Ms. September's story is lovingly sponsored by an Anonymous Donor
The theme of A Calendar to Live By 2023 is In Her Own Words. All 12 women who grace its pages have honest, inspiring stories written in their own words to share with readers -- as well as words of advice for other young women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Read on to get to know more about Ms. September 2023.
Ms. September 2023 | Diagnosed at 39 (2020)
“You have breast cancer,” the words nobody wants to hear. I sat across from the radiologist and nurse navigator and all I could hear was the voice of Charlie Brown's teacher. I was a deer in the headlights until I came out of my fog as soon as my nurse navigator mentioned the support group Here for the Girls. A sense of calm came over me and I knew all would be well. I was stage 3, grade 3, ER/ PR positive HER2 negative with lymph node involvement. The next several months were a roller coaster of appointments, surgery, then 16 rounds of chemo, and 30 rounds of radiation. I never thought this would be my reality, who does, especially at 39. My father had just passed away and COVID was in full swing. The women from Here from the Girls and one woman in particular a former calendar ambassador, Candice took my hand, comforted me, listened, cried, hugged me, and suddenly I had hundreds of sisters. My world wasn't so bleak, I finished active treatment. Chemo ended May 4th and radiation ended August 10th. I am currently on hormone therapy and an aggressive protocol to help decrease the possibility of recurrence. Cancer is not my story. Strength, love, health, joy, awareness, and sisterhood is my story.
ADVICE: I would call my diagnosis and every treatment and surgery a speed bump in life. I would also remember the words of my dear father as he was in hospice right before he passed, he could barely talk but he said the words....Everything is going to be okay....I repeated this often in my head throughout my battle and still do to this day.