Jeanie Neal
Indianapolis, Indiana
I'd had boughts of insomnia for over a month when I woke up in the wee hours of January 23, 2001. Most people drink warm milk, read a boring book, or watch television if they can't sleep. Of all the possible home remedies for a sleepless night, I did a breast self-exam (BSE)! Just over a week later I received a telephone call from a radiologist, "Can you talk now or should I call you at home?" BOOM. He's going to tell me I have cancer. Breast cancer. I asked several questions from a ragged scrap of paper I'd been carrying around. I scribbled a few notes--2.7 cm, low grade, ER/PR+, Her2-. I wondered if I'd live to celebrate my fortieth birthday.
On January 31, 2001 I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. I was 33 years old with no family history of breast or reproductive cancers and had maintained a healthy lifestyle. The mind of the average thirty-something doesn't entertain many thoughts about cancer. The events during the first week following the diagnosis are still a blur. I have a vague recollection of calling my mother with the news that her only child had a life-threatening illness. I have a scant memory of telling various other family, friends, and colleagues the same news. What remembrances I do have are of countless sleepless nights staring at the bedroom ceiling.
Since diagnosis I've embraced advocacy like never before. I'm an active volunteer for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and Young Survival Coalition. I've most often involved in grassroots advocacy efforts and research grant reviews. I'm also in the process of establishing a not-for-profit organization to provide short-term financial support for uninsured cancer patients. In my "copious" spare time I enjoy cooking, cycling, hiking, paddle sports and theatre.
We cannot yet prevent cancer, but we can detect it early, treat it aggressively, and THRIVE in spite of it. Ride to Live!
Cancer Overview:
General Cancer Type:
Breast
Specific Cancer Type:
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
Treatment Summary:
*sentinel lymph node biopsy
*twelve weeks of chemotherapy (Taxotere, Adriamycin)
*lumpectomy and axillary lymph node dissection
*six weeks of radiation therapy
*four years of ovarian suppression therapy (Zoladex)
*hysterectomy and bilateral-salphingo oopherectomy
*ten years hormone therapy (estrogen blocker, then an aromatase inhibitor
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