summerdawncole
summerdawncole
Survivor: Breast Cancer (Stage IV)
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Clay City, KY
Female
About Me
My Journal
I am a Survivor
Type of Cancer
Breast Cancer (Stage IV), 2003
Treatment Information
Stage of Treatment:

Finished treatment 5 or more years ago

Treatment Types:

N/A

Hospital:

N/A

Side Effect:

Anxiety

Body Aches

Bone Pain

Depression

Fatigue/Weakness

Lymphedema

Post Traumatic Stress

Oral Problems

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Discussions (1)
Breast Cancer
I was wondering if I am still the youngest breast cancer survivor in Ky... I was 19 when I was diagnosed with stage 4... Read More
August 1st, 2015
Reconstruction....Never again..
August 2nd, 2015

     Being the youngest breast cancer survivor in the history of Kentucky, I was able to get a plastic surgeon to help me with recon. I was 19 when I was diagnosed and didnt have insurance. I am 31 now and still don't. But anyways, the local news station found a Plastic Surgeon who was willing to help me, who in turn found a hospital, other Dr.'s who help in surgery, the nurses all the way down to the implants themselves. Everything that was used to complete my surgery, guaze, saline, etc. Had to be donated. I didn't and don't have any money or am able to keep a job due to medical matter's.

      I had the expanders placed in to stretch the skin on my chest. When I had my left radical mastectomy and my right simple mastectomy the Dr's did not spare any skin or muscle. After the expander's were filled to the right amount I had them took out and I had tear-drop shaped implants placed. They were silicone shell and saline filled. The last recon surgery I had to have skin took from each side of my chest to form the nipple. That surgery I was awake for....BIGGEST mistake of my life. I was in an OR laid out like I was getting crusified, tied down to the bed with a sheet blocking my view. Well, I wasn't numb enough. I felt it all. And there was no way that they could have put me to sleep. The young man who watches my vitals and checks the IV was at my head, he knelt down and put his head beside mine and whiped the tears off of my face. He kept apologizing, he was almost as tore up about it as I was. I owe so many Dr.'s who helped me, that didn't have to.

      Well, The never again in the title of this post...A year after I was done with all of my surgeries and treatments I was involved in a car accident. Well, I am really short and sit close to the steering wheel. The airbag deployed sending my left implant into my collar bone and my right implant had a slow leak. So needless to say I had to have all of the extra skin and implants removed. I went through all of that pain and aggrivation for nothing basically. I didnt even have time to get use to the implants. The surgeon who took out my implants took off way too much skin. He told me after I woke up from surgery and I quote, "By the grace of God I got you closed because I took too much skin." Not something you want to hear right after surgery. So now my scars are huge, painful and my chest in concaved. I am only 31, I shouldnt have to look like this. I shouldnt have to feel like this, mentally or physically. I have read so many stories from survivor's who have a great life post-cancer. But I do not. My life has been downhill ever since. Maybe if I had insurance and went to the Dr and get my medical problems took care of I'd have a life. Just because I am alive does not mean I live. I pray that one day I can go back to the Dr and get everything straightened back out physically. Maybe I can have a life worth living then.......

Cancer at 19
August 1st, 2015

I was diagnosed with stage 4 non invasive ductal carcinoma insitu, at the ripe old age of 19. Two months shy of my 20th birthday. I am 31 right now. I am married and we have 4 kids between us. I had a 12yr old daughter and my son will be 9 in October. My husband has two girls from a previous marriage, one is 12 the other is 11. My family history of breast cancer is on my mom's side. Her mother, my granny whose in my profile pic with me, she had breast cancer twice in 5yrs. :(

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