http://jennlyon.com/
Former “Survivor” contestant Jennifer Lyon died on Tuesday night. Breast cancer. She was 37.
And this is exactly why I can work myself into a tizzy about the disease: because very young and otherwise healthy women die from it, and since I’ve had it, and there’s a chance it will come back, it’s pretty hard to not get all worked up about it. Mostly, I have hope, though, and I’m pretty sure I will survive for the long haul. I figure if I have more hope than worry, then life will be a whole lot more fun.
More about Jennifer: According to PEOPLE.com, the reality TV star, who placed fourth on “Survivor: Palau” in 2005 and passed away in her home in Oregon, was first diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer a few months after her “Survivor” season ended. She had a modified, radical bilateral mastectomy, then chemotherapy, then she took Tamoxifen. (Tamoxifen is a drug used to prevent recurrence for those who qualify for it. I don’t.)
Jennifer apparently found something suspicious in her right breast in the summer of 2004, but she chalked it up to scar tissue related to breast implants, and she let it go — for a long time.
Don’t do that, people! Don’t let anything go — if you find something, find a doctor. Right away. Then demand a mammogram, an ultrasound, an MRI — just don’t self-diagnose. The results can be tragic.
If you can remember just one thing about breast cancer, make it this: if caught early, this disease can be stopped. It doesn’t have to grow and spread and take over other organs. Small tumors can be removed, your body can be treated, and you can survive. Really, you can. So check your breasts (forget those who tell you self-exams are unnecessary and mammograms can wait) and report anything — anything — that just doesn’t feel right.
OK?
OK.
Tags: Jennifer Lyon, Palau, Survivor
Wow! So sad.
This story was hard to read. Continue to fight the good fight, Jacki. I think you have probably saved more than a few lives .. including your own !
Love you ! Jane
Really sad story. Such a young lady with so much life.
It caught my attention that she took tamoxifen. My mom took tamoxifen for 5 years starting in 2003 and recently died of liver cancer. One of her doctors said the tamoxifen likely caused the liver damage and cancer. She went to an oncologist every year for a check up and nothing was ever abnormal but after getting her medical records, her liver panels actually showed abnormalites starting in 2004. Plus while my mom was dying a study came out that tamoxifen might be causing a rare but aggressive form of breast cancer. My sisters and I are convinced that tamoxifen killed our mom and instead of preventing cancer it caused it. Just a word of caution for those taking it, at the very least request your liver panel results every year and keep track of your records yourself. Don’t rely on the word of the doctors.
Thank you for sharing your story, Jennie. And I am so sorry to hear of your loss!
Jacki, thanks for sharing this story and for continuing to encourage young women to do their self-exams and report anything suspicious…no matter how insignificant it might seem.
It’s heartbreaking to lose another young woman to this disease.
Keep up the good fight and keep spreading your message of hope!
Thanks for your continued and unwavering support, Dawn! Love that you keep stopping by to read what I write (and that you send me goodies, too)!
Jacki
You story is touching. I’ve listed a link to your site on my Breast Cancer Awareness blog that is currently donating to Hope for Haiti. Thanks for sharing your story. It helps more than you know.
Jacki,
That’s very sad. If you have a moment, please take a look at this link and pass it on if you feel moved to. We’re working to raise money for a self employed single mother beginning her battle with cancer – we’re wedding photographers and we’re online auctioning our services, good anywhere in the USA (travel expenses on us). Some lucky bride is going to get great photography and see her wedding budget go to support a woman’s fight with cancer: http://j.mp/8nF2jX
Cancer took first my mother and now my sister. I refuse to think what the odds are. I chronicle my own experience in the hopes that we each can do something that will provide meaningful knowledge or simply emotional support to either the patient or the caregiver.
http://thoborneonangelswings.blogspot.com/2010/01/before-2008-ar-anno-relocation-to-west.html
Thank you for sharing this story and for continuing to encourage young women to do their self-exams. Breast cancer survival rates are among the highest of all cancers. Studies shown that women who exercise for atleast 30 minutes and 4 times a week can decrease the risk of having breast cancer.
http://good-health4you.blogspot.com/2010/02/breast-cancer.html