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I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in April 2001. This is one year after I had gone through a salpingo-oophorectomy of both ovaries for Ovarian Cancer, and complete hysterectomy. But upon the final microscopic pathology I didn’t have any cancer. This procedure put me in instance menopause. We need more information on younger women and hormone treatments, and the long term effects without them. When I returned for my routine mammogram, the micro-calcifications that were indicated as benign the year before, now looked different. So I went to Stanford Medical Center to get a second opinion and received my treatment for the breast cancer. . First I had a vacuum assisted Mammotome Stereotactic biopsy which has a higher success rate in retrieving micro-calcifications, but at the second site of micro-calcifications a moderate sized hematoma occurred . I waited approximately 3 months to have a Stereotactic open biopsy. I was 39 years old when the pathology revealed Ductal carcinoma inSitu with comedo-type, and that clear margins were not obtained. So I decided to have a skin-sparing mastectomy with immediate abdominal free reconstruction, Although the technique isn’t new, only a few cancer center in the US have the expertise to perform such surgery. This type of mastectomy reduces the scaring and skin color differences by minimizing the amount of breast surface skin removed, and then reconstruction of the breast is done with the fat and muscle from my stomach, and is cut off from its blood supply and reattached at the chest. The surgeon sews the blood vessels together and restores the blood supply. I now seem to have some feeling in this breast. I would like to thank my oncology surgeon Ms Irene Wapnir and Plastic Surgeon Ms. Yvonne Karanas who I feel did a great job. This procedure is around 16 hours I know this was a long day for my doctors. The one thing my breast cancer prepared me for was the diagnosis of my mother with stage IIIB breast Cancer about six months after I completed my treatment. Having the knowledge and experience with this disease, it seemed help me cope, while I was helping her through the breast cancer. During the breast cancer treatments it was a difficult time for my children who are Dylan & Wyatt whom are now 16 and 10 they were always helping me after my surgery,. And my older daughters Heather and Amanda were wonderful and supportive and made me laugh. My husband of 24 years has been great through it all and I thank god every day I have my family. I have only one sister and between the both of us my mom has recovered and doing well, I don’t know how I could have done it without her. My brother-law’s sister who was only 43, has lost her fight with breast Cancer only about three weeks ago. There is great need for research on younger breast Cancer patients. Little is known about treatments, hormones, since we are at different stages in our lives. Thank you for me giving this opportunity to raise awareness, and get information to younger woman with breast cancer. Lorrie Bacon U.S. Donors: Click Here to Donate Now!
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