by Anne Ericson
September 2024
Anne Ericson has been a breast cancer survivor for 50 years. She wants to let other survivors know that while it may be tough, their journey is not over. This is Anne's story.
Full Transcript (edited):
My name is Anne Ericson, and I was employed by American Breast Care. I'm a 50-year breast cancer survivor. My surgery was in 1974. And since I retired in 2015, I was introduced to Dr. Armando and (his wife) Mavalynne, and I got so interested in the Foundation that I wanted to I wanted to do something to give back.
I've been on 7 trips to Colombia. Being a breast cancer survivor, I mean, it's very important to be around other survivors and just sharing your story with women to help them go through the journey and know that that their life is not over. When I had my surgery in 1974, so much has changed from surgery to treatments.
I had what they call radical surgery, which they took all of my breast tissue, all of the muscles surrounding my breast tissue, and all of my lymph nodes. But in '74, that was the only way they could determine if there was any lymph node involvement, which there was not in my case.
But over the years, it's just been amazing how the innovation and the surgeries and everything has evolved. It's less invasive now, and it's it's wonderful that it's been so incredible.
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