I found a lump in my breast three months after I returned from my honeymoon. I scheduled an appointment and sure enough, my diagnosis was positive and had spread from my left breast into my lymph nodes.

I had aggressive chemotherapy. It was rough - loss of weight, couldn’t keep anything down, was in and out the hospital, couldn’t eat, always dehydrated, fatigue, and more. My treatment was for a year. Six months aggressive and then six months herceptin and perjeta, which was so much better than the first six months. I met with my plastic surgeon and the breast surgeon and they explained everything to me in reference to options of having my breast removed. Although I didn’t have to, because my oncologist says everything had shrunk, in the back of my mind I felt I would always wonder if the cancer is still there.

I decided to have a double mastectomy and that was rough. I didn’t think it would bother me because I was trying to live longer. But every time I looked at myself in the mirror, I couldn't stand the sight of how I looked without breasts. I started mourning my breast and my grandmother says that was normal. It’s like having something all your life and then losing it. So, I’m currently waiting to have breast implants. I was afraid of getting infections due to the drains but I’m grateful that I never got an infection.

As of today, I just finished my last chemo treatment and although it’s been a rough year, I feel blessed. I’m grateful that the doctors and God are helping me through. My husband has a severe stroke so I had a lot of stress on me during the cancer journey and I’m so glad... so glad I made it through. I know that I still have a ways to go before I can put this behind me - the radiation, breast removal, and chemo. My body has been through a lot and I’m going to try my best to be healthy and stay healthy. We go through this to help others!! Be blessed!