I wrote a summary of my story recently for an article in
TOPS in LEX, the October Breast Cancer awareness issue. I wanted to share the 2 most
important paragraphs from what I wrote. I spend a lot of time reflecting on the latter one, thinking
to myself, "Is this really a good summary of my experience?" and just
about everytime, I answer myself, "yes, that’s it." (But, there is one caveat; let me give it more thought on how to word it and get back to you.)
"...It was Tuesday morning, November 1, when I found out at
35 years old that I had breast cancer. Initial
diagnosis showed that it was a 4cm mildly aggressive mass in my breast and that
it would be considered advanced due to the size and that it was in my lymph
nodes. I had avoided signs of my breast
changing, not understanding that it could be something so serious. My breasts have always been dense and
somewhat knotty, so my “lump” located in the middle of my breast, was hard for
me to catch. This is not an excuse or
ignorance; it is the reality of not getting properly timed exams, not
understanding that breast cancer is sometimes more than just a lump, and that
many times it involves changes in the breast- all that should be addressed
immediately and routinely, regardless of how busy we are...."
"...Now that I am cancer free, the question that people ask
me and that I ask myself now is “how has my perspective changed?” To sum it up, I have learned so much about
the power of “choosing”. When I made the
choice that I was not a victim and turned to the power of prayer, I got to
choose a very spiritual, powerful and rewarding journey that would mark me in
many ways, but where cancer never defined me.
Each day, I believe we have a choice in how to live out that diagnosis or
whatever the situation may be in our lives. I guess its true that I have a new normal,
but I have also resumed a hectic schedule.
The difference now is that I understand more about the magnitude of the
journey in each day than the destination itself.
No comments:
Post a Comment