June 8, 2008 was like many lazy Sunday mornings. After breakfast, I took a long, hot shower. Peaceful and lost in my thoughts, my hand brushed against a large lump in my right breast. Suddenly, life as I knew it came to an abrupt halt.In my heart I was sure it was breast cancer. I prayed for the strength and presence of mind to cope with whatever this intruder in my body turned out to be.
Monday morning started a flurry of medical activity. Two days later, I had my answer: invasive breast cancer. It was then that I decided to keep an online journal of my breast cancer journey. What started out as a therapeutic outlet soon took on a life of its own.
On July 21, 2008 I had a mastectomy of the right breast. My tumor was large and fast growing, but the cancer was not in my lymph nodes. I had triple-negative bc, a more difficult to treat sub-type of breast cancer that has a higher rate of recurrence than estrogen positive cancers. Chemotherapy followed in September and ended in November with a number of life-threatening complications along the way. Hairless and weak, I still managed to put on my pink high heels for every chemo!
Many women shared that my experience led them to schedule their own mammogram and become diligent about monthly self exams. It gives me great joy to know that my journey and the lessons I learned along the way served to educate others and give them the push they needed to take better care of their health.
My faith in God, my amazing family and friends, and the never-ending support I was blessed to receive helped me through the most difficult time in my life, and continues to do so today.
Strongsville, OH
