I found out in 2014 that I had breast cancer in my right breast. I had just gave birth to my daughter in March of that same year. I was having pain in my right beast and ended up in the emergency room for 6 hours only to be told to make an appointment with my primary physician. Two days later, I had a biopsy done to find out that I had cancer in 2 different areas of my right breast. In December 2014, I had to have surgery to remove my right breast since the cancer was in 2 different areas of the breast and since it was Stage 2 cancer, they couldn’t save the breast.

After the surgery I had chemo for 6 months and the chemo was such a strong dose that when it entered my body all I felt was like standing in fire. The first round of chemo I lost my hair. This is when the changes really hit me. Losing the right breast and looking in the mirror was hard to do not knowing anymore who you were and how things were going to be moving forward. During chemo, I was unable to work and didn’t know how my bills would be paid. I experienced feeling drained, no energy at all, and mostly unable to care for myself or my child.

The implant made it feel like I still had something there like a breast, but what I really had there was a scar to remind me everyday of my experience. I don’t think I was strong through this process at all I just realized that there were things and people (my children) that I want to see, and God never puts you through something unless he knows you can come through it. This year will be my 10 years as a breast cancer survivor, and I wouldn’t change the experience or knowledge that I gained from this time in my life. I do yearly mammogram every year and advise my daughter to do the same it is always better to know and the advancement they have now it more helpfully to women.