Diagnosis: It's breast cancer
By STEPHANIE LAW
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Editor’s Note: First in a series of columns about one woman’s journey through the often-scary world of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Two common sayings have become a very important part of my life recently:

"Today is the first day of the rest of your life" and "One day at a time."

My life took a dramatic turn a few weeks ago when I went for a routine mammogram. After several increasingly serious tests, I have learned I am in the early stages of breast cancer. I plan to write a series of columns for the newspaper chronicling the twists and turns of my journey.

In Maine each year, about 1,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and about 200 women will die from the disease. If women age 50 and older are screened for breast cancer between 20 percent and 40 percent of thosecancer deaths could be prevented. That's 40 to 80 women who wouldn't have died if their cancer had been detected early enough for successful treatment. This information is from the Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program of the Maine Department of Health & Human Services.

According to American Cancer Society Facts and Figures, 2004, about 920 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed among women in Maine, and 170 men and women were expected to die of breast cancer.

The good news, though, is that people who are diagnosed with breast cancer are living longer after diagnosis because of technological advances in detection and treatment, according to information provided by a spokeswoman from MaineGeneral Medical Center.

In my case, one of the worst — and earliest — tests is something called a stereotactic biopsy, which uses a special computer to guide a needle to the suspicious spot seen on the mammogram. It's not the needle part that's bad — it's the table you have to lie on face down and the position in which you find yourself.

That table just had to be designed by a man; a woman would have figured out a more dignified and comfortable way to accomplish the same purpose.

Not only does the table have a hole in the center that part of you has to hang down through, but the hardness factor is somewhere between concrete and marble.

I am a copy editor at the Kennebec Journal, where I have worked for nearly 31 years. I am 55 years old, unmarried, have had no children, and, ironically, quit smoking two months ago after 38 years to — hopefully — avoid lung cancer.

I decided to write these columns, partly as therapy for me and also as a learning and demystifying experience for others. I still don't know what the outcome will be, but I'll share with you all I know, soon after I learn it.

By the way: Another common saying I've found very helpful lately — "Don't sweat the small stuff."

Stephanie Law is a copy editor at the newspaper and lives in Sabattus.

Contact Stephanie Law by e-mailing: doverfox51@midmaine.com

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Reader comments

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Cruizer of Augusta, ME
Aug 1, 2007 3:10 PM
God bless you Stephanie. We'll be pulling for you. We'll also throw in a couple of prayers to the man upstairs periodically for you too.
I can't imagine the courage it would take to fight this fight, but to document it as well. You are quite a lady.report abuse
Dawn of Augusta, ME
Aug 1, 2007 4:43 PM
What an amazing woman you are! You bless us all by telling your story and taking us along on your journey. We thank you for that. Our prayers will include you every day. May God bless and keep you safe.report abuse
Bunni of Brunswick, ME
Aug 1, 2007 5:30 PM
My thoughts and prayers go out to you, Stephanie. My daughter, age 34, was diagnosed with breast cancer in January of this year. On Feb. 1st, she underwent a double masectomy. The docs told her it was only in one breast, she said she "knew" it was in both and it was. In March she had a "normal" pap smear, on April 23rd she had a complete hysterectomy. Again, she "knew" the cancer was there. She has been her best advocate. The docs told her that she had had the breast cancer 8-10 years before any lumps ever developed!!!!! So, what do I say to breast cancer crusaders who tell us to get mammograms AFTER 40. Stick it in your ear!!! All young women should have mammograms, don't wait until you are 40. They have a new imaging mammogram machine that can detect breast cancer easier, faster and earlier that the old machines. My 25 year old daughter just had it done, she said it was "a piece of cake". My middle daughter has been treated with just hormone therapy at the Dana Farber Center and her tumor markers are down . One is within normal range, the other almost normal. She does have the cancer in the pelvic wall and has bone mets, but so far, so good with the treatments. I urge you, Stephanie, to make a trip to Dana Farber; have your doc refer you. They are THE BEST at dealing with breast cancer and the mets that can spread. Best of luck to you.report abuse
pat nadeau of vassalboro, ME
Aug 2, 2007 3:38 PM
you are quite a lady. hang tough!!!!!!!!report abuse

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