06/16/2022
This was unexpected. I’ve been shocked and speechless, stressed and sleepless. It’s been a wild and long several weeks of hard news, processing, testing, waiting and planning. I felt ‘off’ for a while…not like myself for months. I noticed something wasn’t right, but I couldn’t place it. I NEVER thought it could be cancer…maybe it was a fleeting thought once or twice? I thought, “Fibromyalgia?” (It’s my worst fear) “Post COVID effects?” “Getting older?!” Stop it. I’m 42. I’m healthy. No cancer or genetic disease in my family…especially, breast cancer?! I’ve never even thought about it enough to have a mammogram!
Welp, I’m not sure if the way I felt was because of my diagnosis, but my body was telling me something needed attention. I finally listened. I found a little abnormality. A reason to get checked…and I acted. Fast. Maybe I had a little nudge 😏. Either way, listening to my body quite possibly saved my life. Or at least saved me from a harder less encouraging experience.
Now, I am more motivated to live life than ever. I’m so incredibly humbled and grateful for where I am. I have support, love, space to feel all the feelings and a hand to hold along the way. ♥️ I do have my WTF moments, but, ultimately, I’m PROUD of me. I could have ignored it and blamed it on a million things. I didn’t. I got checked, tested and confirmed. Luckily, I am essentially in ‘stage 0,’ (DCIS for those who know), so with lumpectomy surgery and radiation I’ll be okay.
I’m sharing because I’ve learned a lot. Most shockingly, there’s a 1 out of 8 (13%) chance for those of us WITHOUT breast cancer family history to get it. That means it’s a sure thing that one of you reading this could be in the same place I am right now…even you youngins like me. 😉
There is no known cause, so don’t think because you eat well, exercise and generally make healthy decisions you’re immune. I wish you were…
I’m using this platform because I feel compelled to share for others. Ladies, I love you. CHECK yourself. LISTEN to your body. Be proactive. Be AWARE. 💗 Don’t wait until October.