Survivor Stories

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Linda Golden
Greencastle, PA
Franklin County

Linda Golden is a legislative aide in the Chambersburg office of a state representative. She and her husband Lee have been married for almost 40 years, and have lived on a farm for the past 34 years. They have two children; a son, Lee, and a daughter, Kerry.

She rides horses and volunteers as a horse driving instructor to students in wheelchairs.

Her Diagnosis
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2004 and had a mastectomy the following September. I always have a mammogram in December, but in December 2003, the lab called to say that their machine was broken and I would need to reschedule. In May I remembered and set an appointment for June. The results were suspicious and the doctor needed another view. I believe that had I had that mammogram in December as originally planned, it wouldn't have been detected. Then I would have waited until the following December and by then it would have been more advanced. God was good to me. It was caught very early and was non-invasive.

A needle biopsy determined that the lumpectomy got it all and that all I would need would be radiation, no chemo. I questioned that.I guess I'm a stickler. I said if you're sure the lumpectomy got it all, then why would I need radiation, and he said that was to be absolutely positive that we got it all. I wanted to be absolutely positive and was trying to decide whether to opt for a mastectomy or to have the lumpectomy and save my breast.

While I was making that decision, a friend said to me, "The Lord will tell you what to do." Fifteen minutes later I was driving home and a woman in a convertible passed me. She was wearing a low-cut halter top and I thought if I have the mastectomy, I'll never look like that again. And then it occurred to me . I don't dress like that now! I called the surgeon when I got home and said I want the breast off. I believe that God sent that woman my way that day.

A Lesson Learned
Within a week of my surgery, I was out riding with a group of friends. I was wrapped with ace bandages, and I had to get up on the horse from the fender of the horse trailer. Some people had come by to see the horses, and one of the men in the group looked at me and said, "Oh my God." I wanted to crawl under a rock. I was wearing a silk shirt and couldn't yet wear prostheses.

Then he said, "Oh my God! If my wife saw that horse, I'd have to buy him for her." In that moment I realized he wasn't looking at me, and this isn't the most important thing in the world. It taught me that I don't have to be worried or ashamed.

A Blessing
I look at life differently now. Breast cancer taught me how much I enjoy life and how much more I can enjoy life. When some friends heard about my diagnosis and surgery they would say they were sorry. My response was I'm not sad. It's a blessing. I'm alive. I know how fortunate I am to catch this early and to get through it. There's a lot of life out there afterwards!