My Story - Pregnancy and Cancer - L. Rice

Nov 24, 2004 I was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer. Dec 6, 2004 I learned I was pregnant. My husband and I decided a lumpectomy was my best option since the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 gene test was negative. Feb 10, 2005 was my first chemo treatment. Our baby was 15 weeks gestation at my first chemo treatment and went thru all 8 chemo treatments with me. Each chemo treatment was approximately 3 hours long. Doug was there to support me the entire way and take care of our son Kincaid who was 1 at the time. Alexis was born on June 29, 2005. Eight weeks early and weighing 4 lbs. Ten fingers, ten toes, she was perfect. Thank you Dr. Loprinzi! You saved both of us. After Alexis was born, I had 33 doses of radiation. Alexis went with me to every appointment but got to hang out with the nurses.

Alexis is now a VERY sassy 6 year old and will be starting 1st grade. I have finally reached the 5 year milestone and look forward to many more years as a breast cancer survivor.I have hopes that my daughter, friends and family will never have to go thru what I did.Thank you for all of your support! ~L. Rice

From: Patti

Description: My name is Patti and I am a breast cancer survivor. Here is my story…

In August 2008 and I went for my annual mammogram, it came back suspicious. I went back in September for a second look and that is when they decided that I needed a biopsy, it was scheduled for the last Monday in September. I was 43 years old, too young to have breast cancer!! On October 8, 2008 I called my parents to let them know what was going on. It was during this call that my mother let me know that on October 3, 2008 she was diagnosed with breast cancer in both breasts. I fell apart! The next day I called my breast surgeon to let her know about my mother and her exact words were, “Patti, I hate to have to tell you this but you have high grade invasive breast cancer in your right breast.” Yes, you read that right; my mother and I were diagnosed 6 days apart.

For the next several weeks, mom and I kept each other updated through weekly phone calls and emails; we lived about 4 hours away from each other. So we were fighting this battle together yet apart. Mom’s diagnosis was much worse than mine, 12 rounds of chemo then a bi-lateral mastectomy. I decided to be tested for the “breast cancer gene” since I had already lost my paternal grandmother and several maternal great-aunts to this disease. The results came back, I had the BRCA1 gene. I called mom and she decided to get tested; her results were negative. Thanks Dad! At that point, I decided for a bi-lateral mastectomy, I didn’t want to fight this battle again in a few years; I have a son I wanted to live for. November 14, 2008 the “girls” were gone. On November 20, 2008 I got the “cancer is gone” call from my doctor. April 27, 2009 my reconstruction was performed. Mom was still undergoing her chemo and her surgery was scheduled for after the first of the year. After her surgery, her oncologist decided that radiation would be necessary. She took all the treatments and always gave glory to God for her toleration of all the treatments and her healing. In July 2009 she was told that her latest body scan was “clean”. Then September came and things took a turn for the worse. She was having headaches, slurred speech and balance issues. Her doctor ordered another MRI to determine what the cause was. The cause was the cancer had metastasized in her brain, liver and lungs. Mom lost her battle on her 67th birthday, September 10, 2009, nine days before my parents 45th wedding anniversary. I had one more surgery November 17, 2009 I had a hysterectomy and oopharectomy to prevent ovarian cancer because of my BRCA1 gene. All this over a 13 month period! What you guys are doing is FANTASTIC! I am definitely going to try and attend some of your events. I would love to help you in any way that I can!

From: Gail Maxwell

Sorry my e-mail address was to long for the sign up for e-mail space--just found your site--I am 54 -and--was diagnosed in Feb. had mastectomy in March and under-went chemo treatments all this year---------seems like such a whirlwind-things are calming down-Hair coming back---couldn't enjoy riding with my husband this summer--GOD HAS BEEN SOOOO GOOD TO ME and I thank HIM for all our biker family who prayed for me and supported us during this time---Great job!!!!!! JESUS LOVES BIKERS TOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Email: cornerstonebiker@windstream.net