Gail's Story: Who Has Time to Fit in a Breast Cancer Diagnosis?
Gail/GG is a Breastcancer.org Community member in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA.
It was a unexpected call to receive after a call back from by annual mammogram. My youngest daughter was being ordained into ministry and I was the convener of the service planning as our essential church staff was in transition. My youngest son was being married a month later and then an annual community event that I was a consistent part of was happening a week before Thanksgiving. And, an addition to our family was arriving before Christmas, our middle son’s first child, five states away.
I clearly did not have time for what was to be my first ever surgery and exposure to anesthesia. I promised my surgeon that I would schedule right after T-day. No time to consider that the only criteria I met was being over 40.
Thankfully, my surgery was successful (a left breast mastectomy). My oncotype score was low and I only needed to take Arimidex as a hormonal inhibitor for five years. Other than a frozen shoulder which required three months of PT, my adjustment was bolstered through a local support group. These Bosom Buddies remain a constant a decade later.
