Breast Cancer Awareness Month: A survivor's story

As we all are aware, this month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What a wonderful opportunity to have an entire month to support all the efforts being done, and the accomplishments that have been made, in the treatment and early detection of breast cancer. Recently, I was asked if I would be comfortable in supporting the New England and New York Real Estate Journals through their Social Media Team in telling my story in the hopes that the Journal could somehow use my story to benefit others as well as the future research for breast cancer. At first, I was a bit reluctant, thinking that it should be someone who is actually in treatment, as I have now completed all my surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation, and my hair is actually growing back again (curly this time!) I was thinking that I possibly should have done this last year when I was going through it each day, one day at a time, trying to stay positive and holding on to all the hope and love that was being shown to me from my family and friends, my medical team, as well as my employer. However, I immediately knew that I could never say no. It was my responsibility to tell my story as a cancer survivor now. How could I not, I am so grateful for my recovery and the people in my life through all of it. In the next few issues, I will continue on with my Journey with breast cancer, the good and the bad, thanking every medical person that I came in touch with that touched my heart and still fills me with love and hope every day as I am still going through the Journey. My intention is to make others aware that when someone is fighting cancer, all they need is love!!! That love lasts a lifetime and keeps being passed on to the next cancer patient. I was diagnosed on July 15th, 2011 with a malignant tumor in my right breast that had also invaded my lymph nodes. This was determined in a routine yearly mammogram and subsequent ultrasound. I was not at all prepared for the diagnosis as there has been no breast cancer in my family and I am very responsible in having my yearly mammograms. In addition, I never felt the lump in my right breast (even more reason to always have a yearly mammogram). The doctor that performed the ultrasound was very compassionate, even though he would not say it, I left there knowing I had breast cancer. Three days later I got a call from that doctor at 8 a.m. Friday morning to confirm that the tumor in the breast was malignant as well as the lymph nodes tested. So my journey now begins. I am told to search for a surgeon immediately to determine the stage of the cancer and the grade of the tumor. After making the dreaded call to my husband and family, the next person was David Sullivan, controller at the NEREJ. His response to me was so powerful I will never forget it. The love that he extended to me on behalf of the Journal was for me the beginning of a journey filled with love and support. My boss, Patty Stone Colman, was there for me through each Shopping Center issue. As Martina MacBride sings "I will love you through it" and Patty did, and always with a smile. I love you Patty! When my daughter Lauren got the news, she did all the research to find the right doctors and hospital for me. My friend Marybeth, who has worked with breast cancer patients for years, confirmed our choices. We were ready and in position to move forward. My daughter insisted that I needed to come and spend the weekend with her as we still had things to do to be proactive. When I arrived, the entire dining room was filled with Pink, Pink flowers, gifts, cards, etc... She then told me to hurry and open my gifts as I had a 1 p.m. appointment in Conn. with a wig consultant. We chose two wigs that we both loved. From there we went to the Apple Store to get my iPad (with a pink cover) so that I could work from my bed or the hospital. My husband, Jim,(he is my rock) sent me off with the money to buy the iPad as a surprise! We had just buried his mother the day before who had died from lung cancer. It was such a hard time for both of us. I would suggest that anyone who is beginning chemotherapy, consider shaving their hair after the second treatment and get their wigs well in advance. That is what I did, and it gave me so much comfort. I was so worried that my hair would fall out as I was walking in the wind, in the shower, or when sleeping. I could not stop thinking about it. I woke up one day and knew that I was getting my head shaved that day! Several of my friends from work got together, made an appointment for me at a salon, and they all came and we had a great time! I call that, Friends Fighting Breast Cancer! Joanne Connolly is a breast cancer survivor and publisher at the NYREJ Norwell, Mass.