I was never someone that did monthly self-breast exams and I put off my mammogram for two years. I had a shoulder injury and couldn’t bear the thought of lifting my arm. I scheduled my second shoulder surgery and the mammogram for August 2012. While I was lying in bed one night rubbing my aching shoulder and under my armpit, I found a lump. It was kind of large and sore. When I went in for the mammogram, I told the tech about it and she had me put a sticker were I could feel the lump. Things happened in fast motion after that day, visits to the various doctors, another mammogram, an ultrasound, a biopsy and then the words I didn’t want to hear.
“You have cancer”
On August 24th 2012, I became, not just a wife, a mother and a flight attendant; I became a Warrior! I knew I had to be strong for all those people around me.
I also started a blog. I wanted people to know the importance of mammograms and self-breast exams. I wanted people to know the good the bad and the ugly of what we were going through.
It was through this blog that I realized how important my voice and my experiences were to others. Readers were finding courage to share their story or to go without a wig. Having cancer is something that WILL change your life, but not necessarily for the worse.
I took a very aggressive approach to my diagnosis. I opted for a double mastectomy and the doctors found that I had stage 2A triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma. I had the mastectomy 10 days before my daughter’s wedding. I started 8 treatments of chemotherapy, which I completed Feb. 14th. I had reconstructive surgery in May and finally after putting it off, I had my shoulder surgery this September. So now, after all the medicines, the doctor’s visit, my new hairstyle, boobs, and lease on life, I am ready to share my story and spread the word about this horrible disease.
Marietta, GA
