My story began like most; I found a lump in my left breast. Like so many women and even men, I tried to ignore it like it would go away, praying it would go away. On Father’s Day of 2011, I finally got the courage up to show my sister, who is a nurse, and she told me to get it looked at. But how? I didn’t qualify for Medicaid, had no insurance and sure didn’t have the money to pay for a mammogram. I was only 33 years old, and the programs to help women were and are designed to help older women get free mammograms.
God stepped in and I was very blessed. I had a double mastectomy, 409 days of chemo, 30 days of radiation, and several failed reconstruction attempts. In July, I celebrated 9 years of being cancer free…I still have my moments when I look at my body and don’t feel whole, but in the grand scheme of things I feel BLESSED. I’m still here to tell my story, and to watch my babies grow!
Cancer is such a frightening thing to encounter at any age, but remember you are not alone and cancer is just a word not a sentence!! God Bless you on your journey
Laura
MO
Submitted 09/09/2020
This story is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.
