Each October, we give back by hosting a buy one give one campaign: for every bottle of WINK sold, we donate one to a cancer warrior, to help them get their groove back after chemotherapy. Specifically, we partner with the Breast Cancer Charities of America’s “Feeling Beautiful Again” program, to get WINK directly into warrior’s hands.
In our warrior stories series, we share the stories of these warriors. Today we are sharing the story of Maggie, a Breast Cancer Warrior. Her story is another powerful example of how your Pink WINK donations are helping breast cancer patients.
YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE POWER OF WOMEN’S INTUITION
I thought you might like to know the story of my breast cancer.
A terrible medical nightmare caused by one doctor’s arrogance & misdiagnosis comprises the story leading to my cancer. If it weren’t for my own God-given female intuition & tenacity, I’d be dead now.
For 6 years, I had a lump in my breast. I brought it to the attention of my primary care doctor and, as she examined me, she said to me & my hubby “You’re very fortunate because I have lots of experience feeling lumps & this is definitely NOT cancer, it is just a benign cyst” .
My mammograms were always benign which was NO reason for her to ignore a palpable lump.
Over the years she was very dismissive when I’d ask for an ultrasound. She insisted that both me & my husband “stop worrying, it’s nothing, don’t be silly”. When it became painful she adamantly said, “that just confirms it’s nothing because breast cancer never causes pain” (this is NOT true) and wrote in my medical chart “reassured patient that no further testing is needed”. My insurance would not allow a 2nd opinion or an ultrasound without an order from her.
Finally, my hubby & I made an appointment with her and demanded an order for an ultrasound which we scheduled immediately and which then led to an immediate biopsy.
Due to my innate intuition and tenacity, my life was saved.
The lump had grown over all that time to a huge inoperable 7cm cancerous mass…
Adding insult to injury, that primary care doctor got the cancer test results and never phoned me to even tell me I had cancer or to refer me to a breast surgeon & an oncologist. She had prescribed Rx for estrogen for 6 years & my cancer was estrogen-positive (fed by & rapidly grew from estrogen) and she never, to this day, contacted me to STOP taking estrogen (thankfully, my new doctor had me stop taking it).
All forces of the universe then came to my aid! I immediately found a new primary angel-doctor, a fantastic oncologist who used “very aggressive” 6 chemos to shrink the tumor which allowed for surgery.
My breast surgeon is world-renowned & did an outstanding job removing the tumor. Then I had 33 radiations (owwwie!). By the grace of God, mine is an incredible success story…
I AM NOW CANCER FREE!
The important message I want to share is:
If you feel a lump, even if your mammogram says it’s benign & even if your doctor says “it’s nothing,” DEMAND any or all of these tests:
- Ultrasound and/or MRI and/or PET scan and/or Biopsy
Tell all your friends and loved ones, spread the word, and…SAVE LIVES!!!
Rock on, Maggie!
Seriously, if you think you have a lump, tell your doctor! If he/she doesn’t believe you, find another doctor!
Thanks for sharing your story. I know it will inspire others.
xoxo ~
