Celebrating Life after Breast Cancer

THE DIARY OF A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR

Symptoms of Breast Cancer
“The most common finding is a painless lump, although occasionally painful lumps are cancerous. A thickening of the breast or a change in density should also be checked out. Occasionally breast cancer can show up as a lump under the arm, redness of the skin over the breast, eczema of the nipple, or dimpling of the skin. Finally, the most common finding these days is an abnormality seen on a mammogram with no physical findings at all. ” – an excerpt from the Breast Book by Dr. Susan Love.

Breast Self-Examination (BSE)
I strongly urge every woman to do breast self-examination. You can do it any time you choose – whether when you’re getting dressed or when you are taking a shower. Raise one arm up above your head and use your fingers to press down firmly on the chest area around the breast, the armpit area and above and under the breast. When you’re done with one, examine the other breast.

It is by self-examination that I was first able to discover my lump. We should all get to know our breasts during the different times (especially when we’re menstruating and when we’re not). If we do that, there’s a good chance we will notice when a lump shows up.

Friday, November 17, 1995
I am 34½ years old and today I discovered a lump in my right breast. I was just straightening my bra strap at work, and then ran my hand across my breast. It was a natural thing for me to do. It was just like a greeting – “How’re you doing, breast?” It’s the kind of action a woman does unconsciously, and as long as things are as expected, she doesn’t give that action a second thought.

But today the greeting I got in return wasn’t what I expected. A lump! A hard, non-moveable lump! Now this lump wasn’t a normal part of my breast tissue. I was concerned and scared, and called a co-worker to confirm what I felt. I didn’t want to keep this a secret. I also called my husband, Fred, and told him my discovery.

Now, I have been a very healthy person, no medical problems, and no surgeries. I have been in the hospital twice for full-term pregnancies. I felt no pain in my body and now this lump!