I was in disbelief!  I just could not believe what I was hearing.  Breast Cancer had never occurred in my family and I was a fit woman who had just turned 50.  I didn’t smoke, had a very healthy diet, drank some wine, and worked out on a daily basis.  I was healthy and breast cancer got me!!!

My husband Michael was also in disbelief and at this time I felt very alone and in total denial.  I now look back on this and talk about it with other women, some of whom were also in denial at the time and others who were very open about it.

I visited my surgeon Rachel who was a real sweetheart.  Michael and I sat with her and she gave me options.  One was to have a lumpectomy which would remove the cancer and alot of the surrounding tissue which would leave me with quite a large “hole”  in my breast OR I could have a mastectomy and have the entire breast removed and then have reconstruction down the road.  We decided on the mastectomy.  She said she would get it booked and give me a call in the following 2 weeks.  We went home and she called the next day for my surgery to be performed in 2 days!!  WHOA, I was in shock – kind of like a zombie.  But, I was ready to be rid of this lump!!

The surgery was over and done with really fast and I recall waking up and opening my gown.   And, actually I was NOT shocked at what I saw…I was relieved and it felt good!  My son Christopher and Michael came in and I showed them my “breastless” left chest – they both smiled with tears in their eyes.