The first thought I have when I think of breast cancer is my grandma. Years ago before she passed away, I did a blog post and interviewed her for it. Little did I know at that time how much I would value all that she had to say. This is my story and how breast cancer has affected me.
When I was little I had no idea the story my grandmother was going through. My grandma was like none other. She had this incredible way about her that was strong, hard-working, go get em, happy and never did she slow down. If you knew my grandma just a little you may not have even known what she went through.
My One
In 1978, my grandma Frazier was diagnosed with breast cancer. My grandma was one of the lucky ones. She never had to go through chemotherapy and never had to take medication. Her breast were removed and back then you didn’t get implants. I remember being a young girl asking her why she carried the chillets in her bra. She was always open and honest with me about her experience.
When I did the interview for the blog post back in 2014, I asked her about my grandpa and how he was affected by it. She said he never left her side and he was precious. Even as I write these words, I have a hard time holding back the tears. My grandma and grandpa had a special relationship.
The theme for my wedding was “sweethearts forever.” This is what my grandma would always say about her and my grandpa.
Thankful
I’m so thankful for the moments I got to spend with my grandma. I’m so thankful that God allowed us to have time with her.
In my future, I plan to prepare Navy with all the knowledge I possibly can on this subject. Susan G. Komen is a great organization that can help me, you and anybody else who needs help or information on breast cancer. One way I plan to protect Navy is by getting mammograms at the recommended age. It’s about being here for my daughter.
There are about 15 different types of breast cancer. One and eight women will develop breast cancer. This is a staggering statistic. The fight is never really over. We can all join together by getting involved with Susan G. Komen in the, fight against breast cancer. Joining together is the only way we can fight this.
Here are some ways in which Susan G Komen is helping fight the battle:
Advocacy – they work hard on making sure every voice is heard amongst policy makers.
Research – they aggressively work to discover new treatments and improve the lives of patients.
Education – they provide fact based information that is empowering.
Treatment assistance- Susan G Komen ensures that all people across the board have opportunity for quality screening. If you have any questions you can call (877) GO KOMEN. This is also a great place to get the latest and updated information on breast cancer.
Support – this is a community that unites and supports everyone who has been affected by breast cancer.
I know I’m not the only one affected by this. Who is your “one”?
Please visit www.komen.org/yourone to share who your one is.
Thank you to Susan G. Komen for kindly sponsoring this post. All opinions are 100% honest & completely my own.
My Great Grandma died from breast cancer, my grandma, and mother have both had it as well. My mom was 46 when she was diagnosed and it was the summer before I started college. She had her surgery and recovery my very first semester of college and needless to say the diagnosis came out of nowhere and was caught on her yearly mammogram. Needless to say, the diagnosis devastated our family. I remember the night she had her surgery like it was yesterday. It had been postponed because several people at a baseball game had been struck by lightening and needed emergency surgery so my mom’s was pushed back. It was well after midnight when they completed the first part and I remember going into the room to see her. Thy had performed the double mastectomy, but still had to do the tram reconstruction so they hadn’t closed her up, they packed her and the surgeon went home to rest because he had already been on the job for too many hours and wanted to make sure he did a perfect job on my mom. When we walked in my dad was with her and she looked awful, not the mom that I had always known, her skin was ashy and she just wasn’t mom. I was there for about 5 minutes before I had to get out of there. I broke down in my boyfriend’s arms the second we walked out the door. I held it together as long as I could for my two younger sisters and I cried the whole way home. They completed the surgery the next morning and my mom started her recovery. She did chemotherapy and lost all of her hair and had to wear a wig until her hair grew back in. Losing her hair was really hard for her and looking back I think it was hard on all of us girls as well. We made a pact with each other that if it ever happened to one of us we would all shave our heads together! My mom has been cancer free for almost 19 years now! she also took Hercetpton I believe for five years after she was fully recovered to prevent it from coming back and she has also had her ovaries removed to prevent cancer there because once you have breast cancer your at a higher risk for cancer there and it can be hard to detect since there aren’t symptoms typically until the cancer has become invasive.
Her Oncologist recommended that my sisters and I start getting yearly mammograms at the age of 30. In talking with my OB she recommended a baseline when I had gotten my first “real” job and had my own insurance. I was 26 at the time and had to fight my insurance company to get them to cover the mammogram! Luckily there is nothing my OB likes more than to fight with the insurance companies, so I love that she has my back! Last summer a spot showed up on my mammogram that was suspicious and I had to go back for another mammogram and ultra sound. I had seen the letter from the office pop up in my email and didn’t think much of it and expected there to be a letter in my mailbox a day or so later. The office called me the next morning and wanted to schedule the mammogram and ultra sound for the next day. I called my husband in tears because in my mind they never schedule you for those types of things within 24 hours unless its serious! They did tell me that I would know the next step by the time I left the office. My husband came home from work early that day and stayed with me. Luckily they went ahead and gave me the all clear, but I did get referred to a genetic counselor.
One of my sister’s and my mom have both had genetic testing done and both are BRAC2 negative which is crazy considering the family history on my mom’s side! After the scare that summer my husband and I are looking in to the preventable options I have so that my kids don’t have to go through what I went through when my mom was diagnosed. We both agree that we would prefer to have something done to prevent as opposed to being diagnosed. In talking with the genetic counselor she said they don’t recommend preventative measure’s if you fall around 20% on whatever scale they use. My percentage was 32% which is extremely elevated. So we are waiting to meet with an oncologist and surgeon to discuss options and I have also been referred to do a breast MRI 6 months after the mammogram so that they can keep tabs on my girls every six months!
I have a daughter and it scares me to death that this is something she may have a genetically higher risk for, however they are finding new genetic markers all the time for this disease and if caught early can be overcome! Thank you for sharing your experience and this post!
Sincerely,
Jessica Morrison
The cancer is really bad I know that for personal reasons.
Thank you for posting this blog entry! So helpful to educate other women❤️
I have watched and looked up to you since your bachelor days when you were struggling opening up your heart to Sean. I truly can relate and look up to the way you took the steps to open your heart. So glad you found the love you deserve and love how real you keep it and that you’re still someone to look up to!!❤❤❤
Wowww what a beautiful and heart warming experience ❤️
Thank you for sharing your personal story! Your grandmother sounds like she was such a special woman.
Your grandma sounds like a true classy lady. <3
She truly was. Thanks for reading!
Very nicely written and will be wonderful to share with your daughter when she is older. Great memories!
Thank you for sharing your story! I’m a colon cancer survivor and a lot of what you said resonated with me so THANK You!
Breast cancer is no joke as it runs in my family and so many friends have been affected as well. I pray they find a cure sooner than later. Thanks for sharing!
Both my grandmas have cancer. Still working to fight it. :’(
Your grandma sounds like She was an amazing woman! My great great grandmother that we never personally knew had breast cancer and my mother was diagnosed a couple years ago. She went through chemo, radiation, and a double mastectomy. It was a very difficult time and it really brought us closer together! I have made it my goal to make sure when the time comes to educate myself and do my mammograms!
Love this story , thank you for sharing !
Thank you for sharing! Totally agree about being proactive for Navy & your overall health! So important! Love your love for life.
Your story is amazing. I volunteer every year for the Komen Race for the Cure and the people I have met have left a mark on me.
Thanks for sharing. Cancer is a terrible thing to have to go through, hearing others stories makes it easier to know we’re not alone!