The Spring of 2019 was challenging for me. My youngest was struggling with health issues, my mother-in-law was fighting lung cancer, work was very busy, and family demands with three children were keeping my calendar full. In May, my mother-in-law lost her fight against cancer, and I was thrown into grief. Little did I know, my challenges were far from over.
Early in July, as the kids were settling into summer camps, I noticed a hard lump in my left chest that hadn’t been there before. Or maybe it had and with all of the other life demands, did I miss it, I asked myself? Thinking it was likely something minor like a cyst, I called my Internist who sent me for a mammogram. I’ve had it yearly for 10 years and at times my results were questionable. I’d return for a re-test and always had a clear result.
This time was different. Two days later, the radiologist called while I was at lunch with a close friend. Stepping outside of the restaurant so I could hear her, she said “I’m calling today with your results. Unfortunately, your biopsy was positive for breast cancer….” As she continued to advise me on the next steps, my mind was stunned. I only heard “cancer” and instructions on who to call next.
Cancer is not a disease that my family has experienced in our close generations. “How could this be true?” I wondered. The next two months were filled with more doctor’s appointments and tests than I’ve ever had before. Fortunately, my boss and team were very understanding and chipped in to support me and my workload. Surgery was scheduled quickly. As I woke up from the procedure, the doctor visited me in post-op with the news that the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes, and I’d have to stay the night for pain management. The tissue was sent for pathology, which would take two weeks.
Cancer is different in every person. Initially, the doctors thought I might be in the earliest stage of cancer development. However, after surgery, it was clear that my diagnosis was much worse. I returned to my surgeon’s office about 10 days later to review the pathology results, and the news was more severe than anticipated. Not only was the tumor cancerous, but it had also spread to my lymph nodes. This advanced my condition to Stage 3, requiring 8 cycles of chemotherapy and 6.5 weeks of radiation treatments. It was scary!
As I look back, five years later, I am thankful for so many things. No one wants cancer, but if you do have to go through it, you might find some blessings along the way. Namely,
I’m not out of the woods, but I do feel lucky to survive this terrible disease. Many people don’t share their health struggles publicly, confronting them alone or just with immediate family. I didn’t. From day one, I talked about my situation and because I did, I learned how many people care about me. It can be hard for a working mom and a hard-driving professional to slow down or to “let” others do things for her. I didn’t have a choice. By embracing the care, concern, and genuine love from family, friends and peers – I never gave up. I learned gratitude. I learned: you can only control what you can control. Sometimes life gives you lemons. This lesson on how to accept and to let go will serve me well in the future.
This September, I am honoring my journey by walking in the Susan G. Komen DMV MORE THAN PINK Walk. Joined by my colleagues on the ACD’s Alliance for Hope Team, my family and friends are raising money for life-saving medicines and research! Hopefully, these funds will help more people in the future. I know I’m not alone. Many in the ACD community have been impacted by cancer. We are in this fight together! Join us! You can walk where you are and be with us virtually on September 8. Learn more here: Susan G. Komen® - 2024 Komen DMV Tri-State MORE THAN PINK Walk : Alliance for Hope (info-komen.org)
Susan G. Komen DMV Walk 2023
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