My Breast Cancer Story

So you or someone you know was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.  Affecting 1 in 8 women, this is not surprising.  

The journey is scary and full of ups and downs.  This is the first in my series about my own personal experiences and the things I felt that were helpful.

I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in February 2020.  My double mastectomy and reconstruction was scheduled just 3 days before the outside world shut down for Covid.  I had to go back a couple of weeks later for a second lymph node surgery.

The second lymph node surgery happened when the hospital was accepting patients for life threatening procedures only.  We had to convince the hospital to allow my mom to come inside to wait for me.  When I went back for pre-op, I was one of two patients.  The entire surgery floor was empty.  It was eerie.

I was armed with fear, and tissues.  Oh and chapstick.  

When I look back on that time in my life, I think of all the things that made a difference.