My name is Kim and I am a breast cancer survivor. I found
a lump in my breast in the spring of 2005. I thought nothing of it, as it
was under my arm and had a cyst there before. My family has no history of
breast cancer, so off I went to have a mammogram with no worries in my heart.
Little did I know my world was about to tip upside down and my journey
of breast cancer survival would soon begin.
The doctor who read my films came out to speak with me, and
uttered the dreaded "C" word. She told me she believed I had
cancer. So the whirlwind began. As I met with the oncologists and
surgeon, I still had hope. The biopsy might be negative. I was
crossing my fingers. In May of 2005 I got the news. I had breast cancer.
I was scared. I was afraid I was about to die. I think one of THE
hardest things I had to do was tell my daughter I had breast cancer. She
was in college at the time and about to graduate, so kept the secret until she
had her special graduation day, as I did not want to spoil this wonderful time
in her life.
I had surgery in June of 2005 and then started chemo in
July. The day I started loosing all my beautiful long hair was
the day I said ENOUGH! This is not about dying it is about living!
I will live!! I will survive!! I called my hairdresser and had my
head shaved – I cried one last time in self-pity. All my future tears would be
tears of joy, tears of love, tears of celebrating!
I started radiation in October 2005 and finished two days
before Christmas. To celebrate, when the technicians removed my robe for
treatment, my "girl" was sporting a Santa hat in celebration.
They cracked up laughing! It was a wonderful day! I walked my first
survivor walk in the Relay for Life in June 2006. My first year!! I
could barley make it around the track. I did not have much strength or
stamina. A fellow survivor linked arms with me and pulled me through it.
I made it!! I walked my first survivor walk!! In June of 2007, I
walked to celebrate my second year and this time it was I who grabbed one of
our weaker sisters, and pulled her through it. I walk in the Relay for
Life every year and will until the day I die, and I plan on living a very, very
long time.
Kim Bush
Glenelg, MD
