It was June 16th, 2013 the day before my fathers funeral when I went to the doctors to have a suspicious lump checked out on my left breast. While helping with the funeral arrangements I was going to reschedule my doctors appointment but my family urged me to go. Going into the appointment I was convinced it was a clogged duct. I left convinced it wasn't. Hearts continued to break. Dealing with the tragic death of my father, I couldn't bare the thought of any more bad happening to my family. 7 weeks later, I had to accept I'd been diagnosed with stage 3, Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) & Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). I had to quickly come to terms with the fact that I was 30 years old, a single mother, with breast cancer.
Due to the aggressiveness of the cancer and my young age, I made the brave decision to undergo a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. While healing from surgery I began chemotherapy, which will last 6 months. Reconstruction will last 12-24 months. During my mastectomy, several lymph nodes were cancerous & removed. Pathology reports determined all the cancer was not removed & is still in the lining of my left breast tissue yet. I will undergo radiation for 6-9 months after Chemotherapy. As a single parent, sister, daughter, & friend I've found more inner strength & hope than I knew ever existed. I've never fought so hard before but with my community & loved ones coming together & supporting me, I've realized I'm not fighting this battle alone. My 2 amazing sisters, cousin & family friend put together their 1st fundraiser ever for me called 'Dana's Fight, Our Fight' & raised over $30,000 for financial help while I'm unable to work. 350-400 people attended the event. I've never been so proud to have such a loving, caring family & community come together to fight this battle along side of me. I'll continue fighting for my life & with the support I've received I'll be able to fight cancer with my positive, optimistic, smiling face in tact.
Sauk City, WI
