.st0{fill:#FFFFFF;}

My Journey Through Breast Cancer 

 Originally Written: February 12, 2013

By  Hanna Trafford

Breast-cancer-February 12,2013

I wanted to start this sometimes, so I figured that today is as good a day as any.

For a few weeks now, I have been thinking really hard about how best to share my latest journey -one of being a cancer patient. And this was the best  – just say it and go with it. My aim here is to share the experience daily -or close to daily- hoping that my personal feelings will be of help to someone out there who is going through the same thing.

I just want to write what’s on my mind and how it is to deal with the whole situation. And I have a bit of a “catch up” to do here, so first, I am going to back the situation up to when I first found out that I could have breast cancer.

And I am truly hoping that others will join me sharing their story, letting all the good and the bad out -I believe there is a lot to be gained here.

First-since I am now almost half way through the chemo therapy, I will quickly recap how everything happened:

Main reason is that I have been asked a good number of times how I knew I found a lump on my breast that signaled trouble. And I have often in the past wondered about the same thing. There are sort of lumps I your breast anyway -so how do you know which one could be a problem? Believe me -you would know  – its a pretty definite and different feeling-at least mine was. In comparison to your other breast, you would feel the difference.

I discovered mine last week in August -and it was very little -about the size of a pea -I would guess like 1/4 inch diameter. I did pay attention to it and immediately called to schedule a mammogram. Much to my surprise, the date I was given was the end of November -but luckily, in mid October, I had a regularly scheduled appointment with my family doctor. As soon as he examined the lump, he made a few phone calls and I had all tests – mammogram, ultrasound, X-rays,blood work within a week. I also met with a surgeon who very clearly explained what is likely to happen next. It was pretty clear that the lump would have to be removed ,regardless of results of a biopsy which the surgeon ordered.

Surgery was done on Nov.29th and long with the lump, which was now the size of a golf ball, the surgeon also removed 2 lymph nodes.

And then came the hard part – waiting for 2 weeks for pathology results -and right before Christmas.

As difficult as it was, the best thing was to try my best to not think about it -after all, there was nothing more to be done but wait.

Keep checking my daily updates, I will share all my experiences, including how it feels to loose hair, how the chemo treatments affect your everyday life and a whole lot more. And please share – feel free to comment, ask questions and offer your experiences – it will help lot of people!

 

Hanna Trafford


Hanna is the mother of two grown sons Dan and Dusan Nedelko, and is also the Grandmother to Jax, Cohen and Mila. She is the lead editor of Mama Knows and is hoping to create an exchange of communications with other grandmothers, mothers and daughters - giving everyone the opportunity to learn and share about everything that is "Mama"

Your Signature

related posts:


All About New Year’s Resolutions and Why I Don’t Make Any


Auld Lang Syne Lyrics


Best New Year Quotes

  • Hanna……I am so proud of you for doing this…..and since we are doing this journey together…..for those of you who dont know….I am the Kathy in Florida……….i will add a little of my story.
    Yes, Hanna is correct…if you get a lump in your breast, you will definitely KNOW that it is a lump….it does feel completely different.
    As a Canadian living in Florida….i waited a LONG time before I finally went to the doctor….for various reasons, most importantly I had no health insurance down here……….:( After a month of tests and biopsies, i found out December 13th that I have stage 3 breast cancer…it is still curable at this point…..and has not spread beyond my lymph nodes……Hanna and I are going through our treatments one week apart, I go first…and let her know how my experience is…..
    I must share that we are two very positive ladies who share the same quirky sense of humour and we have a lot of fun talking to each other!! We support and encourage each other daily in this journey.
    Hanna,if you want me to share more, you know how to get ahold of me
    Hugs
    Kathy xo

    • Thanks for adding to my story Kathy! It is so awesome to have someone to talk to, laugh about daily experiences and now we will be able to put smiles on other faces as well!
      So -tomorrow you are going for your 4th Red Devil ! And we have a plan:-) when they start hooking you in and injecting, remember -close your eyes and picture Johnny Depp wearing no more than his pirate hat!
      I can’t wait to hear if you even felt the tubes going in:-)!
      Stay strong my friend-I will be around to chat while you are in the nasty claws of the Red Devil!

  • {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

    Get in touch

    >