Hemophilia Was Not Enough

I got married in 1989 and had three kids with Hemophilia. On Thanksgiving of 2013 I felt a lump in my left breast, it was painful but I thought nothing of it. As days and weeks went by, I began feeling the lump more and more. It wasn't until January that I went to the doctor and got a mammogram. After my mammogram, I got a biopsy. On January 21 of 2014, I received a phone call that would change my life once again. I was on the shuttle from work when my phone rang. Once I answered, I knew something was wrong. Tears rushed down my face when I received the news that I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer, but a rare type of cancer called Angio Sarcoma that is not commonly found in the breast. My initial reaction was to keep the news to myself, get in my car and kill myself.
After an emotional moment to myself, I called my immediate family to share the news. I came home, hugged them and cried. I cried like it was my last day alive.
On February 11 2014, I underwent a lumpectomy. After the surgery, my oncologist recommended I get a double mastectomy. I discussed this with my husband and he advocated for it. On March 7 2014, I underwent the double mastectomy. The healing process was extremely hard and painful both physically and mentally. A month after the surgery, I went under the knife again and received a portacath. I did six rounds of chemotherapy. Each round was four days. After my chemotherapy ended, I did six weeks of radiation.
October 13, 2014 was my last day of radiation and the following night I went back to work. Currently, I am still recovering physically, mentally and emotionally.
I thank God and my family for all the support they gave me during one of the two toughest phases in my life. I have a marvelous daughter who was with me at every doctor’s appointment. I thank my daughter for all the help she has given me.

Noemi Diaz
Santa Ana, CA