 AALA
Casino Royale - A Testimonial
|
We are reprinting the following testimonial from
Sue Crouse-Boyett in case any of you missed in an earlier AALA Weekly.
If you have you ever gone for an X-ray (or similar test) and requested the technician to tell you if they see anything, then you have probably heard the standard response that techs give: "I am only the technician, after the films are read by the radiologist, you can call your Dr. for results in a day or two". Well, that isn't the case when the radiologist conducting your tests, is the Dr. who reads the films. When you ask the question "What do you see?" you can actually get an answer right on the spot, whether you are ready for it or not.
Since, I was expecting to hear the standard answer; I was completely thunderstruck when I heard the words: "It is text book "infiltrating ductile carcinoma", I will write up the report and fax it immediately to your Dr., call him in about an hour and he will discuss next steps".
DO WHAT??? STOP!!! SLOW DOWN!!! That is not the response he was supposed to give. I was only 42, a mother of three and at that time in pretty good health or so I thought. I had no symptoms. Had he not been able to show me specifically where the lump was and the image on the films, I don't know if I would have even believed him. I hadn't brought my husband or a friend with me, because I wasn't expecting any of what was happening to be happening. In essence, my whole world had just been rocked from an abnormal annual mammogram and a small little lump. I kept thinking that there had to be a mistake; but, I knew better. My eyes saw the films. My fingers now felt the lump. So I resigned myself to the facts I had just learned, said thank you, walked out of the hospital alone, headed for my car, opened the door, sat down and cried. I was in a fog, yet I remember every step from the hospital to the car.
It was a Wednesday afternoon, with the next day being Thanksgiving. Everyone knows (especially those who work with office professionals), no one was going to be in the office until at least Monday. So I called my firm, cried to our Controller and then went home, curled up in bed and cried some more. I started questioning if this would be my last Thanksgiving, my last Christmas, and my last birthday (which was only 3 weeks away). Fear and depression sunk in immediately. Luckily, it didn't last long.
As a complete "Type A" personality and having an extreme need for control, it was unbearable to think that something so small had just knocked me on my backside, leaving me action less and speechless. I recognize that patience is a virtue, but it has never been one of mine, and I finally decided that I would not let this situation be any different. I wiped my tears, got out of bed in the middle of the night and started surfing the internet; calling 24 hour hotlines looking for both support & answers; and in the morning (Thanksgiving Day) I called the hospital - I figured they had to be open, and demanded copies of my x-rays and began arming myself for war.
To this day - while I have many to thank and even more I will be forever indebted to, I am most thankful for the original mammogram tech, my doctor who did not take "the wait and see approach" and the doctor of radiology who persistently sought out the lump while conducting the second set of tests. Understand, the lump was small, so very small - many would have missed it; and yet it had already left the duct and was trying to invade the rest of my body. I have no idea how much it would have had to of grown or how much damage it would have caused before I would have noticed it. Technology is amazing - unfortunately, not amazing enough.
Technology and medical science has made tremendous strides in advancing its knowledge, diagnosis & treatment of breast cancer; but, it hasn't advanced enough to cure breast cancer 100%, let alone prevent it. My diagnosis required me to make choices. Actually, I had to wager bets based on statistics; much like one does when they gamble. You weigh your odds, place your bet and then throw the dice, spin the wheel or play your cards. For no matter which procedure a person with breast cancer chooses, there is still a % of reoccurrence that is attached to the decision.
What did I bet on? I wagered on going aggressive, and minimize my risk for reoccurrence. Looking down the road, I could picture myself checking for lumps and running to my Doctor every time I felt the slightest change. For me, that was not how I wanted to spend the rest of my life. A life I planned on living. Additionally, my surgeon was fairly certain that my lymph nodes had not been affected and by electing an aggressive treatment option I would, in all probability, avoid radiation treatment. Again, a bet I decided was worth the chance. It took less than a minute for me to elect a bi-lateral mastectomy.
Now, 18 months later, 5 surgeries, a lot tears, prayers, anger, laughter, yes - laughter; I am doing well and moving on with my life. I was lucky; I had fabulous health & cancer insurance policies, some of the best doctors that Emory Med School have trained and a support network of friends and co-workers that kept my family fed for almost a year - and believe me, with three teenage boys feeding the family was not an easy task. Most importantly my firm afforded me the time to put my health before my job.
Breast cancer is attacking more and more women every day and unfortunately at younger ages. I fear most for 20 and 30 year old women. Unless there is a family history, most doctors don't recommend mammograms until the age of 40; and a lot of young women don't remember to perform monthly breast exams. I also fear for the women who either through a lack of awareness, lack of education or lack of access to healthcare providers are not being diagnosed until it is too late.
Events like "The AALA Casino Night" are essential in helping to find a cure, raise awareness and provide healthcare to women battling this disease. As a survivor I would like to personally thank each and every supporter for their contribution. I look forward to spending an evening gambling and betting for a cure; and hope that the rest of you will join me!
|
