Shelly Walker

Last night on NBC, I watched you tell about your upcoming surgery. I had the same surgery in February of “1985” and reconstruction in May of 1985. I don’t regret it a bit!  I had lost 2 aunts to breast cancer, but back then, there was no testing to tell us if we carried the gene.

When I was 22, I had 2 breast tumors removed while living in Germany. My children were 1 & 2 years old and I was terrified! They turned out to be benign, but was warned that they were not cysts, but tumors. In the next 14 years, I had 9 more breast tumors removed; each time, wondering how the results would be.  So, in January of 1985, I went to a plastic surgeon & told him that I wanted all my breast tissue removed because I couldn’t take the chance of getting breast cancer since I had been a single mother for the past 8 years & needed to survive to raise my children.

The doctor tried to discourage me, but realized how serious I was.  He performed the surgery a month later. My children were teenagers at the time (boy & girl) and did everything for me while I recuperated; including washing my hair, bathing me, cooking & cleaning.  I couldn’t drive for a couple weeks, so they walked to school since they still didn’t have driver’s licenses yet.

I had reconstruction 3 months later in May. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made!

My daughter had a breast tumor removed 2 months before her wedding by Dr. Shauna Wiley!!!!  That was 8 years ago!

Best of luck to you & believe me, it’s worth it!!!!

Shelly Walker
Vienna, VA