On Feb 20 I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I have a large mass on my left breast. After all the mri's and xrays on my right side, no one ever noticed or looked at my left side. I was so focused on the TOS for the past 2 years that I did not get a mammogram for 4 years. this is what is the most frustrating and makes me so mad at myself as I was so thorough with the TOS.I have a top of the line surgeon at Cedars Breast Center in L.A. and have been very impressed with them so far and am undergoing tests to see what kind of surgery and treatment I will have to have. Its going to be another long journey.

My spirits are pretty good-after the initial shock and sadness, I have MANY friends who have gone through this and lots of support.

I have decided in this case, NOT to go on the internet and NOT to go on the forums.It is just to scary to read about at this point anyway. It has been such a different experience with the diagnosis and dr's I cant even tell you-it is so routine-so common-I had a diagnosis,biopsy and a surgeon in 3 weeks!

The silver lining is that my TOS is alot better for the past few weeks. It seems like the less I go to PT (its beeen about a month),no massages just occaisional acupunture and feldenkreiss, and lidocaine /cortizone injections once a month. I do my exercises every day. Once in awhile I get a bad flare-up if I overstretch or am too stressed. when I went to see the surgeon I got a bad one 2 weeks ago.

I did ask dr. Aufiero if there might be any chance that the tumour has anything to do with the TOS ,because it might be heavy and my breasts are large. She thought it might not be out of the realm of possiblity. I think I will ask Dr. Jordan about this too when I see him again. I guess I will know after the surgery, and maybe I will end up with smaller breasts. Hah!