Candace Lamour

Hi, my name is Candace Lamour and I am from New Jersey. I am now 39.  I was diagnosed in Aug 2007 with BC at 37 while breast-feeding my second child.  I found a lump.  I knew right away that I had BC.

The funny thing was that the February before I had gone into my OBGYN for a follow up appointment and had been told I didn’t need a breast exam because I was still breast feeding and it would be hard to check for lumps.  I had a real funny feeling about it and thought that it was odd that my doctor would say such a thing to me.  Also I inquired about the BRCA test because of my family history.  She had told me that I could have blood drawn and sent in, but it would be very costly.  Which at the time detoured me from doing so.  So I went home with out a breast exam and not doing the BRCA Test.

To this day, I wonder if she had done the exam would she have found the lump? And or if I had opted for the BRCA test would I have made a choice sooner than 7 months out which would have caught the BC sooner.

I did come to realize that if you have someone in your family with BRCA that your insurance is required to cover it and or you only have to pay up to $300.00 dollars for the test, not $3000.00. So do not hesatate when you are told otherwise.

Since finding the lump I did my BRCA gene test and it came back positive for BRCA 1.  I had a bi-lateral mastectomy and reconstruction and chemotherapy.  It has been a long journey for my family and I, and took a huge toll on my body.  I wonder if I had known before finding out on my own, if I would have opted for prophylactic surgery.

But I can now go forth with prophylactic oophorectomy.  I am in the process of seeing a surgeon and planning to have the oophorectomy and hysterectomy by the New Year 2011.  I will be turning 40 next August that will be 4 years out from my breast cancer.  And I plan on celebrating many more birthdays alive and well.

2 Responses to “Candace Lamour”

  1. February 7, 2011 at 5:52 am

    Candace, have you already had your oophorectomy?? I’ve been praying for you and wishing you the best! Thank you so much for sharing so many intimate details about your experience – you have no idea how much it helps us in the PREVIVE community figure out how to manage our own risk in a healthy, proactive manner. Thank you, and if you’ve already had your surgery then I hope your recovery is going smoothly! 🙂 xoxo!

    • September 7, 2012 at 4:15 pm

      Hi,
      Just Checking back after all this time.
      I finally had my Oophorectomy. It went well. Not long after having it, I began to have Major Hot Flashes & Night sweats. Because I am triple Negative, I was able to go on Estradol (patch) and it has made me feel like a NEW WOMAN. I truely thought I was going to loose my mind at first. Menopause 100% all at once is not easy to handle. So now at age 41 I can slowly decrease the amt of Estrogen I am taking to give my body a more slow and Natural way of handling the change. As well my Husband and children are alot happier, that Mommy isnt a crazed women.
      Amen….Thanks so much for the prayers, cuz They work!!!!He Works!!!

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