked out and the journey began. I was not 40 so had never had mammogram. Doctor scheduled mammogram right away and the day I went they had me wait a few minutes while they read and sent me right over to Ultrasound. The look on the face of the nurse doing the ultrasound I knew it was not good news. A couple of days later the doctor sent me for biopsy. My husband and I went to see the doctor for the results and she informed us it was cancer. Once told this you don't hear anything else so she told us to come back a couple days later once we've processed it all. We went back and immediately she said I would probably have to have mastectomy and wanted me to see oncologist and radiologist to come up with a game plan. She was a general surgeon at my local hospital so I decided I needed a second opinion which I sought in Boston. I met with my oncologist who had a game plan all set I was to start chemo right away to shrink the tumor and then I would have a lumpectomy, followed by thirty treatments of radiation. I did 16 chemo treatments, of which I lost my hair and eyebrows. It was very difficult but I plugged along knowing I would overcome. My family which included a then 19 year old daughter and 16 year old son and my husband were by my side the whole way. Positive was the only way for me. May of 2013 came mammogram time and all was good. May 23rd this year exactly 2 years to the day the first told me yes it is cancer I was scheduled for mammogram to follow up. Never did I image there to be anything wrong. Was to suppose to be last visit with surgeon if everything was ok and I never would have to see her again. I had mammogram then they asked me to come in for a couple more images, then a couple more. I am know very scared. They asked if I had time for ultrasound then, of course I did, what could be more important. Then they asked if we could do biopsy also, so I did. Mind you my son is now about to graduate high school in couple of days and my daughter is due the beginning of August with my first grandchild that I'm suppose to be in delivery with her for, I don't have time for this right now and I don't want to ruin their big days. The doctor called a couple days later and said it was cancer but was only lymph node and suggested just going and removing all lymph nodes. I immediately asked about mastectomy as I don't know if I can do this roller coaster ride every year. July 8 I had double mastectomy and removed all lymph nodes on the side where my cancer was. The doctor called a week later with pathology results and said ended up not being lymph node they were clear but tumor in the breast tissue. Thank god I did what I did. I am now going thru more chemo - 6 months worth till January. It is a long difficult road but I am plugging along once again. I will be a SURVIVOR once again. Hearing your story and the story of others makes this journey a little easier to bear. Thank you so much!