Our Stories

Date of Diagnosis:  August, 2009

Age at Diagnosis: 50

Stage: IIB/III

Time from "normal" mammogram to cancer diagnosis:  one week

How was cancer detected: By me 

Collin's story:  I had dense breasts, but no one every told me I should be getting MRIs. I had mammograms religiously that were always clean, including the week of my diagnosis. I knew something wasn't right and insisted on an MRI; actually got in an unpleasant phone call with the doctor's nurse who insisted I didn't need it, that the doctor said I was "not in that realm," and that the insurance company would not pay for my MRI. I said I will pay for the MRI. Hemming & hawing, she scheduled one. There it was. Her2-positive breast cancer -- went into the nodes but thank God nowhere else. No lump visible or palpable by myself or doctors -- only on the MRI. If only someone had told me that I should have had an MRI all along so it could have been caught earlier. I have 3 adopted children, ages 8, 6 and 4. Our last adoption took place in February. I know I will make it, despite the 80% prognosis, but it pains me so that my children have to see this occur. It was all so preventable.