Mid-February of this year, I was doing laundry when I first felt the lump. I had a pain in my right breast, which prompted me to feel the area. It felt like a jelly bean. I thought it was odd - but didn't think much of it. 32, with 2 children, it can't possibly be cancer.
For about a week I stewed over my next steps – is going to the doctor really necessary? I decided to get my husband’s advice, maybe he won’t even feel it and it will be proof I don’t need to do anything. Needless to say the next day I was making an appointment.
Friday March 13th, I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. A month later I also learned that I am BRCA1 positive.
To date, I have undergone 4 treatments of Cytoxan and Adriamycin and 8 of 12 Taxol treatments.
After chemo is finished I will be having a double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery as well as a full hysterectomy (due to the BRCA gene). Every new day is a day closer to winner the battle.
The last 5 months have been the longest months of my life. However, though long, I can’t say they have been bad months – just not easy months. I have had the pleasure of meeting some amazing people that I will forever treasure and do cool things that I would have never done– like wear Henna proudly on my bald head. I said it when I was first diagnosed and continue to live by it, with the astounding support of my family and friends - This cancer will not define me, I will be the one defining it!!
You want to define me,
I will be the one defining you.
You want to knock me down,
I will get back up.
You want to make me weak,
I will only become stronger.
You want to destroy me,
I will destroy you.
You are not my friend, you are not who I am, I will come out on top and you will come to an end.
Lake Stevens, WA
