My story and a BiG thank you!

I want to start off by saying "THANK YOU"! I was diagnosed in July 2015 and found this extremely useful site while learning about my DCIS. I found it comforting to come on here and read about everyone's experiences and learn about things that have worked for people. I choice my user name, 'gratefulinmm' because I do truly feel grateful that it was found early and I know that others have to deal with so much more. Don't get me wrong, I still have several different emotions from time to time that are a bit more negative. I try not to dwell on them.

In June 2015, I decided to change jobs (my dream Job) after working for the same company comfortably for 9 years. Three days into the new job, in July 2015, I got the call that I have DCIS. This brought many stressors as I needed to figure out what I was going to do for insurance and how I was going to pay for cobra and be able to afford the time off for my treatments. I also needed to figure out who was going to help me with my special needs daughter while going through treatments. After figuring a lot of that out I could then deal with the emotions of having this type of cancer.

I have found that I am truly blessed to be surrounded by so many friends and family members who have really helped me through a lot of this. My new job has really been supportive and said they will work with me to whatever I need and also gave me six sick days to use as needed. I am not one to ask for help so I have really had to learn to allow people to help me out and that it is okay to ask for help.

On July 22nd, I had my first surgery (lumpectomy) and it went well and was able to go back to work after just a couple of days. I was told that my margins weren't clear so they needed to go in again to take out more tissue In two different spots. So last Friday, August 7th I had the second surgery and that again went well and got the call that we are all clear...YEA!!! However I am having more trouble bouncing back from this last surgery because of more pain and discomfort. This time I had to take a few more days (a week) off of work, due to go back tomorrow.

Going forward I have to go through 25 sessions of radiation followed by hormone therapy. I am more apprehensive about the hormone therapy as I have not heard a lot of good about it and the side effects are not pleasant. I also have an appointment to go through genetic testing as I have family history of lung and ovarian cancer.


Well, that's my story and again want to say thank you for all support you have given just by sharing your stories. It's nice to know there are others that can truly relate to what you are going through.