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Marilynn Johnson
Fear, sadness and anger. These were my initial reactions to a stage II breast cancer diagnosis in August, 2005. The fictional character Pollyanna always tries to find something to be glad about in any situation. What I found to be glad about first was being informed of my diagnosis as I sat on my deck; my dear friend, Dr. Scott Maizel, a breast surgeon at GBMC, gave me the news. This is the same man who saved my life when I almost drowned during an inner tubing trip on the Gunpowder River some years back. He was (and is) sane, kind and truthful. This helped me face the next while with confidence. He referred me to Dr. Lauren Schnapper and came with me to my appointments with her. He is awesome.
I had my lumpectomy at GBMC on 9/1/05 at about 1 PM and by 5:30 I was back in Howard County at a snowball stand with my husband Bill and our two daughters, Ami and Elizabeth. I received my treatments at Central Maryland Oncology Center in Columbia, Maryland. I had four rounds of chemotherapy and was able to continue working three days per week as a social worker at Spring Grove Hospital Center. I missed two weeks of work at the end of my treatments due to fatigue. I then had a break for the holidays before starting my radiation, which went well. I found my doctors there to be compassionate and also positive and upbeat.
During my journey through breast cancer treatment, I found much to be glad about. The love and support of my husband and daughters was the best. My daughters live in New York and came home so frequently during that time that I was forced to tell them to stay there. My dear friends and neighbors were so helpful and present with a steady stream of visits, phone calls, food, flowers and just knowing they were there. Leading the troops was Scott Maizel’s wife, Kathleen, my sweet, dear friend. Also, a close friend since we were 12, Dean Routson, another model/survivor, provided me with caring and support. Thank you all!
As I sat down to write this, I realized how little I think about breast cancer any more. Life has taken over the fear. Since finishing my treatments, I have been to Costa Rica and France. I have danced at my daughter Ami’s wedding. I continue to work, enjoy gardening, cooking, and still play tennis weekly; I am in a book club and enjoy the company of friends and family. On July 9, 2009, Bill and I were thrilled to become grandparents for the first time; we have a beautiful granddaughter named Jules Elizabeth. What I realize is that I am living in the present, not in the shadow of breast cancer. I rarely think about it. That is something to be glad about.
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