Patient Stories

UNDERSTANDING WOMEN

Women in our community are living with cancer, surviving and thriving. The Advocate interviewed cancer survivors and these women share their thoughts.

Beth Morris, 51 at diagnosis, Retired mortgage underwriter, Married, one child

How did you find out you had breast cancer?

I noticed a change in the nipple because it was slightly inverted. I kept thinking that it was just my imagination. After about 6 weeks, I reported it to my doctor, and we started investigating with mammograms, biopsies, scans, etc.

More Q&A with Beth >>

Jacqueline Juneau Milazzo, 49, Woman’s Hospital, Registered Nurse, Married, 3 teenaged children

How did you find out you had breast cancer?

My right breast had been extremely sore for three days, but I had passed it off as my fibrocystic condition flaring up. One night I began experiencing extreme pain with a lot of pressure in my right breast and slight soreness in my left. I was able to feel a large lump, slightly larger than a quarter. Two days later I had a mammogram at Woman’s, then an ultrasound and biopsy that same day.

More Q&A with Jacqueline >>

Ming-Jean Tang, 54, Valet Grocery, Single

How did you find out you had breast cancer?

Every year I get a reminder from Woman’s to get my annual mammogram. You go into these appointments thinking it’s never going to be you, but this time it was. After they did the initial scan, they asked me to wait, then they took some more photos and finally they told me the doctor wanted to see me. My heart was pounding.

More Q&A with Ming-Jean >>

Darla Zachary Sims, 46, Woman’s Hospital analyst, Married, 2 children

How did you find out you had breast cancer?

I found the lump in my left breast, and at my yearly checkup I was told it was a cyst and to watch it … Several weeks later, my husband saw a past neighbor and learned his wife was having surgery for Stage 4 breast cancer. She was in her 30s and found her lump, just like I did. I prayed for her all weekend … On Monday, I made an appointment. We did an ultrasound and the mass showed up. The radiologist did a core needle biopsy.

More Q&A with Darla >>

Courtney Loup Edwards, 31, LSU employee, Business Owner, Married, 2 children

How did you find out you had breast cancer?

In November of 2009, I was having some pain, so I went to the doctor. She thought it was some normal hormonal issues, but still sent me in for a mammogram … Turns out, the pain wasn’t anything, but they found a spot on the completely different side that, after an ultrasound and biopsy, was determined to be cancer. Suddenly, I was facing breast cancer at 28 years old.

More Q&A with Courtney >>

Erin Mosley, 37, Director of Scheduling, Office of New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Married, 2 sons

How did you find out you had breast cancer?

I just decided to go have a mammogram because I was 35 years old. I did not have any symptoms. After my first baseline mammogram at Woman’s Hospital I was called back for an ultrasound, then a fine needle biopsy. Thanks to the wonderful radiologists at Woman’s, they detected my cancer.

More Q&A with Erin >>

Linda Fryoux Harvison, 64, St. Joseph’s Academy principal, Married, 2 sons

How did you find out you had breast cancer?

I found the lump doing a routine self-exam … When the doctor did the biopsy, I learned I had a tumor in each breast.