Tell us about your diagnosis
As a healthy 25 year old, cancer was not on my radar. One day out of the blue I noticed some changes to my skin on my breast, which prompted me to do self-exams. About a month later, I found the lump. On October 4, 2023 I was diagnosed with stage 1 triple positive IDC breast cancer.
What was your first thought when diagnosed?
My husband Sean and I were absolutely shocked at our new reality. I was the healthiest I had ever been in my life, and we just couldn’t believe what we were hearing. We instantly started figuring out the next steps.
Tell us about your journey
We found out that I had two genetic mutations that caused cancer and I was going to need to undergo chemo. We started this journey off with two rounds of fertility preservation IVF in case my ovaries got damaged during chemo. After several rounds of testing we wound up with 6 embryos that have neither cancer causing gene and we couldn’t be more excited!
We then went right into Chemo. I did six rounds of chemo over the course of four months. A month after chemo completed, I went to UC Davis to have a double mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction. The recovery was long and tough but was so worth it in the end to get the result I hoped for. After I recovered from surgery I started back on infusions. This time is 14 rounds of immunotherapy with directed chemo (this is a lighter version of chemo and my new hair growth isn’t going to fall out again!)
I am currently undergoing these treatments. After these treatments and one more surgery I will officially be able to say I’m done with active cancer treatment!
What is your most vivid memory of your cancer journey?
I feel as though this process has been such a whirlwind of an experience for my husband and I to go through. So much life altering information comes at you all at once. Sean has been there every step of the way. The hundreds of appointments, shaving my head, sitting with me through every infusion, taking care of me during the hard times after chemo and surgery, being a shoulder to cry on and simply just being there for me hand in hand through it all. I’m so truly blessed.
What would you share with someone else who is on this journey?
For the young women- Be diligent on self-exams. I did not have a routine of self-exams, thankfully my tumor was close to my skin and drew my attention to it. If it hadn’t been so close to my skin, my story could possibly be so, so different. Please make it a priority.
For anyone starting this journey- Attitude is everything. There are so many things in my life that I couldn’t be more grateful for. Focus on the positive and that will get you through. There are hard times of course and that’s absolutely okay, but get right back up and keep pushing through. We got this ladies!