1 year. 52 weeks. 365 days.

August 31, 2018 at 8:45 in the morning Chris and I were sitting on the bed together and received some news that would change our lives. I had just got home from working a night shift and when I got out of the shower I had a missed a phone call and voicemail from Dr. Giannotti. When I called him back., he told me the results of my biopsy…invasive ductal carcinoma aka breast cancer. I couldn’t believe it. I was 25 years old. How could I have breast cancer?! As many of you know from the previous blogs, I got into the surgeon that morning at 11am. I remember sitting in Dr. Hubbard’s office clearing that morning. I was exhausted from working all night and crying the first part of the morning over my diagnosis. He came up with my game plan that morning and from there I started my journey. This was the start of way too many doctor’s appointment every week. This was my new normal. I have gone through a bilateral mastectomy with tissue expander and port placement surgery, IVF treatments, 6 rounds of a very tough chemo regimen, 30 radiation treatments, ovarian suppression (monthly shot), tamoxifen (pill), and Herceptin infusions. My year has been so busy with breast cancer treatments, including my mothers. As y’all know 7 months after my diagnosis, she was diagnosed as well. I ended up going out there for her surgery for a week to help out in any way I could.

Now that I have reflected on everything I have been doing the past year, how about an update?! As far as my mother, she is doing great!! Her surgery was June 13^th and has recovered well from that surgery. When they got her pathology back from surgery they decided that hers was caught so early that she doesn’t have to do chemo or radiation!! Thank you Lord!!! She is on the 5-year pill though just like me. Hers is a different one since she is postmenopausal. As far as my stuff, I have my last Herceptin infusion on October 30^th. I also got some good news the other day…November 1^st I get to have my final surgery!!! Yay!!!! Tissue expanders and port will be coming out and I get nice soft implants! I can’t even begin to describe how excited I am. The tissue expanders are so hard and the port is so annoying. I can’t wait to get them out! After this point, I will just continue taking Tamoxifen for 5 years and get my monthly shot for ovarian suppression. After that for 5 years, we can then talk about having our little girls that are waiting on us.  With everything that has happened in the last year, PLEASE make sure to check yourself monthly or get a mammogram if you can!! Early detection is key! My mom didn’t have to do nearly as much because she got her mammograms yearly! Speaking of which…my sister got hers done not too long ago! Hers came back clear! Again…. Thank you LORD!!!

I just want to thank everyone for all the love and support my mom, my family and I have received over the past year! I can honestly say y’all made it easier for us to go through this. I want to put a special thank you out there to my hubby for being so amazing! This diagnosis has affected you almost as much as me, and you have been a trooper! Love you Bunches!