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Jean Calambro
I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in January of 2007. I had gone to see my gynecologist who assured me that the lump that I felt was most likely a cyst. Feeling inconvenienced that I had to take the time to go across the street and have a mammogram, I hurriedly went over and waited for my name to be called. As I was sitting there, another patient started talking to me and assured me that all was going to be o.k. even if they found cancer. I had never known anyone who had breast cancer and it certainly wasn’t going to happen to me. My life was much too busy for that. Anyway, within a short period of time during my mammogram, they found the lump that I had been feeling and immediately took me in for a biopsy. It was very scary as things happened so quickly. By coincidence and fate, the person who did the sonogram prior to the biopsy happened to be a women that I had known since elementary school and helped me deal with the news I had just been given.
Once I got through the initial shock, I promptly took a trip( 2 weeks later) with a boyfriend and group of friends skiing in Utah for a week. When in Utah, I went on a 3 hour back trail snowmobiling trip. I was sure I was going to die, so breast cancer did not seem so important at that time. It was a great break from work and from the news that I had just been given. Once again, I thought I will just have surgery and radiation and then move on. Again, what an inconvenience. Well reality finally hit. After my lumpectomy I was informed that the cancer was in 3 of 4 lymph nodes and I would need chemotherapy and would lose my hair. Honestly, that was the most traumatic event of the whole treatment. My boyfriend dumped me at the beginning of my treatment (hurt badly but blessing in disguise) and I was out dating with a wig on. I had 8 chemo treatments and took a different friend to every treatment. I took up tennis during this treatment to meet other people and to take my mind off of what I was going through. I met some wonderful, healthy and supportive people through tennis.
I attended a couple of Hopewell meetings which helped me immensely. My first meeting I was afraid to attend as I thought I would walk into a room of bald women. Quite the contrary. Most were very attractive, professional and caring and strong people who had made it through. This helped me maintain my positive outlook…for most of the year.
My parents were troopers throughout my diagnosis and treatment. I found out who my true friends really were and parted with some who I realized were not true friends.
Two other very important people that have really helped me through this are Dr. Robert Donegan and Dr Hanita Sharma. I can truly call them friends who just happen to be dealing with my cancer “inconvenience” as well.
I have heard it called the “Gift of Cancer” and in a lot of ways, it has been as I appreciate most days and spend time with those who mean the most to me.
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