Age 29, single mom of a 7 year old and cancer all in the same sentence?  Well, at first I couldn't believe it but it was true.  Here is my story.

I have always been an independent, "don't need any help"  and "fly by the seat of my pants" type of person.  Always carrying things too heavy for me, doing things that the average woman wouldn't be doing.  I even packed up my son and myself in 1998 and moved from Minnesota to Georgia "just to see if life down there was any different." In October, 2000, I was recovering from an upper respiratory infection and decided to rearrange my living room.  As I was moving around some furniture (that of course was too heavy for me) I felt a lump in my breast.  It was very painful, about the size of a golf ball.  I went to the doctor in Georgia and after his examination he diagnosed me with a painful breast strain probably due to my URI and sent me on my way.     

In November, 2000, I moved back to Minnesota, got a new job, enrolled my son in school and life was great.  On January 9, 2001, I went to the doctor about a sinus infection and asked them to check out my "muscle strain" because it was not getting any better, if anything worse, and it was more painful.  Immediately I was scheduled for an ultrasound, mammogram and core biopsy.  Fourteen hours later, the results - CANCER, infiltrating ductal carcinoma, over 5+ cm to be exact.  At first I cried, and the very first thought I had was "I am going to lose my job, I have only been there for 2 months and now this?"  Then I found myself consoling my mother and my sister instead.  I reassured them that I would be okay, that I was a fighter and they both knew that.  From there, we met with the surgeon, I had all the scans, blood tests, being poked, prodded, etc., and surgery was scheduled January 23.  Due to my size (40 D), I opted for a bilateral mastectomy which the surgeons agreed with my decision.  I recovered very fast and actually went to work and visited a week after surgery.  I am currently undergoing treatment.  I have decided not to have reconstructive surgery.  I am perfectly happy with the way I look and I am just thankful to God He has brought me this far.  I have completed 4 rounds of A/C and will be going for Taxol this week (May 2001).  I have had a positive attitude through this whole thing.  I think it is mind over matter. I have also worked full time through treatment which has helped my overall attitude.  I am very lucky to have an understanding place of employment.  I have continued to surround myself with positive, loving people, and have let go of some people that I have been friends with for over 15 years because of their negativity, denial and selfishness.  I AM A STRONG WOMAN, I AM A SURVIVOR AND I HAVE TOO MANY THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN LIFE TO LET THIS OR ANYONE POISON ME.  Thanks for listening. 

E-mail any time. Karen Snarski, Crystal, Minnesota
kjsnarski@msn.com