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At the age of 31 I went to visit my OBGYN for my regular yearly visit. I asked her to check my right breast, which sometimes had a discharge. She took one look at it and sent me to have a mammogram that day. The next day I found out that there was something suspicious in my right breast; the day after that I had a biopsy, and about three days later I found out I had DCIS, which is Ductal Carcinoma breast cancer.
 
I was in total shock, so I asked for a second opinion. After arranging a breast MRI, doctors discovered there was something suspicious in my left breast as well. I had a wonderful doctor and she sat down with my family and me and told us what my options were. I didn’t think twice; I decided to have a radical mastectomy to remove both my breasts.
 
I just finished the final stage of my reconstruction. I had expanders placed under my skin, and I’ve had regular saline injections into the plastic expanders to stretch the skin. I also had gel implants to replace my breasts. There was no chemo and no radiation because of my decision to remove my breasts instead of doing a lumpectomy.
 
I had a co-worker who had gone through the process five years ago and she gave me a lot of advice. And if it wasn’t for my family I probably would have broken down, but I was really calm through the whole thing. It wasn’t until after the surgery that I really was able to be upset. I was upset with myself because I found out I had cancer. I thought if I had only eaten better or had done this right or… but I really think my family and my co-worker helped me get through it. This was in 2007. Now I see my oncologist every six months and get a mammogram once a year.
 
I have kept my sense of humor through the entire thing. Of course none of this is funny but I’ve really focused on keeping my sense of humor. I have to laugh about something. I think when I go see my breast surgeon or my reconstructive surgeon I ask a lot of questions but I keep a positive attitude and I have to laugh. I have been constantly preaching early detection. I was 31 when I was diagnosed, and that’s really young. And it couldn’t have happened to a better person because I was able to handle it pretty well. I think it happened to me for a reason; I really do.
 
- Andrea