When I heard the words “You have invasive lobular carcinoma,” I was surprisingly not shocked, not angry, not afraid… just composed and numb. I’d been preparing for that moment for over 20 years, just waiting to hear those words.
My journey with breast cancer started during the early 2000s with my Mother’s breast cancer diagnosis. I was by her side through the initial cancer diagnosis, surgeries, chemotherapy, more surgeries, and subsequent reconstruction. At that time, the treatments and surgeries seemed barbaric and cold. She survived through multiple surgeries to rid her body of breast cancer and attempt to recreate her deformed body to something that she could see reflected in a mirror. This is how I saw breast cancer.
My breast cancer was discovered through a routine mammogram and ultrasound, there was an “area of concern.” When I heard those words, I knew in my heart that I would be diagnosed with breast cancer. With memories flooding back from 20 years ago, I found both a sense of security and knowledge. And I knew that I would not go through the hell that my Mother endured.
Through scans and imagery, it was determined that my cancer was the size of a small gumball and could be removed fairly easily with a straightforward procedure. I opted for a lumpectomy to remove the tumor that had grown in my mammary gland. Upon testing of my lymph nodes, it was found that the cancer had spread. With the results from pathology and considering the spread of my cancer, it was determined that I am at a “high risk for recurrence.” This is when I became torn between past memories and facing my own potential mortality. I needed chemotherapy to increase my odds for survival. This was not part of my plan, but has become part of my story.
Surgeries, chemotherapy infusions, and radiation sessions all while working a fulltime job and rocking my bald head. I mustered the strength to make progress, knowing that with each day, I was closer to reaching the finish line. Enduring the ongoing side-effects caused by the toxins flowing through my body that are intended to kill cancer cells without killing the host, this became my new daily routine. Fatigue ruled my world. With the support of my inner circle of family and friends, along with the support that I found at the Coalition, I moved forward standing proud and strong.
I was very fortunate to meet amazing people at the Coalition, although I would have rather met them under different circumstances. Creating these initial bonds led me to becoming an integral part of the staff at the Coalition. I have a role that is rewarding and fulfilling personally, where I am often meeting individuals who have been recently diagnosed. I provide compassion, comfort, and strength as they move forward with their own journeys.
I view my cancer as a blessing in disguise because now I am able to provide support and camaraderie to individuals who are now confronted with a cancer diagnosis. Together we will get through having a cancer diagnosis and by being together we are never alone.
July 2025
