Lily Ruff

Breast Cancer 1990, 2002, 2006

In 1990 I, along with Cliff, my husband of sixteen years, were raising our thirteen year old son, Travis. I had a career as a successful investment banker. We had a house in the hills, filled with dogs, cats, and all the good things that life had given us. Life was good.

One morning, while getting dressed, I had an itch on a small area of my breast. It was then that I noticed a small lump on my breast. I went to the doctor for an examination. He told me it was just a cyst and to come back in 6 months. I called my doctor one week later. I felt something was just not right. After all, I lived in my body. I knew it better than anyone and I was concerned. I was concerned enough to speak up and request further attention. One week later, I had a surgical biopsy which revealed that it was indeed breast cancer. The doctor told me I had cancer when in his office. There I was, alone. My first thought was that there was a mistake, some sort of miss up. My next feeling was like I had been punched in the stomach. I got in the car and drove myself home. I was in shock and disbelief.

I had a lumpectomy and three months of radiation. At the time, I was told my cancer was small, caught early and everything would be fine. I felt lucky. I got back to my life, being a mother and wife, until 2002, when a routine blood test showed that my markers were high, which was a red flag. I got scanned and the diagnosis was that the cancer had spread to my lungs and liver. All I could think about was that I could live without breasts, but I couldn’t live without my vital organs! I had six months of chemotherapy, which put them both in remission.

In 2005, during a routine scan showed a new tumor in what was left of my breast, this time a totally different type of tumor. I was back on chemo. However, after six months, I had a mastectomy. Two months after that, my liver fell out of remission. My fear was overwhelming, but I’m a fighter and I’m not ready to go. I am now on chemo for the third time. I guess though all of this I can say it has made me a stronger. What sustains me day to day is my faith in God, my amazing friend’s and family and my loving dogs.

One message I feel important to share is that often people fall into a false sense of security that they are in the clear after being in remission for a certain timeframe, usually five years, but that wasn’t my experience. I feel we should always be proactive when it comes to our health. If you have never had cancer, I encourage you to get a yearly physical and if you are in remission, be diligent in maintaining consistent medical follow ups.