Survivor Scrapbook

On August 3, 2001, I went for my annual gynecological examination and mammogram. All my life my Pap smears had come back normal as had my mammograms, I had no reason to think that this time it would be different. The Pap smear turned out normal, but when I went for the mammogram, the suddenly got out new pieces of equipment I'd never seen before, saying "...there are three spots in your right breast, they're probably calcium deposits."

A week later, the doctor recommended that I see a surgeon, which scared me, but again, I felt like one of the chosen ones, it would be allright. I saw the surgeon and we scheduled a biopsy for mid September. Then my mother suffered a heart attack that would set into motion a series of maladies that would end her life on September 11. She died never knowing that I had a problem of any kind. The Monday after we buried my mother I went for the biopsy, and on September 28, I was told I had ductal carcinoma in situ in the right breast, but the good news was that it had been caught early due to the fact that I had annual mammograms.

On October 4, I had outpatient surgery to remove the cancerous material in my breast. Thirty-three radiation treatments and 10 months later, I find that I was right back in September, I am going to be allright. The cancer is gone, and I'm looking forward to the rest of my lifetime spoiling my new grandson. Annual mammograms, and quick and early intervention saved my breast and my life...so I'm here for many years to come.

Sandra Norris-Bryant
Lebanon, Virginia

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	On August 3, 2001, I went for my annual gynecological examination and mammogram. All my life my Pap smears had come back normal as had my mammograms, I had no reason to think that this time it would be different. The Pap smear turned out normal, but when I went for the mammogram, the suddenly got out new pieces of equipment I'd never seen before, saying "...there are three spots in your right breast, they're probably calcium deposits." A week later, the doctor recommended that I see a surgeon, which scared me, but again, I felt like one of the chosen ones, it would be allright. I saw the surgeon and we scheduled a biopsy for mid September. Then my mother suffered a heart attack that would set into motion a series of maladies that would end her life on September 11. She died never knowing that I had a problem of any kind. The Monday after we buried my mother I went for the biopsy, and on September 28, I was told I had ductal carcinoma in situ in the right breast, but the good news was that it had been caught early due to the fact that I had annual mammograms. On October 4, I had outpatient surgery to remove the cancerous material in my breast. Thirty-three radiation treatments and 10 months later, I find that I was right back in September, I am going to be allright. The cancer is gone, and I'm looking forward to the rest of my lifetime spoiling my new grandson. Annual mammograms, and quick and early intervention saved my breast and my life...so I'm here for many years to come. Sandra Norris-Bryant Lebanon, Virginia