I’m a healthy, marathon-running, 35 yr-old mother of 3, no family history of breast cancer in the craziest journey of my life.
I remember the date I found the lumps – January 11. I was 17 weeks pregnant with our 4th baby, but had just come home from the doctor, devastated, where we learned that our little girl didn't survive. A friend warned me that my milk might come in. So, I was ultra aware and ready for it. I noticed some “clogged milk ducts" but after a few days of only feeling the lumps, I got nervous.
“That’s crazy – these things don’t form overnight!” is what we repeated for days.
I went in for my a follow-up exam and it alarmed the doc as well, so I went for a mammogram and ultrasound that day. The radiologist said she didn't know what it was, so she sent me for a biopsy. They took 10 small chunks of tissue from 3 tumors and left a titanium marker in each. I went home to wait.
I was sitting on my bathroom floor, feeling brave enough to put my maternity clothes away, when the doctor called. February 14th. Valentine’s Day. One month from a 17-week miscarriage. Breast cancer? How can that be? Bad things like this don’t happen to me!
And now, after being diagnosed with stage 3 invasive ductile carcinoma of the right breast ... I've already completed 3 chemo cycles. My hair is gone, a double mastectomy, radiation and more chemo are scheduled for this summer.
But amid the chaos and the scariest feelings, I have felt more peace than I thought possible. No, I don’t want to be on this journey. I’d gladly bury it in the ground and I’ve only just begun. But, more love has been in this home in the past 3 months than ever before. Between my family, friends, neighbors that have called, texted, watched my kids, sent cards and flowers, brought dinner … I have felt an army of angels that have been my side that are ready to fight this with me.
Milton, GA
