Shilo Goodman

Survivor

Shilo’s Story

In March 2015, I found a knot when I hugged my son. We were getting ready for a fun Easter. Easter is one of my favorite holidays. It was on a Good Friday. I called the doctor and told them. They set up my first mammogram. I had just turned 40.

After mammograms, ultrasounds, 2 biopsies, MRIs, etc., I was told that I did have breast cancer. I knew immediately that I wanted a double mastectomy. The first surgeon recommended lumpectomy and radiation. I saw a breast cancer specialist in a town 2 hours away. She recommended double mastectomy because of my age. Thats what i decided.

May 15, I had a double mastectomy. She sent my tissue off for a mammoprint and the results showed that I didn’t need radiation or chemotherapy. I started my 10 years on tamoxifen. On year 8, my bloodwork showed that my cancer marker was a 13. It had always been 7,9,8 never above a 9. That February, it was a 7. August was a 13. I called the office after I found it on MyChart. They assured me it was normal. Anything under 25 is normal.

I did not have a peace, so I called my surgeon in Birmingham. She got me in quickly. After MRIs, ultrasounds, mammograms, they found that I had a recurrence. There had only been a 6% chance of a recurrence. I had already had a double mastectomy. I was on year 8 of my treatment. Everyone was shocked, including the Drs. This time, I had a lumpectomy, hysterectomy, 33 rounds of radiation, and started another 10 year medication treatment plan.

The most important advice that I can give is to be your own advocate! Listen to your body. Do your routine checkups. But most importantly, speak up for yourself and don’t be afraid to ask questions.