My story

Hello! My name is Shannon, but my husband calls me "Mimzy". I am a mother to a 6 year-old girl. I am 34 years old and I have metastatic breast cancer (stage IV invasive ductal carcinoma). I wasn't feeling well in July. I figured it was stress and went to my family doctor for routine tests. He discovered my liver enzymes were doubled and ordered more testing. During a CT scan of my abdomen, the radiologist saw spots on my liver and bones which was from metastasis coming from somewhere else in the body. They just happened to find a mass in my left breast. The afternoon my husband and I found out I had a mass was a very hard day. You never really know how you will react to being told you have cancer until you are told you have cancer. Shock is probably the best word I can use to describe how I felt.

The following day I met with a specialist and she confirmed it was cancer. She did a biopsy on three lumps she found. She recommended an oncologist she has worked closely with for advanced cases like mine. She told me my results would be in the following week. When I was sitting and waiting, because there was a lot of waiting, I made the decision to wear Beatles shirts to all my appointments. I decided that once I am done with treatment and kicked cancer's ass I would make them into a victory quilt. My husband had a the idea that we would all get matching green Converse All Stars and wear them on my appointment days to support "Team Mimzy".  (You can show your support, too, by following this blog and my facebook page Team Mimzy)

The day the doctor called she told me I tested estrogen positive, progesterone positive and HER2 positive. It was official that I was stage IV. She told me I was scheduled for an appointment with the doctor she had mentioned at the end of week. She also scheduled me for my port insertion the following week. All I could do is say okay. I didn't know what all of this meant. I was still in shock.

I met with the doctor later in the week and he told me about the chemotherapy recommended for my type of breast cancer which includes herceptin, prejeta and taxotere every 3 weeks. I was scheduled to start Aug 11, but plans changed when I started getting excruciating upper back pain.

I had called my nurse who then had a radiologist look at my scan. I happened to be out of town at training when she called me to tell me I needed to start radiation right away. The radiologist was concerned because one of my tumors was pressing on my spinal cord causing the pain. It would either cause permanent nerve damage or attach itself to the spinal cord. I was then scheduled for 10-10 minute treatments of radiation to shrink the tumor. I was nervous at my first few appointments. I was expecting something out of Star Wars or Doctor Who, but it wasn't like that at all. Currently the song that puts me into a happy mood is "All About That Bass" and on my first two days of treatment that song just happened to be playing during the time I was there. It helped keep me calm.

The following week after I graduated from radiation I started my first round of chemo. I was nervous because I really had no idea what to expect. I had been told about other survivors experiences, but noting really prepares you for sitting in that chair. I did bring along a blanket and "Taxi" on DVD and my husband who sat with me most of time. My cousins and mother had come up as well to support me and give breaks to Bryan when needed.

I have had two rounds of chemo and my third round is scheduled for Oct 10th.