SURVIVOR STORY- A CHANCE TO LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE

I will be celebrating 3+ years breast cancer free. To help me celebrate I want to ask all my women friends and family to do a self-exam before they go to bed tonight. Make this a part of your monthly routine. I rarely give an update about my journey but a year ago I had some swelling in my left breast. My surgical oncologist originally diagnosed me with lymphedema (a secondary condition) due to having lymph nodes removed during my mastectomy. Concern arose when a heated rash spread and wasn’t going away on its own.

My oncologist did an ultrasound but could not rule out inflammatory breast cancer. The symptoms for lymphedema and inflammatory breast cancer are very similar. After a skin punch biopsy and a MRI it was determined that it is in fact lymphedema. These tests and checkups are a reminder to me that breast cancer is always lurking in my shadow. But it reminds me to keep on living because you get one chance to live your best life. This does not paint the beautiful picture of a main street decorated in pink streamers or 5K runs with cutesy names. The real truth about breast cancer is it does not discriminate against age, race, body type, food preferences, or even gender. Early detection WILL save your life.