True stories of women who have faced breast cancer

Been there. Done that! These amazing women — and former breast cancer patients — share words of wisdom that will motivate and inspire you.

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True stories of women who have faced breast cancer

Positively Pamela
Meet Meryl

Positively Pamela

Positively Pamela - breast cancer survivor

Pamela Grant has taken a journey. Not a physical one (although she has recently moved from Connecticut to Florida). But a spiritual one. Since being diagnosed with breast cancer last year, Pamela sees the world in a different light. She’s gained a rare and important insight about herself and her life. Here’s Pamela’s story, in her own words.

My mom died from breast cancer. So did her sister. I found a lump myself and called my gynecologist. He had me come in, then go for a mammogram. They told me they were sending the results to my doctor right away, so I went back over and I said, “I’m waiting for the results. I want to know now.” My mom was first diagnosed with breast cancer at 49, and she found it 15 years later on the other side. I didn’t want to have to wait 15 years to find it.

I had chemotherapy. After that I had radiation. I started on ARIMIDEX right after the chemo. I asked my doctor about the possibility of the cancer coming back. He said it could, but he told me not to worry about it. But I like to know more, not less.

My doctor told me about hormonal treatment. We actually talked about a few of them, but ARIMIDEX sounded like it was a good choice for me.

I take my pill before I go to sleep every single night. That’s my little routine. I even signed up at my pharmacy to make sure they call me a couple of days before my refill is due, so I don’t forget.

I would never think about stopping my ARIMIDEX until my doctor tells me to. Anything that can help reduce the risk of my breast cancer returning is worth it, because what’s the alternative? You see, I keep telling everybody that you just can’t think of this as a death sentence. I live like I don’t even have it, because that’s the only way to live. If I dwell on it all the time, I might feel sorry for myself. And I don’t want to do that.

My husband and my whole family — 5 children and 15 grandchildren — have been great. At the time I was diagnosed with cancer, I wasn’t really close with my youngest daughter. But we’ve become extremely close now. She calls me from Connecticut two or three times a day.

I recently walked in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®, and my daughter came down to walk with me. She kept asking me how I was doing, and I’m like “Oh my God, I so want to sit down.” But I wouldn’t, and I did it and I went all the way through! My daughter said, “I knew how much you wanted to finish.” Even though my face got redder and redder, we did it. Together.

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Meet Meryl

Meet Meryl - breast cancer survivor

You’ve probably seen the name Meryl Weinreb at the bottom of letters you receive from AstraZeneca about ARIMIDEX. Meryl is our Director of Patient Programs. Her team is responsible for the disease education programs that are designed to help breast cancer patients deal with their diagnosis. And she has a great story to tell.

I am a two-time breast cancer survivor. I have had cancer in both breasts. The first in 1988, the second in 2002. The second was a new cancer, not a recurrence.

I was told after the second one that going on hormonal treatment was the right thing to do because the tumor was estrogen receptor positive. I did question this. I assumed that, because my ovaries had been removed in a hysterectomy, my body was not making estrogen. But my doctor told me that my body was still making small levels of estrogen and it was important that I do this.

It isn’t easy to remember to take a pill every single day. But for the most part, I try to be really good about it. I have a ritual: first thing in the morning I take my thyroid medication. Then I take my shower, I get dressed, I have breakfast, and then I take my ARIMIDEX.

There is a sort of a sisterhood between the people who have gone through breast cancer. I often say it is a sorority you didn’t rush for. This is an experience we share that I suppose someone who hasn’t been through it can’t understand. Socrates said that "The unexamined life is not worth living." Very often, a serious illness forces you to take a moment to consider what’s important and what’s not. It’s a shame that we have to wait until something happens to us to do that. But for many people, I think, ultimately, if you get through it, it can be a positive experience.

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