Valerie Russell-Dollaragues Valerie Russell-Dollaragu

On Wednesday June 14th my life would change dramatically. I sat at the doctor’s office with my daughter and my 5yrs old son waiting on the doctor to come in with good news from my biopsy I had the week prior, however that was not the case, she came in with no care at all and says Valerie you have cancer and I'm gonna give you these brochures to read and start making appointments for you to see and oncologist. I cried and was in disbelief and couldn’t believe   her nonchalant attitude. I would call my husband Antonio and the rest of my family and they all stop what they were doing to come to house, I was having a pity party that I knew couldn’t last long. I spoke with one of my spiritual friends Fred who was a cancer survivor who listen and told me Valerie I'm not going to listen to your pity party but what I do know what you're going to do this fight this.

 

My journey, I was able to get a second opinion and this doctor was great, she spent so much time with me that I was like don't she have other patients to attend too? Not only did she confirm my diagnoses but told me that I have what they call a Her2 negative form of cancer which is very aggressive but good thing we caught it early and she thanked me for getting my yearly mammogram.

After speaking with the doctor she told me that they can do six weeks of radiation after that remove the tumor and then chemo, I asked if where there were any other options other than chemo she mentioned to me that they could remove the breast and the chances of the cancer coming back is about 2%. Now here's the tough part I went t to see the oncologist and he was very adamant about me doing the chemo and the radiation and removing the tumor I told him no is there any other options like taking a chemo pill his response was no they don't really don’t  do any good but would never tell me why. I told him that I do not want any chemo any radiation I would like to have a double myomectomy. He  seems like he didn't like that very well and he call my doctor and spoke to her, before I could leave the office good she called me and  says whatever decision  you make it is yours so double myomectomy  here I come. My surgery is scheduled for this Friday, August 18th  I have been working in the office up until this past  Monday in the office as I am a work from home agent I've received so much love and support from my coworkers and I thank  them so much. I am a woman that trust and believe in God I know that he would not fail me my faith is in him I give him praise every day of my life I also pray for all the other women and people period that has to deal with this ugly disease.