In 2000 I was diagnosed with Stage 1, Grade 1 Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer.  After a lumpectomy, radiation, and a full hysterectomy I was told I was cancer free.  I was never told that the cancer could re-occur. 

I dutifully went for my annual mammograms and in 2018 I was told by the technician that due to my breast makeup I need only come back every five years for monitoring and was quite happy not to have to endure the annual mammogram and considered myself lucky!

In 2021 after being completely unhappy with my primary care physician I discovered that I could and did get a referral to see another in-network OBGYN that was out of my Primary care physician's office.  The very first thing my new OBGYN did was ask me when I had my last mammogram.  I told her it has been three years earlier and why I had not had another mammogram.  She then explained to me that the technician was incorrect and that I in fact did need to have an annual mammogram and one was scheduled.  Within days I received a phone call to schedule an additional test because there seemed to be an abnormality from my last mammogram (three years earlier) to my current one.  The uncertainty came as the abnormality appeared on the scar from my 2000 lumpectomy.  After an additional mammogram followed by an ultrasound, followed by an MRI, followed by an MRI with contrast the results remained inconclusive.  I was quite certain that it was nothing as the scar had remained painful since the surgery. I was then scheduled for a core biopsy.

On November 24, 2021, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Grade 1 recurrent Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer.  Surgery on March 28, 2022, revealed that I actually had Stage 2 Grade 3 cancer which would need to be followed with Chemotherapy and Radiation.

For Christmas 2021 my daughter bought me a Cricut feeling as though part of my recovery would be to eliminate stress and a craft would do the trick.  Her insightful thoughtfulness led to me to learn how to make resin tumblers.  While recovering from surgery I was shocked to learn of some friends that had cancer and wanted to send them a gift to let them know I was thinking of them.  They were all so thankful and some had conveyed how alone they had felt on their journey as few could truly understand their journey.  It was then and there that Hearts Like Rosie was born as I wanted to make sure that no one felt alone on their journey.  That is our mission at hearts like Rosie....to get as many no cost personalized tumblers to cancer patients so they know that they are never alone in their cancer journey.