Leah Hersey

Well, here is my story. I find it a bit ironic that I found a breast lump in October during breast cancer awareness month but that’s exactly what happened. Saturday October 9th to be exact, I didn’t think much of it because I just had a breast exam with my PCP on Sept 22nd, I’ve had a cyst on the same side before and I’m 39 freaking years old. But I messaged my PCP to let her know what I found and patiently (kind of) waited for her response. Monday she wrote back and told me I could monitor for a few days, I already had a mammogram scheduled for Oct 29th, or she could change the order to a diagnostic exam and I could go in sooner. By this time it was weighing heavily on my mind so I asked her to change to order.

I was able to get in Tuesday morning. They did the mammogram, followed by additional pictures, then an ultrasound and finally a biopsy. The doctor told me not to worry too much because it looked like a ruptured cyst but he just wanted to be sure. I left the clinic and this amazing sense of calm washed over me. I figured it was God letting me know that the results were going to be ok. I now realize it was Him letting me know that no matter the results, it was going to be ok.

Friday morning I got the call. The doctor was surprised and sorry to say that it was breast cancer. He knew it was early but that was about it. He told me the nurse navigator would be calling me later to set up appointments with oncology and surgery. The rest is kind of a blur, I cried and prayed out loud, Mark came home and then we just waited to hear from someone.

Here we are, two weeks and 6 appointments later. I was diagnosed with Stage I invasive ductal carcinoma. It is triple negative which basically means that hormones are not feeding it, so they can’t give me a pill to shut the hormone down.  Which also means that I will need some pretty intensive chemotherapy followed by a lumpectomy and then radiation. My initial lymph node biopsy and genetic testing came back negative, which is fan-freaking-tastic!

I love the way my oncologist (Dr Nick) worded it. He told me that this is going to be a really bad memory for me...but it will be a memory. It is Stage I and it is small. I will get through this. I have the most amazing support system between Mark and the kids, my family, Mark’s family, my work family and my friends. I am so grateful for all the wonderful people that God has placed in my life. So here we go, welcome to my journey.


Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.