"You have breast cancer…." Wow – I never imagined I would hear that on my 38th birthday. It all started with a little lump. I noticed it, but I didn't do anything about it for a few months. Finally in March 2012, I saw my primary doctor. She thought it was nothing, "just superficial feeling." She had me schedule a mammogram because I was getting close to 40. At my mammogram I could tell it was more than superficial. I was quickly moved into an ultrasound, then put in a room to meet with a surgeon. The week that followed was full of biopsies, MRI's, CT Scans, body scans, heart scans, bone scans, etc. The hospital staff got to know me by name. It was cancer – lots of it, it was in my right breast and lymph nodes in my armpit. I was immediately scheduled for a mastectomy (I choose a double so that I would not have to worry in the future) and reconstruction. I developed lymphedema. I then had six chemo sessions,  which was followed by six weeks of radiation. There were days … [Read more...]

First, I want to state that when the photographer, my friend Genevieve, showed me the photo to the right, I cried. Hard. The symbolism of the blurred chest was profound. The picture as a breast cancer survivor speaks volumes and I know my warrior sisters will agree. I am a woman who is tired and scared. I am a woman who is stressed and worried that my health could get worse at any moment. At any doctors appointment, tests could come back with more bad news. I’m dreading another surgery but know that there is no other option. I am battling the beast and don’t want to give in. I don’t think, "Why me?" but "This is me." The crazy thing is this chest is not me anymore– it is fake and has no feeling, yet when I look at it I feel so much. I have no feeling about how they look or what they are because they are so foreign to me. I feel pain and stress. I feel overwhelming guilt that I survived, yet power that I beat it at the same time. I see me, the same woman I was, but a woman … [Read more...]

My mother became pregnant with me at 24 years old, after years of trying to get pregnant, and being told she would never get pregnant due to endometriosis. Unfortunately, she was also diagnosed with breast cancer at 24 years old. She had a mastectomy that saved her life, but she had to undergo test that could seriously affect her unborn baby. The doctors advised her to abort the pregnancy. She told them no! She said, "I've waited for a baby and wanted a baby so bad, if this baby has medical issues we’ll love it no matter what!" I am so glad she made the choice to keep me! I was born a healthy baby girl! My mother always said, that she thought god was testing her. Even though this baby may not be perfect due to the breast cancer tests, she knew how badly she wanted to be a mother. I guess she passed! She had 6 kids after that. Now 36 years later, she has been diagnosed again with breast cancer. Really? Isn't once enough?! My dad has been there for her, and growing up I always … [Read more...]