On my 36th birthday, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I do not have a family history, no high risk factors, no signs/symptoms or other indicators that would cause suspicion of cancer. I guess you never really think about who makes up the ONE of the 1 in 8 women who will get breast cancer. In an instant, my world had been turned upside down. After a year of treatment and surgeries, I was given the all clear.
In 2011, I found myself hearing those same words again. Yes, its cancer and it’s not good. Tumors located throughout my skull, one on my spine another on my pelvic bone. One tumor so large it was unreal and pressing down on my brain.
Treatment was hard and it was scary. But as I began to pray to God about these things, I started to realize that I was looking at this the wrong way. You see, when I complained about having my head bolted down to a table with a mask covering my face to where I could hardly breathe for 20 minutes for radiation, I thought my claustrophobia would get the best of me. But I began to look forward to that time, I even named my machine Sid. I also named my tumor Big Daddy and the smaller ones "his babies". Humor is very important to have. I would blog about how Sid and I had a love/hate relationship. I loved that he was destroying Big Daddy but hated he was also destroying me!
A lot of times people call me a surviver, but that isn't how I see it. I realize now that before cancer I was just surviving, - today I am living! By the way, even though the babies have moved out, Big Daddy and I still are roommates so to speak. However, as long as he keeps behaving himself, we can continue to live in perfect harmony!!
Denham Springs, LA