Hello to all of and thanks for teaching the world.

I am a 67 years young woman who is active, vibrant, an artist and children's book writer, and  who has been single for 10 years.

Fifteen (15) years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer( the type that loves estrogen) in the right breast.

My surgeon at the time was Dr. Janet Idhe ( world acclaimed) at the Breast Comperssive Center in Palm Springs, CA.)

She removed the encapsulated cancer and some of my lymph nodes for testing. I was given radiation for 8 long weeks.

My suggestion for doctors: 1. You doctors know ahead of time if the patient has cancer. Your nurse should inform the patient that you should bring someone with you to the "announcement", even if the results are negative and just incase it is positive. Someone should make a take home video for the entire family to watch and in it there should a segment that explains that even men get breast cancer and many other cancers that are worse than breast cancers. By the time you have surgery and are in recovery and get yourself into a support group TOO much has happened that takes too much effort to repair.

I had a fiance' bolt out the door and our relationship the first time I had cancer. In support groups I met many women who had husbands leave and never call. By then it is too late. I know they are better off in the long run to be rid of the jerks but it is way to much to deal with when you are in physical and mental anguish. It would not take much money for a good and caring doctor to install a small DVD viewing screen in the examining room so many fears can be eliminated on the spot.

Having to drive yourself home after being told you have the "C" and possibly will be mamed or worse might die is inhumane!!!. This happened to me 15 years ago and again Jan. 2009. I remembered what happened last time so I had my support team with me this time.

The same type of CANCER returned in the same breast but in a different location. I underwent a "SIMPLE MASTECTOMY", (that's what they call it, there is nothing simple about it!). Now I will start chemo and I will be once again cancer free. I am grateful for early detection and grateful for my wonderful surgeons and grateul for another chapter of my life.

My question to you ( and I will ask my oncologist on Tuesday) is : Is this reoccurance after 15 years and the same type of cancer in the same breast the norm?

My family history show many types of cancers but only 2 maternal aunts out of 5 sisters that had their breasts removed in the 1950's. I am not too sure they knew very much about breast cancer in those bygone years. My mother and my sister, her 2 daughters, and my 3 daughters do not have breast cancer. My granddaughters are 19, 4 and 2 years old.

I was told that first time I had cancer... that it attacked me when I had coral poisoning and my resistance was at it's lowest. It occured almost 7 years to the month after the invasion of the coral. I have not had any illness since the 1980's to reduce my body's immune system like before, just a nasty fall and lots of unavoidable at the time and correctable stress.

Thank you for your input and genuine concern. Keep telling men and women to check themselves and each other.

Suni