My name is Wanda Brown and I am writing this story to help the next person who has to hear the words, “You have breast cancer.”
I am an everyday person who goes to work and takes care of my family and others who may need my help. I have three children and two grandchildren. There was a time in my life that I remember hearing about other people with cancer and I felt sorry for them. My heart would go out to them but then in June of 2012 something changed.
I was doing a self breast exam and felt something hard against my fingers on my left breast. I went to the clinic the next day to have a doctor examine me. That doctor felt the lump and sent me immediately for a mammogram and ultrasound. The findings were not clear so I was referred to Dr. A. Sassard to perform a biopsy of the area. That week, the biopsy results came back as breast cancer. When Dr. Sassard told me the news, I started to cry. I was angry at the world and I was confused. I didn’t know what my next step would be because I couldn’t think straight. I thought, “My life is over and I am going to die!”
During my next appointment with my surgeon, we talked about the decision I needed to regarding surgery. I chose to have a double mastectomy. It was my decision to remove both breasts. I didn’t want to go through the pain of hearing the words “You have breast cancer” ever again.
Then, I was referred to Dr. Sands for breast reconstruction. When I got to his office, I was still in disbelief. All I could do was cry the entire time. Dr. Sands reassured me that it wasn’t the end of the world and that I was going to be all right. He explained the process of reconstructing my breasts after my mastectomy. Dr. Sands’ words gave me a big sense of relief. He and his staff are wonderful. Dr. Sands showed me that he cared! I want to thank him for that. He gave me the feeling that I could overcome this and I did! I have new breasts, a flat stomach and I look and feel great! I feel like I have a second chance at life. I will take a pill once a day for the next five years. I have been cancer free for one year as of August 2013. GOD IS AWESOME!
