Being diagnosed with cancer saved my life.
My journey began in early 2013 with my annual mammogram and the dreaded call back. Six months later, after a follow-up test, I heard those words, the words you never want to hear from your doctor. ‘There is no easy way to say this, you have cancer’. On Nov 18th, 2013 I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.
YOU HAVE CANCER – these 3 words change your life in an instant. Your life, as you know it, will never be the same. The day I was diagnosed, my sister asked me ‘how are you doing ?’. My response was the same as always - ‘Every day is a good day, even today’.
Next was a long road. Surgery, 12 weeks of chemo and 7 weeks of daily radiation treatments. Adding insult to injury, I had an underlying heart condition and had a heart attack between chemo and radiation treatments. There is a lot to be said about being in the right place at the right time. I was told I was headed for a massive heart attack and it was going to be soon. Had I not been in cancer treatments, my heart condition may have gone undetected and the outcome would have been very different.
Being diagnosed with cancer saved my life.
The most important person in my journey has been the love of my life. I've been married to my awesome husband, for 27.5 years. He tells me EVERYDAY how much he loves me and that I'm beautiful :) I am so very blessed.
Being diagnosed with cancer does not define you BUT, LIFE as you know it, will never be the same… in many ways it will be better.
The only thing stronger than fear my friends is HOPE. For now, I cling to the HOPE of navigating this life FREE of cancer !
Life is a journey… this is just a bump in the road !
FIGHTIN LIKE A GIRL !
Gilbertsville, PA
