We would love to hear from Breast Cancer Survivors. If you would like to share your story with the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund so we can post it on our website, please submit your story to eileen@findacure.org.

Breast Cancer Without a Lump

My story is to let women know that breast cancer can occur without a lump. At age 51 in November of 2000 I was diagnosed with breast cancer without having a lump.  I had always dreaded this disease and was terrified of even saying the words "breast cancer".  I always went for my yearly mammos and after having several benign cysts and a small non-malignant mass removed from my right breast - I began 6 month mammos.

One of those proved to be my biggest fear - I had breast cancer in my left
breast - the "healthy one".  There was no lump, no outward changes - nothing that would have signaled me there was a problem.

I had intracuctal breast cancer - DCIS .  Unfortunately, the calcifications were massive and my only option was to have a mastectomy.   With surgery, I found out the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes; therefore, I needed 6 months of chemotherapy followed by radiation.

I was terrified and did not accept this very well - all I can say is that I was
in for the fight of my life and "robotically" followed all my wonderful
doctors' instructions ( all of which are associated with the Carol Baldwin
Center) and treatments and......with the unconditional and loving support of my husband, family, best friend and a network of friends I was able to go throughthe "steps to recovery".

Please remember to have your mammos because breast cancer CAN and DOES occur without a lump.
- Laura Lyden

A little anecdote to add to MY Story
Keyspan, in Hicksville, had a breast cancer rally with Carol Baldwin attending and Hillary Clinton speaking.  I went with my best friend, Claire and together we joined in the reception.  We both met and spoke with Mrs. Clinton. When it came to the time to hang my picture on the memory tree, I was suddenly alone and couldn't get to the tree to hang my picture with all the other participants. From seemingly no where, a gentle touch - and there was Carol Baldwin - she kissed my cheek somehow knowing what had happened and took my hand and said, "Come, together we'll put our pictures on the tree". This was truly divine intervention and a  moment in time I will never forget. Carol, with her small gesture, let me somehow know that everything would be alright again.