Dorothy Anne grew up in England, where she was born just after England and Germany began to engage in World War 2. A family doctor prescribed estrogen which she took for 17 years, for endometriosis. That prescription eventually led to breast cancer, a radical mastectomy, and other difficult choices that affected her life and her body forever. She left an abusive marriage, had professional counseling, and reorganized her priorities. Now 68, Dorothy Anne has a new lease on life, enjoys showing Yorkshire Terriers and competing in ballroom dance. She tells her story of surviving breast cancer here.
Dorothy Anne's Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Age at Diagnosis: 29 and 59
Breast Cancer Types: Aggressive, Estrogen-receptor positive
Lymph Node Status: 18 of 24 nodes positive
Surgery: Radical mastectomy, axillary node dissection, therapeutic abortion, hysterectomy
Treatments: No chemotherapy or radiation
Time in Remission: 10 years
In The Beginning
In 1953, at the age of twelve, I was diagnosed with a severe endometriosis and prescribed a medicine that the family doctor felt confident would correct the problems I was experiencing. Later, this was determined to be massive daily doses of estrogen administered orally. I remained on this medicine until I was 29 years of age.
Finding A Lump
In 1966, when I was 25, I came to live in America from England. In 1970, two weeks after my 29th birthday, and in the midst of a very abusive marriage, I discovered a lump in my right breast very close to my armpit. It did not hurt at all. I decided I would ignore it, assuming it would go away, and I continued to enjoy my stage work as a dancer. I believed that if it did not hurt, it was not serious.
Treatment Decisions
After about two months, I was encouraged to consult with a doctor who almost immediately referred me to a surgeon -- Dr. Valerio Federici at St. Mary's Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. After a thorough examination, I was advised that without immediate surgical intervention, my life expectancy was 3-6 months at the most. This particularly aggressive cancerous growth had presented very close to my right lymph gland. So at 29 years, I received the surgery to hopefully save my life. I was offered two options for surgery, one less invasive, which would require chemotherapy and radiation. The other option was more invasive surgery without chemotherapy and radiation. I selected the second option, as I wanted to keep my ankle length hair, which was a very important feature for my stage work. I had recently been offered an opportunity to perform in a nightclub every Saturday night.
Extensive Surgery
Surgery was performed, and it was found that the cancer had spread. The removal of 24 lymph nodes was necessary (20 of which were found to be positive) together with the right lymph gland and pectoral muscle. I had eight hours of surgery, 78 stitches and three weeks in the hospital. My surgeon felt confident that they had "got it all" but that a ten-year waiting period would now be in effect for any recurrence. Whilst recovering, I became curious and needed to look at my body. Indeed it was not a pretty sight and one I will never forget. However, the doctors were confident that the surgery was successful and that my young life had been spared. I was told whilst in the hospital that I (at the time) was one of the youngest women on record to have this dreadful disease.
Reach to Recovery
During the course of my recovery, I was introduced to the "Reach to Recovery" program and a wonderful lady whom I shall call Claire. Claire represented the American Cancer Society, and it was her job to visit people like myself and guide them into the use of the breast prosthesis, which she did so very well. A very important part of the psychological healing and adjustment required to "face the world" so to speak. She assisted me in finding the correct style for me, and then proceeded to teach me how to re-use my arm. Because of the guidance and support given to me by the American Cancer Society (Claire), I gradually gained confidence in the knowledge that an artificial breast can look and feel perfectly natural. I could once again face my world on stage and off.
Learning to re-use my arm was a serious challenge because the surgery was so extensive. However, I was determined to do so, I redesigned my dancewear and some time later (three months), I resumed my stage work once again.
