Rosie’s story

How were you diagnosed?

Back when we lived in New York, I had my first needle biopsy.  My mammogram showed a dark spot on my left breast, so they wanted to check it out. I was told that I had dense breasts.  Most of the time, I would have to go back for a second mammogram since they saw some dark spots. After 3 years of this, my OB/GYN felt a lump & told me to see a breast surgeon.  She did an ultrasound on my left breast. It was benign.  I was very thankful.

Then Covid hit & the world just stopped being normal.  When I was able to get a mammogram again, they found a dark spot.  A needle biopsy was done on my right breast.  They found Atypical lobular hyperplasia.  They told me it wasn't cancer, but it could turn into cancer.  My girlfriend who is a nurse & a breast navigator explained that if cancer was a ten, I was a 5.  It would never go back to normal. She told me to go to Moffitt since it was one of the best cancer hospitals in the United States.  My breast surgeon told me in looking at all my records with two other radiologists, I was at a higher risk of getting breast cancer than most women.

She first wanted to do a breast MRI.  With my history, she wanted to see what else might be going on in my right breast.  If it was clear, she would proceed with the lumpectomy.  When we did the breast MRI, they did see a dark spot in a different space from the Atypical lobular hyperplasia.  So they did a MRI needle biopsy.  That was when they found the breast cancer.  

How did you choose a mastectomy, lumpectomy, or other option? If mastectomy, what reconstruction did you choose, if any?

She gave me 3 choices of what I could do.  The first was two lumpectomies since they were in 2 different parts of my right breast.  I would have to have chemo or radiation.  I would also have mammograms every 6 months & 6 months breast MRIs.  This would go on for 5 years.  The second choice was a mastectomy on my right breast.  The third choice was a double mastectomy with reconstruction. She also said that she had a feeling I had already made my choice.

She was correct.  I had made my choice back in North Carolina with all my breast issues going on. 

What other treatment did you choose?

I had told my husband, Jim, that if any of the results were malignant, I would get a double mastectomy.  Jim asked if he had any say about this.  I said that he could give me his opinion but no it was my choice.  At my age, 65, I didn't need my breasts & I would get reconstruction.

So surgery was scheduled & I proceeded to tell family & friends.  When I told my friend, Anita, she asked what I decided.  I told her double mastectomy.  She was so glad because she told me of 3 girlfriends that had passed from breast cancer that didn't get double mastectomies.  I know that one of them was your Mom.

What key milestones or memories hold the most significance?

I am a breast cancer survivor of 3 years.  I had a double mastectomy in August, 2021.  I had the surgery done at Moffitt Cancer Hospital in Tampa, Florida,  I consider myself blessed that I was so close to a hospital dedicated to all types of cancer.  Their doctors, nurses, & staff are so dedicated & caring.  It is a one-stop shopping cancer facility.  I was able to have my reconstruction done there & they were able to do nipple-sparing reconstruction on December 6, 2021.

What advice do you have for other women?

Since my surgery, 2 of my friends had their breast cancer come back.  They had lumpectomies a number of years ago. This time, they had to get double mastectomies. 

Within the last 1 1/2 years, 2 of my friends, in their 60's had lumpectomies done because their doctors said the lump was small so mastectomies were not necessary.  I tried to explain my was small too, but I didn't want the chance that the cancer could come back.  I am not sure why doctors are pushing lumpectomies for women in their 60's.  I am not sure if the insurance companies are pushing this issue.

What is the silver lining in your journey, if any?

My girlfriend says I am the poster child for breast cancer since I talk to women in stores, at the gym, in church, etc, about getting their mammograms.  It doesn’t bother me to tell people that my breasts are fake. It’s a great way to educate women.

What else do you want to add?

I lost my sister-in-law to breast cancer in June. She had a lumpectomy in 2019. When she heard I had breast cancer in 2021, she called me. She said she wished she knew what I knew & would have chosen differently. She said every 6 months, as it gets closer to the mammogram or breast MRI, she gets tense & wonders if the other shoe is going to fall. Well, it did in June of 2023. It was a fast-growing cancer & it spread too fast. I keep thinking that if she had the double mastectomy, would she still be here.