Testimonials

About Us

Susan A. Loren, mother, wife, daughter, teacher, recovering

“Thank you Breast Cancer Society for your literature and grant to help me understand and pay for medications.”

Ruth Cahn, Breast Cancer Survivor

“Thank you for sending me money to cover some of my bills every month.”

Teri, Breast Cancer Patient

“My family means more to me today than they did a year ago.”

Lynn Shenefield, Breast Cancer in treatment

“TBCS Gave Me Hope”

Dana, Breast Cancer Patient

“I will be forever indebted to your society and look forward to the day when I can "pay it forward"”

Dana, Breast Cancer Patient

March 6, 2008

To Whom it May Concern:

I just would like to express my sincerely appreciation for the last two checks I have received from The Breast Cancer Society over the past two weeks. Although “my story” may be hard to believe it is all true. My husband of 13 years left me and my three children in late April of 2007 and filed for divorce three weeks later. This all came soon after our oldest son, Grant was diagnosed with autism.

I have struggled emotionally and financially over the past year of 2007 while dealing with my divorce. I was within two to three weeks to coming to a “global resolution” and finalizing my divorce when on Dec. 16, 2007 I found a lump I my left breast. I went to the doctor the following day, and it was concluded that it was in fact a mass. By the end of the same week, I was informed by the ultra-sound doctor that it was most likely cancer. My mother had breast cancer 5 years before, so I knew what I was going to have to endure to fight breast cancer. Christmas was difficult to get through being that it was the first year that my husband would not be present for the kids and knowing that I would within days be officially diagnosed with breast cancer. On Dec. 28, I had the biopsy and they oncology surgeon, found not only one but two lumps… On Jan 16, I had a single mastectomy and had 23 of my lymph nodes removed. Seventeen of my 23 lymph nodes tested positive for cancer. I was diagnosed with invasive ductile breast cancer.

At the age of 37, single mother of three (age 8, 4, and 2yrs) I knew I had my hands full and
would be relying on the strength of my faith, friends and family to help me and my kids. I had my first chemotherapy treatment on Jan 28 and five days later I was informed by my divorce attorney that my “soon to be ex-husband” had voluntarily “quit” his job. My financial security was immediately put at risk and my health insurance was suddenly put on a COBRA status. As expected since February 1, 2008 my children and I have not received any support payments and I have paid my COBRA insurance payment providing health care insurance for me and the kids by relying on the kindness of others and organizations such as yours. (In fact, right now…your non-profit agency is the only one who has responded to my need and for that I am thankful).

I will be forever indebted to your society and look forward to the day when I can “pay it forward” to someone else in need. I hope that “my story” may help others find strength should they find themselves in a similar situation. For that reason alone, feel free to share “my story”. My fight with breast cancer is far from over.. I will be having my 3 of 8 rounds of chemo on Monday, followed by radiation, reconstructive surgeries etc.

Thank you again on behalf of myself and children

Dana Bell

Mother of Grant (age
Helena (age 4)
Everett (age 2 on April 12)
…)
Breast Cancer Fighter since 12/28/07

Paulette, Stage four breast cancer still in treatment

“that they may continue to help others”

Judi, Breast Cancer Patient

“Thank you so much”

Mary, Breast Cancer Patient

“I don't know how I would survive”

Lorraine, Breast Cancer Survivor

“Thank You!”

Sandra Wade, Stage 4 Inflammatory Breast Cancer

“The people at the Breast Cancer Society cannot possibly know just how much I appreciate all that that have done for me.”

Sandra Wade, Stage 4 Inflammatory Breast Cancer

I was desperate for financial assistance in purchasing essential equipment for my chronic stage 2 lymphedema. I searched locally and nationally for help for months with no success. I was depressed, discouraged and exhausted. I made one call late on a Friday to the Breast Cancer Society. A extremely nice woman answered, I told her I needed financial help in paying off a balance for a badly needed piece of equipment. The manufacturer had donated the machine (The Flexitouch lymphedema pump), but I had to pay for the personal attachments that wrap the leg, chest and left arm. This cost was almost $1,000 which I did not have. I obtained aid from the Avon Foundation and $100 from Cancer Care. When I explained my situation, this wonderful lady went to Executive Director, Mr. Reyonolds, II. , he approved aid to fulfill the balance of my purchase. Four weeks later I received my machine delivered to my door. I know for a fact that the generosity in providing assistance for this machine helped keep me out of the hospital. I’ve heard people in my situation have stayed up to 3 and 4 months in the hospital getting their lymphedema under control. THE BREAST CANCER SOCIETY saved me from incredible long term pain, suffering and the huge expense of a prolonged hospital stay. I cannot thank the Breast Cancer Society enough. I have lost everything I’ve ever worked for in 45 years of work history. I’ve lost all savings, 401-k, I’ve even used an advanced death benefit from my life insurance company. I’m not even sure if I have enough for a funeral or cremation. The people at the Breast Cancer Society cannot possibly know just how much I appreciate all that that have done for me. I am single and live alone. I live on disability and my account is overdrawn all the time from unexpected expenses. I live in a constant state of fear of not having enough money to live on month to month. Mr. Reynolds and the other people at The Breast Cancer Society, in my opinion, are heroes. I thank God for these people and keep them in my prayers that their lives be blessed. Sandra

Cat McCue, Cat McCue

“Five Year Survivor!”

Cat McCue, Cat McCue

http://breastcancersurvivors-shareyourstory.blogspot.com/
Five years ago on May 11, 2005 I had surgery to remove the breast cancer. I decided to take the extreme route which was to totally remove both breast. All I knew is that I did not want to see it again. Get it out of me…..NOW, is how I felt. They found out that the cancer did not spread to my lymph nodes which was really good news.

Shortly after that, in June 2005, I began my first of what was to be four chemotherapy treatments. Those were tough. The first one wasn’t so bad and I remember thinking, well if this is it then this won’t be so bad. Oh I was in for a rude awakening!

Then after the 2nd treatment my hair began to fall out so I took matters into my own hands and went and had my head shaved. That was dramatic. We women love our hair and to loose it let alone choose to shave it off, well that was not easy. I can’t tell you how many times prior to that, I had stood in the mirror on a bad hair morning and said these very same words…”Oh if I could only shave this stuff and start over!!!” Well I got my chance didn’t I?

After the 3rd treatment is when I began to feel very bad. My white blood count went way down and I ran fevers and just ached from head to toe. The area where they placed my port became infected. I was feeling just awful. Along with feeling just lousy I also was really struggling to keep my emotional strength from falling apart. I remember one evening I went to take a shower. Before stepping into the shower I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. What I saw just about brought me to my knees. Staring back at me was this person with no hair on it’s head. I mean no eyebrows and it’s skin was pasty. There were two huge scares on it’s chest where breast use to be. On each side of it’s rib cage were two holes where the drains use to be. Yes I use the word, “it”, because to this day it is hard for me to believe that that was me. I just stood there and cried. That was one of the only times I really let myself cry? The next day I changed my routine and took a shower in the morning, instead of at night when I wasn’t so tired from dealing with all the stuff that I was dealing with. Just that changed helped out a lot.

It took all the strength I had in me to go to my last treatment. I dreaded it so bad…but when the treatment was complete the nurses had a little graduation party for me and off I went.

About a week after my last treatment I was placed in the hospital because I development a very bad infection from the port and had to have it removed. That was how I spent my 45th birthday.
I had several reconstruction surgeries. Completed them without much problems. My hair grew back slowly. I thought it took forever to grow back in. Now it’s half way down my back. I decided to let it grow as long as I could even though some might think I’m too old for long hair. They just don’t understand what it is like to have no hair and then how long it takes to grow back in.

God has been good to me and has carried me through the illness and now here I sit. Four years later, I’m alive and healthy. I could not have gotten through it without His guidance and love. Also my husband and family were so supportive. And my friends were so good to me. I even had a friend fly all the way from Memphis, TN to come and visit with me while I was recovering. All the girls I worked with were kind and supportive. I no longer work there but I still am friends with most of the girls that worked there with me at that time.

I have no idea why this happened to me. I can only hope and pray that if someone reads this that in some way it helps them in two ways. First to remember that God will never leave you to deal with this alone. He is carrying you right now. Second, don’t you ever give up hope and don’t you ever stop fighting. It is my desire to help other women who are going through breast cancer find hope. And to drive home the desire to never ever give up. Don’t stop fighting.

Now Birthdays are something I look forward to every year.