Shirley Sigler: Estrogen Positive, Breast Cancer Survivor

October 15, 2013 / by bofc / Make A Comment / Filed under Something Inspirational

I am a cancer survivor and have been cancer free for 2 years.

I know that a lot of people go through life saying that some things could never happen to them or their family.  I was one of those people. My dad passed away of lung cancer when he was 49. Once I got passed that 49^th year of my life, I thought I am home free. Well of course we can’t live with our heads in the clouds and expect that bad things will not happen to us.

I found out I had breast cancer in July 2011.  At first it was just something that showed up on the mammogram, I wasn’t really worried about it but needed to have a biopsy to make sure.  The results of the biopsy proved to be positive for cancer.

My surgeon said it was early stage and that she recommended a lumpectomy, but wanted me to have an MRI first. I still wasn’t worried about it.  After the MRI she saw something else a second spot on the report that she didn’t like, so she had me do another biopsy.

No longer are the days where you go to the doctor’s office with your loved one holding your hand to get “the news.”  My “news” came while I was walking through Wal-mart doing my grocery shopping.  I received a call on my cell phone from the surgeon saying that the last biopsy was malignant as well. She explained to me that they were in different parts of the breast. It was infiltrating duct carcinoma, estrogen positive, stage 1 and grade 1. She went on to explain, my initial surgery for the lumpectomy would be cancelled and we were now looking at a mastectomy. All of this while standing in the frozen food section. I heard what she was saying but it’s strange how you continue on with whatever you are doing even though you just received bad news.

I did stop in one of the aisles at Wal-Mart to call my sister who is my lifeline. She also is a breast cancer survivor, but hers was more serious than mine because she had triple negative breast cancer, stage 2, grade 3, which is a more aggressive cancer. My sister’s name is Wanda and she is the founder of Basketofcourage.org.  She will be five years cancer free in December.  She had to have chemo and radiation.  I think with her having breast cancer that I was more prepared for what might happen.  Yep, my head was no longer in the clouds.  I thought if this could happen to my sister, it could happen to anyone.

My oncologist ordered a test OncoType Dx a breast cancer essay to determine the percentage of recurrence and if I would need to take chemotherapy and or radiation. The range for recurrence on this particular test is 1-100. Mine was 19 % a low risk factor.   The good news I would not have to take chemo or radiation.  I will for the next five years take a drug called Armidex for post-menopausal women which takes the estrogen out of my body and lowers my chance of getting cancer in my other breast or recurrence.

As I remember I had my surgery and was up and ready to go home the next morning.  I was actually feeling great. The cancer was gone. I had no fear and did not worry about any of it. I had prayed and left it in God’s hand.  I kept thinking of Psalm 121:1-2 – “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”

I also remember my sister taping verses around her house and I thought what a great idea, so I taped a verse on my kitchen cabinet, which I read often and gave me peace during this journey. Psalm 46:1  “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”