Andrea Hammer is the co-founder of Asteame Medical Devices, Inc.  The idea for Asteame’s first product grew out of Andrea’s personal battle with breast cancer.  Her fight began during the winter of 2004, just after her 36^th birthday.

 Good afternoon Andrea.  Thank you for agreeing to share your story; for revealing such an intimate part of your life.  “Self Asteame” hopes that your experiences will benefit other women who have faced or who are now facing breast cancer.

In addition to being an executive at Asteame, you are the company’s first client.  This puts you in a truly unique position.  Not only are you helping to drive the company’s mission, but you have personally benefited from Asteame’s goal to help women reclaim themselves.

Your personal struggle allows you to intimately identify with women who are facing the challenges and life changes that come after receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer.  This includes learning about treatment options and ultimately moving past the battle to resume a “normal” life.

You also know first hand how breast cancer treatment can potentially undermine a woman’s self esteem, and how successful reconstructive surgery can play a key role in helping a survivor feel more feminine and attractive again.

FINDING THE LUMP

 It’s been over a year since you were first diagnosed with breast cancer. So let’s go all the way back to the beginning.  What first made you think that something might be wrong?

At first I didn’t think that anything would be wrong.  I found – I felt this lump – do you want the whole history?

 Yes.

It was the middle of February, 2004. And I didn’t really think that much of it – I thought, yeah, I should get that checked and I sort of dismissed it like it didn’t really…I thought maybe it’d go away – I’ll get my period and it’ll disappear. And then, at the end of the month I was rolling over in bed and my hand grazed it – and I thought – oh, it’s still there. I thought if I didn’t get it checked right away, I wouldn’t do it at all. I would just keep putting it off and putting it off.

So, it was on a Saturday when I felt it, and then that next Monday I called to make an appointment, and I went into my gynecologist, who was awesome.

 How big was the lump that you felt?

It felt like a pea. It was at 4:00, which is how they label where it is.

"Stepping Out"
Post-reconstruction:
December 2004