I was visiting my older son in Florida when I felt a lump. I told myself I'd get it checked out when I got home, but I didn't. Then one Sunday, I noticed all these little painful bumps in the same place as the lump. My younger son said, "Mom, that's it, we're going to the doctor."
When I heard I had Stage IV breast cancer, I felt bad I had let it get to that point, but Dr. [Naomi] Ko said, "It's OK. You're at the best place and we're going to take care of it." And they sure did! I cared for my mom when she got breast cancer at 81, and she had the same positive attitude that I do.
This story is told in Carolyn's, the patient's, own words.