Breast Cancer. Two words that can shock you to your core. I was just 28 years old when I heard those words for the first time. Breast cancer is a disease that touches the lives of countless women, but every diagnosis and journey is unique. Cancer has no rhyme or reason and it doesn’t play favorites. Breast cancer awareness is important 365 days of the year. At 28 years old I did not expect to hear those words but I did and here’s my story.
At 28 years old I felt on top of the world. I was still trying to figure out my way through life but I felt invincible as most 28 year olds do... until I felt that lump on my breast. Now feeling lumps on my breast isn’t abnormal to me. I have fibrocystic breast tissue which can sometimes feel like there are lumps in my breast. This however felt different. It was hard. It didn’t move and it almost felt like I could feel roots. It was different than anything else I had felt before. But that couldn’t be. There was so way this was something serious… I felt fine. So I did what most 20 something’s do.. I decided to ignore it.
Weeks go by and the nagging thoughts don’t stop. I don’t have great health insurance and honestly I’m scared but I decide that I should put my mind at ease.. just make an appointment. During the exam my optimism went out the window as my nurse confirmed that the doctor should take a look.. when the doctor looked he said "Well we are not at death con 5, but you should get an ultrasound." It was a cautious reassurance, but it hinted that there might be something to worry about.
The next appointment I was sitting in a room with my mom waiting to get an ultrasound. This time the doctor’s words were less reassuring. "This is not what any of us were expecting” my biggest fear had come true. A biopsy was done and on February 5th, 2018, the phone call came. It was cancer. In less than a week, I was in surgery. The cancer was found at a very early stage, but it was particularly aggressive. The diagnosis was terrifying, to say the least.
In total I had 9 lymph nodes removed as well as a lumpectomy. I went through 25 rounds of radiation and years of physical therapy to regain full movement because of lymph fluid issues.
My breast cancer was discovered to be estrogen driven. So that meant I had to remove my birth control implant and instead use one without added hormones. I also had to take month injections that shut off my estrogen production. I was essentially in a medically induced menopause in my late 20s and early 30s. Thankfully I have transitioned to a newer medication that doesn’t completely shut off my estrogen. It has given me some sort of normalcy again.
One of the interesting parts of my cancer journey had to do with my lymph nodes. As many of you know, I am heavily tattooed. Oddly enough my lymph nodes themselves were black from the carbon in the tattoo ink. I liked to joke that I was metal from the inside out.
For years after my cancer diagnosis I searched for answers. Did I have the cancer gene? Was I genetically predisposed to cancer? The answer was no. I had no genetic markers or family history of cancer. I unfortunately was one of the lucky ones that cancer chose. As cliche as it sounds, cancer doesn’t care who you are or what your background is.
I hope that sharing this story not only resonates with you but also encourages you to take your health into your own hands. Be proactive. Do your monthly self breast exams. Go to your yearly appointments. Ask questions and don’t wait. Who knows where I would be today if I had decided that the lump I felt was nothing. Who knows what would have happened if I had waited even just another week? I’m forever grateful to the people in my life that gave me gentle nudges, but knew I was terrified. Without them, I might not be here doing what I love most and living my life to the fullest.
Comments