Shortly after moving to Houston, Texas, in May of 1977 I discovered a lump under my arm. A biopsy was performed and the lump was found to be benign, however, cancer was discovered on my collarbone. This cancer was inoperable because they would have to destroy too much of the chest cavity. At the time, I had six small children the oldest was 12. The doctor told me to plan an early Christmas because I would probably not be alive in December.

My uncle had been treated for cancer at M. D. Anderson so he referred me to his doctor, who in turn referred me to Dr. Peter Sullivan. He scheduled me for radiation and cobalt treatments everyday for 6 weeks followed by chemo for 1 ½ years, one treatment per week. After approximately four years, my arm started to swell and for a long time I was being treated for a blood clot.

In 1986, a doctor in Austin, Texas, diagnosed the lymphedema and performed a debulking procedure on my arm. A garment was not prescribed, so consequently, two years after surgery the arm began to swell/become large. The arm continued to get larger and larger. In 1989, our family moved to Helen, Georgia where we operated a restaurant. A day would not go by that someone would not ask about my arm. It was suggested I go to Emory. The first doctor recommended amputation, but I still had use of my hand and fingers so a second debulking procedure was performed. A third debulking was done in 1994 and a fourth in 2001. The last doctor that debulked the top half of my arm sent me to Compass Healthcare of Atlanta for a garment to fit the top half of my arm. After consulting with the staff at CHC, I was told they did not sell garments for half an arm. I was given information on CDP/MLD treatment. My husband thought the therapy sounded like a hoax, but I decided to contact the therapist at CHC, to find out more information on this treatment program. In February of 2003 I began the MLD therapy. After one week, I felt like a new person and had significant reduction in my arm. After two months, my reduction was considerable.

My treatment program includes wearing a sleeve and glove during the day and the Tribute with bandages at night.

I think knowing there are other people with this condition has helped me emotionally. For a long time, I did not want to go out in public because I felt like a freak. Now, I feel like I am ready to challenge the world and become an advocate for lymphedema. The friendships and support I feel from members of the Lighthouse Lymphedema Network, through their meetings, has helped me gain confidence and see myself as a worthwhile person.