Thank you for sharing your story with us at such a vulnerable time. Your message to remain vigilant about self exams is so important and you may have just saved another woman's life with your story. Please keep us updated.

Dear Vicki,

My heart goes out to you. I'm sure this has been a very difficult time and I'm glad that you are reaching out to other women who can support you.

You are such a strong woman to even come on our site and share your story. That takes tremendous strength and courage. That in itself tells me that you have what it takes to beat this.

Is there anything that we here at EmpowHer, can do for you? Any resources? Another woman that you may want to speak with?

Feel free to email me, personally. Just click on the Ask or Share with Michelle, button. It's up in the right hand side of the homepage under my photo. Whatever you need in the way of resources, articles, doctors videos etc..

Please keep us posted. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

Big Hugs,

Michelle

Thank you so much for your story.

I am so sorry to read of your diagnosis but glad to see you here at Empowher where we can support you and we'll be here when you need to cry out, and also when you celebrate your remission!

Many of us here have experienced the trauma of breast cancer first hand, or have watched our sisters, mothers or grandmothers go through it. Please visit us often and let us know your progress - we'll be here.

Vicki,
I had the same stage 3 diagnosis after having "no signficiant findings" in 2003 on my "Happy Gram" mammography report - Just two months prior to my stage 3C breat cancer diagnosis - 13 of 18 lymph nodes positive for cancer.
I have dense breast tissue and for many women like me, mammograms have limitations - cannot find the cancer as cancer apprears white on a mammogram and cancer is white = no contrast to detect the cancer. Did anyone in the medical community inform me of this fatal flaw in the early detection of breast cancer? No - that is why I have been on a campaign since 2004 to inform women of dense breast cancer and its signficance. It is too late to help me - but not for other women. Early detection is the key to surviving this disease.
We have passed legislation in CT which mandates that insurance companies pay for whole breast ultrasounds for women with dense tissue and we are now working to pass a law so that women are informed of their breast density, its risk factor, through their mammography report so that women can make an informed decision about further screenings.
I excercise daily and do all I can do to prevent recurrence - have a ultrasound twice a year in both the "good" and the removed breast, take my vitamins and supplements and medication, maintain a healthy and positive attitude and the rest is up to God.