Breast Cancer: Shinjini's Survivor Story

What happened, in summary

Shinjini initially thought breast pain during her periods was normal, but one night the pain became severe enough that she went to her doctor. Her doctor suspected something was wrong and sent her for a mammogram, and a few days later she learned that she had breast cancer. She also recalled thickening or swelling in part of the breast. The diagnosis left her frightened and worried. Shinjini says she followed the treatment plan developed by her doctor, completed treatment and is now in remission. During treatment she experienced hair loss, loss of appetite and weight changes and used prescribed medication to manage side effects. She also took nutritional supplements. The experience led her to eat more healthily and smoke less. It also strengthened her relationships with her parents and daughter, even though family travel decreased from about 5 trips a year to 1. Shinjini hopes to spend more time with her daughter, travel with family and friends and continue doing well without the cancer returning. She now describes herself as confident, courageous and optimistic.