I think the day we are told that we have breast cancer is probably the day that stands out to all of us. It's a day that I will always remember -- July 9, 2014. After numerous mammograms, sonograms and finally two biopsies all within a few weeks I got my diagnosis. I didn't think of anything other than getting myself cancer free. When I saw my surgeon for the first time she told me she wanted me to have an MRI before surgery. The MRI turned up that I did have cancer in my right breast and another mass in my left breast. So once again I had to have a biopsy which was done the week of my surgery. So, the morning of my surgery is when I would find out if I had to have surgery on both breasts or only my right. Lucky for me it was only my right -- the left had a benign mass that will have to be watched.
At 43 years old I never thought I would be told I had breast cancer. I never understood the meaning of "warrior" until I was diagnosed. I just went into warrior mode (which is fully understood now) ... the test, biopsies, surgery, recovery, radiation -- it's something I never want to face again but if I have to, I know I can. In all reality though, I'm not too sure if I could deal with all of this again.
Today I find that I laugh a lot easier, I enjoy life more and all those little things that made me crazy before really don't bother me at all. I often wonder if this happened to me to make me realize that I'm so much stronger than I thought I was. I believe that I can do anything now -- if difficult things happen to me now, I just reflect back on what I've been through and laugh because nothing can make me believe that I'm not a WARRIOR and there's nothing better than a WOMAN WARRIOR !!!!
Brooklyn, NY
