I was 47 years old when I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. How could this be? By the time I was diagnosed, the cancer was Stage 3a and Grade 3, a very aggressive form of cancer. The silver lining in all of this is that it was triple positive cancer.

The second A/C (red devil) treatment hit me sooner than the last one. I went to bed about 8:30 PM and stayed there. I only moved to take the anti-nausea medicine and sip my favorite purple Gatorade. I laid very still so as not to get sick. This treatment hit me with extreme nausea and fatigue. I stayed in bed only eating when I had to take meds and got up around noon the next day.

My hair was starting to fall out and I wanted to bond with my girls in a hair cutting celebration but it didn’t really turn out to be a celebration. It was still too raw for all of us. The girls didn’t really want to cut my hair so Kelsey took the pictures and Paige reluctantly began to cut my hair. All of us had to hold back tears and we tried to smile through the tears. I admire all of the women who journey through this disease and boldly go bald. That just wasn’t me. After my head was completely shaved, I joined Doug and his mom in the family room. I was wearing a soft beige turban. Turbans and wigs were part of the new normal.

I want everyone to know that it is okay to be sad about losing your hair, even grieve the loss of your hair. However, everyday is a new day and God will give you strength. "For I know the plans I have for you..." Jeremiah 29:11



Be Blessed.

Laura Starner
Lakeland, FL