Community Corner
Part Three: The Mastectomy That Changed Her Life
A former Wayne resident shares her story about having breast cancer.
This is the third of a four-part series about how breast cancer changed a woman's life. S.M. Jones is a former Wayne resident who still works in Radnor.
He handed her a box of tissues and proceeded to make a statement that didn’t make much sense to her at that point.
“But, please be assured that if you’re going to have breast cancer, this is the best kind to have. I can get rid of it with no complications.”
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“What?” She blurted out. “The best kind to have; what do you mean?” This made no sense, the best kind of cancer? Somehow those words don’t belong in the same sentence together.
He proceeded to explain that what she had was the first stage and removing it at this point before becoming invasive is the best.
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“So, you’ll do a lumpectomy?” That much she knew to ask as she wiped another tear from her eyes.
“No, unfortunately, you have two tumors. Due to their locations, the only way to get both is to do a mastectomy and we can reconstruct you either immediately or later at your preference. I’ll do the mastectomy and you’ll be cancer free in that breast.”
She looked at him and the pictures and back to him again. She wanted her life, she wanted to live and she didn’t need a breast to do it. He explained all the different types of reconstruction, the choice was hers.
“But” he said. “I need to do the surgery as soon as possible before it grows to the next stage.”
It was the first week of December and she had a huge decision to make. She looked him in the eye and surprised him with her response.
“I have a new grandson and this is his first Christmas. I want to enjoy it with him in case I’m not here next year. Can I schedule it for the first week in January?”
He looked at her and took off his glasses with a shocked look.
“Your response surprises me, but yes, the first week of January is acceptable. But as I said, you’ll be fine, and you’ll have many Christmas’ with your grandson as long as I do the mastectomy.”
He gave her the pre-op paperwork and she went directly to the hospital to get those tests out of the way.
All the way home she wondered how to tell her husband, and she did it as she usually handled any bad news; straight and to the point. She walked in the house, put her pocketbook on the table and out it came.
“I had my pre-op tests done at the hospital today. My surgery is scheduled for January 4th and I have breast cancer. The doctor says a mastectomy will take care of it and I have complete faith in him. I can be reconstructed in several ways and we’ll need to go to see a plastic surgeon to make that decision. Will you come with me?” With that she turned and walked towards the kitchen to start dinner. He walked up behind her.
“You know I will go with you and whatever you want, we’ll do.”