My Story
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That was April 16th 2007. I remember the phone call that Monday morning that would
forever change our lives. How was I to take care of my children, especially my new born
daughter? The last 2 years I spent taking care of my family first and now I had to take care
of myself. After days of tears, anger, and frustration, I decided I was going to fight my
Cancer head on.
I was diagnosed with a very aggressive Stage II Infiltrating Intruductal Carcinoma that had
spread to my lymph nodes. After meeting with the Oncologist it was determined that I
needed the most aggressive form of treatment available, because of my age and fast
growing cancer. I remember the day I met with my Oncologist along side my ex-husband
and parents, and after telling me I would need 5 months of Chemotherapy he asked when I
wanted to start. And I told him "now!" After walking the long hallway of what would now be
my second home, I remember looking back and seeing my Dad hugging my Oncologist as
tears ran down his face. I was still their little baby, and I remember thinking how lucky I am
that I have the Cancer and not MY children. I received chemo every 2 weeks for 2 months
followed by once a week for 3 months. I NEVER let it keep me from my children, I made a
promise to myself that I would still go to the park, go for walks, run, laugh, and play with my
kids like any other mother, I would just be doing it without my hair! Two weeks after I started
Chemo, my hair began to fall out and my ex-husband and I decided to shave it. I was so
afraid my children wouldn't recognize me, but when my son came in, rubbed my bald head,
and asked if I would play trucks with him... I knew everything would be okay! I was still
mommy! My son and daughter wore my wigs more than I did. When chemo ended I had one
of the hardest decisions to ever make, and chose to get a bi-lateral mastectomy, with
immediate placement of tissue expanders. Why not eliminate the risk of recurrence in the
left breast? A painful recovery, but one that was worth it. I then had my expanders inflated
over 4 weeks, which was the most pain I have ever felt, I knew if I could get through that, I
could get through anything. Shortly after, I started Radiation treatments. Six weeks of daily
radiation doses. After my radiation I would have to wait 6 months before I could get my
expanders out and replaced with implants.
I have spent the last 2 years enjoying everything that life has to offer. I don't sweat the small
stuff, it is all small stuff. I am so grateful for everything I have. I am a better parent to my
children because I have learned one of life's most valuable lessons, cherish every moment.
Family is the most important thing; love, happiness, caring, empathy, and charity, that is
what defines a person, not money or material things. I don't look at myself as a cancer
patient, I am a Survivor who just defeated one of life's obstacles. I know there will be many
more challenges to come, but I now know how to take each one head on. I am Cancer free
and it has been 2 years since October 2009. I had my implants put in and feel more like a
woman again. I can't wait to see what the future holds for us and now know the plan that
God had for me all along. Without my two beautiful children, I would not have been able to
get through this. I hope my story can inspire others to realize that a cancer diagnosis is not
a death sentence, but the beginning of a new life as long as you "Fight With Faith."
forever change our lives. How was I to take care of my children, especially my new born
daughter? The last 2 years I spent taking care of my family first and now I had to take care
of myself. After days of tears, anger, and frustration, I decided I was going to fight my
Cancer head on.
I was diagnosed with a very aggressive Stage II Infiltrating Intruductal Carcinoma that had
spread to my lymph nodes. After meeting with the Oncologist it was determined that I
needed the most aggressive form of treatment available, because of my age and fast
growing cancer. I remember the day I met with my Oncologist along side my ex-husband
and parents, and after telling me I would need 5 months of Chemotherapy he asked when I
wanted to start. And I told him "now!" After walking the long hallway of what would now be
my second home, I remember looking back and seeing my Dad hugging my Oncologist as
tears ran down his face. I was still their little baby, and I remember thinking how lucky I am
that I have the Cancer and not MY children. I received chemo every 2 weeks for 2 months
followed by once a week for 3 months. I NEVER let it keep me from my children, I made a
promise to myself that I would still go to the park, go for walks, run, laugh, and play with my
kids like any other mother, I would just be doing it without my hair! Two weeks after I started
Chemo, my hair began to fall out and my ex-husband and I decided to shave it. I was so
afraid my children wouldn't recognize me, but when my son came in, rubbed my bald head,
and asked if I would play trucks with him... I knew everything would be okay! I was still
mommy! My son and daughter wore my wigs more than I did. When chemo ended I had one
of the hardest decisions to ever make, and chose to get a bi-lateral mastectomy, with
immediate placement of tissue expanders. Why not eliminate the risk of recurrence in the
left breast? A painful recovery, but one that was worth it. I then had my expanders inflated
over 4 weeks, which was the most pain I have ever felt, I knew if I could get through that, I
could get through anything. Shortly after, I started Radiation treatments. Six weeks of daily
radiation doses. After my radiation I would have to wait 6 months before I could get my
expanders out and replaced with implants.
I have spent the last 2 years enjoying everything that life has to offer. I don't sweat the small
stuff, it is all small stuff. I am so grateful for everything I have. I am a better parent to my
children because I have learned one of life's most valuable lessons, cherish every moment.
Family is the most important thing; love, happiness, caring, empathy, and charity, that is
what defines a person, not money or material things. I don't look at myself as a cancer
patient, I am a Survivor who just defeated one of life's obstacles. I know there will be many
more challenges to come, but I now know how to take each one head on. I am Cancer free
and it has been 2 years since October 2009. I had my implants put in and feel more like a
woman again. I can't wait to see what the future holds for us and now know the plan that
God had for me all along. Without my two beautiful children, I would not have been able to
get through this. I hope my story can inspire others to realize that a cancer diagnosis is not
a death sentence, but the beginning of a new life as long as you "Fight With Faith."
| "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." - Martin Luther King Jr. |
| What Cancer Cannot Do Cancer is so limited It cannot cripple Love It cannot shatter Hope It cannot corrode Faith It cannot destroy Peace It cannot kill Friendship It cannot suppress Memories It cannot silence Courage It cannot invade the Soul It cannot steal Eternal Life It cannot conquer the Spirit Author Unknown |
I never believed I would hear the word Cancer at age 27, but
I did, and only 4 weeks after giving birth to my daughter. I
was a stay-at-home Mom to my 2 year old son, and so
anxious to have our second child, a little girl. To me, our
family was soon to be complete. After noticing a lump in my
right breast while pregnant, I dismissed it as nothing other
than a clogged milk duct, I didn't even tell my doctor. When
the lump did not go away after breastfeeding, I alerted my
doctor, and soon after having an ultrasound, it was
determined that something was not right. I had the 2 cm.
tumor removed for biopsy, and after the longest weekend of
my life we then found out that it was breast cancer.
I did, and only 4 weeks after giving birth to my daughter. I
was a stay-at-home Mom to my 2 year old son, and so
anxious to have our second child, a little girl. To me, our
family was soon to be complete. After noticing a lump in my
right breast while pregnant, I dismissed it as nothing other
than a clogged milk duct, I didn't even tell my doctor. When
the lump did not go away after breastfeeding, I alerted my
doctor, and soon after having an ultrasound, it was
determined that something was not right. I had the 2 cm.
tumor removed for biopsy, and after the longest weekend of
my life we then found out that it was breast cancer.