Jen Sharpe

Survivor

In June 2003, I was taking a shower and getting ready for my sister’s baby shower, when I felt something on my right breast. I knew that it hadn’t been there before, but wasn’t sure. I never thought that it could be cancer – I was too young.

Both my husband and I knew we needed to have it looked at. Well, I was at my doctor’s office the very next day, she wanted me to wait to see if there was any change with my next period, and I said NO WAY! I did not, and was not, going to wait. She sent me down to have a mammogram and breast ultrasound and right away they wanted a biopsy.

Two days later, July 3, 2003, I got the call while at work, it was cancer and a fast growing cancer. My husband and I were devastated. I could hardly make it home after I heard the news. I called my husband and had him meet me at home (we were living with his parents and grandmother until we closed on the house) and it was like I was in a dream. My family came over and everyone was just there for me.

By the next Friday, I was in surgery having the tumor (that had already grown) removed. I told them as we were going in take the whole thing if you need to just make me better. I was lucky though they took only 1/2 my breast and 26 lymph nodes.

One July 31st Joe and I moved into our new home. In mid August, I started my 16 weeks of chemotherapy, in January started my 8 weeks of daily radiation treatment. I have to say that I had the best doctors – especially my oncologist, Dr. Jeffrey Wisch.

To this day, he is keeping a very close eye on me – even though it has been 6 years. I am told that I am cancer free. I see him every 4-5 months, and have mammograms or MRI’s every 6 months. I would have never been able to make it through this without the love and support of my husband, family and friends.