My name is Ruth McFall and I am a breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed in May of 2011 with estrogen positive stage 2 breast cancer. After doing a lumpectomy they found cancer on two sides of the tumor so we made the choice to remove my left breast. I became cancer free on May 23, 2011 after eight hours of surgery, during which they removed my breast and did reconstructive surgery simultaneously. They used my latisimus muscle from my back to build my new breast.
My tumor was not found on the mammogram that I had the previous month. I was exercising when I felt a little pain on my left breast. I did a self-exam and found the lump. My mammogram results were still on my kitchen table - my husband held onto that piece of paper that said everything was good like it was a piece of gold. How could I have cancer when I had an official paper saying "Your yearly is good; come back next year"? I went to my family doctor and he ordered another mammogram (which still did not show a lump) and then an ultrasound where the ugly monster showed up. My tumor was hiding on the side of my breast in fatty tissue. How sneaky they can be? I share this story once a month at a weight loss support group meeting so more women will become proactive with their health, doing self-exams and sharing my story with their families.
Today I am still cancer free and live a very active life. I ride my bike 50 to 100 miles a week (weather permitting), we hike and I go to a gym when the weather is crappy. I am very conscientious of the food I eat - I stay away from processed food, buy organic veggies when possible and eat lean protein. I'm not going to do anything to help cancer invade my body again. If it comes back I will be healthy and fit and ready to kick its butt again!
I've been active with the Relay for Life program since 2000 when my dad had cancer. After I recovered from my surgeries I knew I needed to do more, so a friend of mine told me about the 4th Angel program that operates out of the Cleveland Clinic. Scott Hamilton started the program after he recovered from cancer. He realized how important it was to talk to other survivors and the program blossomed from there.
I share my story freely with the hope that all men and women who hear it will start doing self-exams in addition to mammograms. I am here today because of early detection!
