My mother is a Breast Cancer Survivor.  In 2005 she had a right breast mastectomy and she is doing fine.  This has opened up my eyes because I am a young black woman with a family history of Breast Cancer.  The walk for Breast Cancer is the best thing they could have brought here to Mississippi.

I AM 47 AND HAD A DOUBLE MASTECTOMY 7-19-2007. I WAS LUCKY THAT IT WAS CAUGHT EARLY--STAGE 1. THE KOMEN FOUNDATION WAS THERE TO HELP WITH MY FIRST MAMMOGRAM.THE 2ND MAMMO I HAD TO PAY FOR AND THEN CAME THE BIOPSY AND FINALLY MY SURGERY. I HAVE NO INSURANCE AND NO JOB AT THIS TIME AND NOW I HAVE 14,000.00 IN MEDICAL BILLS DUE. THEY ARE BEING VERY PATIENT AND ACCEPT WHAT I CAN SEND IN. I AM SO HAPPY TO BE A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR!!  WE NEED MORE PROGRAMS TO HELP LESS FORTUNATE PEOPLE BEAT THIS DISEASE------OUR MAIN GOAL SHOULD BE TO SAVE LIVES!!

My mother is a Breast Cancer Survivor.  It changed our whole family outlook on Cancer period.  My sisters and I advocate women of all color doing monthly Breast Exams and getting mammograms.  I am a nurse, and I am so thankful that we found out that my mother had it.  She had a right breast mastectomy, but she’s doing wonderful.  We are just happy to have her still with us.  So, the Breast Cancer walk is very important to us.  We walked last year, and we will be there this time.  Breast Cancer changed all of our lives.  For those of you that can’t afford it (mammograms), there are programs out there that can and will help.  My mom had no insurance, but I, along with her doctor, was able to get her on The Mississipi Breast and Cervical Program who pays for your mammogram and radiology cost.  If they find anything suspicious, they help you to get Healthcare coverage.  So, to all women who has this Cancer, stay positive and don’t give up.  My mom is a Breast Cancer Survivor and so is her family.

I can appreciate the awareness to breast cancer but at the same time awareness of the health system working against people must be known also. I am a “starving” middle class citizen. I saved up money for a mammogram because I found a lump in my breast. I followed all the rules of my state employee insurance. My physician followed of her rules and regulations of her employer, which was to refer me for an ultrasound of the lump she found on the mammogram she performed. After my insurance paid $250 toward a $500 bill and then the resulting ultrasound bill of $375 which they paid $123. I am still left with a lump in my breast and no money to have anything done about it. The system works against us. Instead of the follow-up of an ultrasound with did nothing but pad the hospital where she has her office (her regulations), I could have put the money toward finding out whether the lump is cancer or not. Now I have to wait until the new benefit year begins so I can get another $250 benefit and try to find what the lump is. Awareness is one thing; action is a completely different thing. Which I do not have the opportunity of knowing.