Linda Profant

I was a healthy 45 year old wife of 26 years and mother to two beautiful college children. During my self breast exam I found a large lump in my right breast. Into the doctor the next day, whirlwind of exams, mammograms, doctor appointments, biopsy and the news that burns into your brain "yes, you have breast cancer."

I had lost my mom to lymphoma just a year earlier so all I could think of was her going thru all her treatments and how very sick she was.

My husband Gary was such a rock during these first few days while I was such a mess. Things moved very quickly due to the rapid growth of my cancer. On November 14th we had an appointment with the surgeon to go over my options of total mastectomy or lumpectomy. I really had made up my mind to have a mastectomy. Just remove it….make it go away! We drove home that day in silence but agreeing that we were making the right choice. We arrived home to our kids waiting for us and also my dear sister was there. There were tears and hugs and all agree the choice was the correct one. The next thing that happened that day changed my life forever………..my husband, Gary grabbed his chest and went into cardiac arrest. We moved him to the floor, my daughter started CPR, 911 was called and they arrived within 5 minutes. They treated him for over 30 minutes with no results…….at 46 years old with no heart history he was gone………

It was November 14th 1994. Ten days after I was diagnosed with breast cancer. How was I going to go on let alone go thru surgery, chemo, radiation……

Most of it is a blur. I was dealing with a deeper loss than losing part of my body.

January 1995 I did have a mastectomy and in February 1995 I started 6 months of chemo then 12 weeks of radiation.

I am lucky to say I have been cancer free to date.

I'm not sure I have ever really dealt with the losing part of my body. Seemed like such a small thing to deal with compared to my bigger loss.

Thanks for listening to my story.

Peace, Love and Health