My name is Georgi Aiello. I've always tried to live a healthy lifestyle. My dad, grandparents, aunt and uncle all had diabetes and I didn't want to get that. It was a shock to learn in 2002 on my 44th birthday that I had breast cancer in my left breast. I thought, why me? How could this happen? I'm healthy and nobody in my family has/had breast cancer; they have diabetes and heart disease!
It was detected on a routine mammogram. I did monthly self-exams and never felt anything unusual and didn't feel ill or have any symptoms. This cancer, stage 0, was found so early it couldn't be felt. I was told it was the "best cancer" to have - very treatable and that I wouldn't die from it.
My treatment was a lumpectomy and radiation five days a week for seven weeks. After all the treatment, my left breast was a little lopsided, the burns from radiation faded and I was fine. I was given an option to take an anticancer drug, which I would need to take for five years. The side effects scared me. I decided not to take it but committed to an even healthier lifestyle. Being that I was living in Hawaii at the time I chose to commit to a competitive canoe club for five years. The training was intense and being out in the ocean was healing in itself. I never looked back.
During my yearly mammogram in 2009 cancer was found in my left breast again. This time my options were mastectomy with or without reconstruction. Radiation was not an option. I learned (along with many other things) that radiation couldn't treat the same area more than once. I also learned that I couldn't have an implant in that breast since the radiation I previously had damaged the tissue which now makes it impossible to hold an implant. Lots of research later, I found a great surgeon to perform reconstruction using the DIEP Flap method during my mastectomy. I traveled to San Antonio and everything went perfect!
I still get yearly mammograms and although I fear it may happen again, I know that finding it early is so important. I'm here to prove it. I strive to empower all women to be proactive and all people to take their healthcare into their own hands. Find answers, get opinions, educate yourself, and make sure it feels RIGHT before you make any decisions. PINK ALL THE WAY! Thanks for this chance to reach out.
