Mary Covell
I was taking a shower when I discovered a lump
of sorts in my breast. I was only 40, so I wasn’t too concerned and
didn’t even think about seeing a doctor right away. At the time, I
had six kids ranging in age from 2 to 17, so you can imagine how
busy I was. So I just ignored the lump for months until I forgot
about it completely.
When I finally went to see my doctor, he
noticed the lump while doing a routine breast exam. Like me, he
wasn’t overly concerned since only 10% of lumps are malignant. But,
just to be safe, he thought I should go to a surgeon to have it
checked out. When the surgeon suggested a biopsy, I didn’t’ even
think about telling my husband about it. But the night before the
procedure, I thought about mad I’d be if he had to have a surgical
procedure done and didn’t tell me. So he and I went together and we
eventually learned that the diagnosis was malignant. I had my
mastectomy the day Hinckley tried to assassinate President Reagan. I
came through the surgery and radiation treatments much better than I
expected I would. Life went on in my busy house.
When I went to get my first prosthesis, I
remember passing by these beautiful long nightgowns in the store and
thinking that I WOULD no longer be able to wear them. But that was
the only negative thought that came to mind.
Four years later, I found another lump in the
same breast. This time, along with radiation, I was put on Tamoxifen,
which suppresses your body from producing estrogen. I reacted
horribly! I was moody, hysterical, and generally impossible to live
with. On top of that, I now had 3 teens at home and a 6 year old. So
I stopped taking the drug which I didn’t feel was working for me
anyway.
Going off the drug meant that my body was now
producing estrogen, which is the hormone that fuels cancer. So I had
to have a hysterectomy, which stopped my production of estrogen. I
now went into menopause and suffered from all those dreaded side
effects. I begged the doctor to put me on HRT so that I could lead a
normal life. I stayed on HRT for the next 11 years.
Then, 22 years after my first surgery, I again
discovered another lump in the same breast. And again, I had to have
surgery and radiation. That was 5 years ago.
Throughout it all, I’ve been fortunate to have
the support of my husband. He is my Rock of Gibraltar. My family and
friends have also been a great support to me. I feel very blessed,
grateful, and positive. I feel that if you’ve lost a physical part
of yourself, it’s OK to grieve for what’s lost. But life goes on.
I’ve always maintained the mindset that this too shall pass. I just
keep moving on.