I was diagnosed with TNBC in July, 2018. I found my tumor, just months after getting a mammogram. So I am a staunch advocate for self-examinations. I always was told that I was BRCA 2. I started chemo, 4 treatments of the red devil, late August and I told myself that I was going to stay as active as I could, and that meant working throughout my treatment and walking about 3-4 miles daily. I developed pneumonia in October and was very sick and couldn’t eat for about a week. That took its toll on me and I barely walked for 3 weeks. But, of course, I got better, and started my next chemo treatment of taxol, just a week late. That was 12 weeks.

 

I finished chemo in January 2019 and had my bilateral mastectomies February 25. On International Women’s Day that year I got the call from my oncologist that there was no evidence of cancer in me. I recovered pretty quickly and was up and walking the day after surgery!

 

I had decided to get a Diep Flap, so I wanted to be as strong as possible before that surgery, which was on August 25. That recovery was long and I was on short term disability, so had a nice break from work.

 

Late November I had my tubes and ovaries out and December I had my first revision surgery. 2020 was going to be my year! I was able to go on a breast cancer survivor retreat and meeting those women changed my life even further. Sharing our stories and our fears made me realize that I wanted to help others going through the same journey. Because of the pandemic i chose Instagram to share my story and help others by letting them know they are not alone.

 

Breast cancer was hard but I was stronger. Breast cancer helped me be a better person. I have more patience and empathy. I don’t sweat the small stuff. I love who I am now and I appreciate my body like I never did before. I let people see ME, not the carefully curated version of me, but the true, goofy, funny me. Cancer took a lot, and I’ll always have scanxiety and lasting conditions because of treatment, but I am a better person in spite of, or because of it.