Carol’s Breast Cancer Story

Give a very warm welcome to Mrs. Carol Winchell. Carol is currently struggling with breast cancer, but to talk to her and look at her … you’d never believe it. Her attitude and outlook has been so positive and such an inspiration. Carol works for us at the Santa Claus Christmas Store warehouse and she’s been kind enough to share her story.

“You have cancer.” Words no one ever wants hear. Well, those words entered my life on Friday, July 13th, 2012. Ironic right?

My mammogram was clear, but an ultra sound found a mass that was the size of a pea. After the shock wears off, all of a sudden you know more about cancer that you could ever imagine.

After I was told the lumpectomy, had turned into a mastectomy, I knew that chemotherapy would soon be my next step. I had 8 lymph nodes that were affected. I had breast surgery in September of 2012, and in late October I had the to do one of the hardest things in my life; cut off 21 inches of hair.

Chemo does really bad things to your body like loss of all hair, including your eyebrows and lashes.  Every week  in chemo, being 47, I was always the youngest person in the room. Everyone else that would come and go in my 5 hour session of IV bags was an elderly person.  You overhear conversations in the chemo room about sisters, daughters, and friends passing away from breast cancer. Not a real nice way to spend every Monday, but every week it was the same conversations, just different people.

My husband, Grant, and my family are my support team. They say you need to talk to other women with breast cancer, but no one has the same diagnosis that you do and everyone handles it in a different way. It has been a very long year. My body has changed so much, my immune system is weak, and I’ve experienced uncontrollable weight gain from the steroids. My hair is coming back now, and I also have Lymphodema.  But everyone I talk to, says I have such a positive attitude. I look good and my sense of humor about breast cancer will get me through this.

The doctors told me that 80% of breast cancer is found by you or your partner. They say you should never ask “Why me,” and still to this day I have not asked that question, but you are always going to wonder on a daily basis … if and when the cancer will come back.

My journey so far has been very positive and I am only going to look forward, stay strong and FIGHT!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month … an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. Even though so many are aware of breast cancer, or have even had friends and family members suffer with the disease, so many forget to take steps to detect breast cancer in its early stages. Encourage your loved ones and family members, even complete strangers, to educate themselves. When breast cancer is detected early, in the localized stage, the 5-year survival rate is 98%

We have a nice selection of wonderful and thoughtful gifts that will raise the spirits of a loved one struggling with breast cancer. As well as gift ideas for the survivors in your life to recognize the journey they’ve made and the obstacles they’ve overcome.

Support breast cancer research, and cheer on a breast cancer survivor at the same time. A portion of the profits from these ornaments and gifts go to support funding of breast cancer research and charities helping to fight breast cancer.

Shop online or come visit us in store. Our sales associates will be happy to help you find the perfect gift. Fight like a girl and save the Ta-tas!