Melissa's Breast Cancer Story: "My Tumor was Almost Missed!"

Melissa's Breast Cancer Story: "My Tumor was Almost Missed!" | The Patient Story

Рет қаралды 11,290

Күн бұрын

Melissa Berry shares her powerful journey with triple negative breast cancer. After learning she carried the BRCA gene, Melissa underwent frequent screening. At 42, she was diagnosed with stage 1 triple negative breast cancer after a routine mammogram found a small tumor.
In this cancer vlog, Melissa walks us through her treatment including a bilateral mastectomy and 12 cycles of chemotherapy. She opens up about the emotional challenges of surgery and undergoing chemo, along with the anxiety around scans. Melissa found comfort working with an energy healer and focusing on getting through each day.
Now 10 years later, Melissa advocates for herself and helps others navigate survivorship. She discusses the mixed emotions around less frequent follow-ups and emphasizes enjoying life after cancer.
Full story & transcript → www.thepatientstory.com/patie...
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Contents of this video:
00:00 Introduction
00:56 Getting tested for the BRCA gene
02:19 Undergoing scans
03:44 Learning about my breast cancer diagnosis
05:36 Feeling the lump
07:46 Undergoing a bilateral mastectomy
09:16 Processing the diagnosis
15:18 My chemotherapy experience
20:45 Words of advice
#thepatientstory #cancer #cancerstories #breastcancer #bcsm #tnbc #triplenegativebreastcancer #tnbcsurvivor #breastcancerawareness #breastcancersurvivor #breastcancerresearch #mammogram #breastcancertreatment

Пікірлер: 27

@ThePatientStory 11 ай бұрын

We’d love to hear from you: what was the biggest lesson you learned in your own cancer diagnosis? Leave us a comment below 👇 💕 Share Your Breast Cancer Story & Inspire 💪👉 www.thepatientstory.com/share-your-story/?KZfaq&

@splash6427 Ай бұрын

🙏 ❤️ 🙏 For You Always & Forever

@tsm7078 4 ай бұрын

I remember when I had chemo. Like you the day after the chemo I have huge energy and we made any plans for that day because I would crash the following day. I remember them weighing me for the first time and joking to the nurse saying well the only good thing is I will loose some weight, to which she replied not necessarily. Years later my husband said to me he could not believe how much food I was packing away and I am sure the steroids were responsible for that huge appetite (but cld only handle a few foods) and the fact I had so much energy the day after chemo. Best wishes for a long and healthy life

@bonniesparks5746 11 ай бұрын

Melissa, you articulated your story perfectly. I was diagnosed with triple negative bc four years ago (August, 2019) I am 78 years old. Due to circumstances (my husband played professional football for eight years, lots of concussions and was in the later stages of CTE) and I simply could not have chemotherapy,half crazy being caretaker . My cancer was small. I had a single mastectomy and lymph nodes were clear. I’m living with a cloud over my head, wondering when it might strike. The hosp. I attend every year for a CT and mammogram and so far so good. There is a very small chance that I may be cured. I attend a hospital in Toronto that has a first rate breast cancer clinic. I would be interested to hear your opinions. Thank you for the work that you do. 💋 Bonnie.

@Pamela-el9yv 2 ай бұрын

One of my closest friends passed away after a 2 year battle with triple negative breast cancer that metastasized in her brain!! I feel her loss immensely!!

@ny_njtrailrunnert926 2 ай бұрын

Memorial Sloan Kettering has regional offices all over New Jersey and Long Island. If a person does not wish to travel into the city for their exams, they can still continue with the high-level of care provided at MSK. By just going to regional office.

@Pamela-el9yv 2 ай бұрын

My sister passed away at 52 years old from breast cancer!! She was diagnosed at 36!

@Ceerads 7 ай бұрын

Thank you for this. I’m in Brooklyn and was treated at MSK for my triple-positive, stage I breast cancer (this was 24 years ago). I too had AC but no T. First I had a lumpectomy, then four ACs, then radiation. I tested for the BRCA mutations but didn’t have either. The good thing about triple negative BC is that once one gets to five years without recurrence, it’s much less likely than triple positive to recur even decades later. Anyway, I wish you everything good.

@stchannel2476 11 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing your story.

@rebeccakarlsson1395 11 ай бұрын

Such good advice Melissa. Thank you for using your voice to encourage others!

@elizabethconroy7665 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing your story Best of luck for the future 😊

@fb-rp4cb 11 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for posting this I was diagnosed almost 3 years ago with triple negative stage 2 with no family history several things you said in the video mirror my own experience I had always been faithful with my mammograms and had also had numerous ultrasounds due to dense breasts my lump popped up very quickly and was 3cm no brca gene and no lymph involvement (after surgery)Due to the size of the lump my oncologist wanted to do chemo rounds 1st, and I did want to have a lumpectomy after chemo this was followed by radiation for 6 weeks I still approach my life 6 months at a time as I am genetically tested every 6 mos as well as mammogram Feel the same about eventually being released by oncology as I do feel more secure being closely followed Thank you again for this great post

@lydiakinnaman3679 11 ай бұрын

That's amazing story ... I'm sure this is helping many. You are sooo beautiful and amazing.

@AyakoTachi 11 ай бұрын

TNBC Foundation is very quiet. It was interestingly fitting that she mentioned being Chair then barely spoke of it further. Many women with TNBC have never heard of the foundation. It'd be nice to hear more about how active the foundation actually is and what they are doing, if they are still active at all? Their youtube was last updated 2 years ago and their webpage is a little dated. My family hoped it would be a resource but it wasn't much of one.

@NOTABOTT712 2 ай бұрын

they did a needle biopsy on the spot?? wow

@clairebeever3038 10 ай бұрын

I had triple negative too was clear. 11 years the cancer has come back but a different kind which I definitely think is worse I’m in my forties now … good luck thank you for sharing ❤❤❤

@yjlu001 11 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for this topic. Have you head of triple negative or ER-negative DCIS?

@francisrodriguez2119 11 ай бұрын

I had low ER + positive which I was told is least studied group but what is known tends to respond as triple negative breast cancer I also am BRCA2 positive my oldest son positive

@kathyerb3134 11 ай бұрын

My 38 yr old daughter this month (Aug 23) was dx with genetic BRCA1 a couple of yrs ago as well as her youngest daughter who is now 5. only 2 of her 4 kids were tested so 1 was negative, the 11 yr old. i was tested, a negtive. my oldest age 44 is going thru testing right now as cancer runs on her dads side, (different fathers). i hope your daughters get tested for the BRCA gene asap.

@Sasbie65 11 ай бұрын

I understood you to say that your BRCA test result was the reason you received CT, MRI, and Mammography every 6 months. You were fortunate to be able to get the BRCA test. Some insurance policies don't cover it, and it's unaffordable for many. Your family history alone should have qualified you for top-tier testing. Screening criteria has come a long way but still needs improvement.

@pegm.5308 Күн бұрын

A doctor would never use the term “a shadow”.

@nancybee250 10 ай бұрын

My daughter found a breast lump just before she turned 30. Over 18 months she had 3 ultasounds, 2mammograms,3 surgical visits. They all told her it was a cyst,no biopsy neended. She wasn't diagnosed until the "cyst" tripled in size. After being diagnosed w/ triple positive breast cancer she had genetic testing and was positive for a Chek2 mutation. I think if they had tested her sooner the doctors would not have gas lighted her. My son,my mom and myself also tested positive. Search for studies like UCSF wisdom study and you might fit the criteria for free 9 gene screen ing

@Joyjoy-ih1ie 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing your story.

@nancybee250 3 ай бұрын

@@Joyjoy-ih1ie From our personal experience of being in a small town and not realizing that mammograms and ultrasounds are just read by general radiologist, not a breast specialist, I would highly recommend anybody who is concerned about their test results to have a copy of their film, sent to someone who specializes in Breast radiology. Even if you have to pay for it, it would be well worth it.

@kaboristv8748 11 ай бұрын

Sir i am also a cancer survivor,,,nazoparengeal cancer,,2017,,,now a survivor,,,but now my wife suffering AML,,,added comment only sir,,,hope u can read my comment and help us,,using your channel to support us in any kind thank you