Let’s get cancer off of our chest

Valentine’s Day 2018, my life as I knew it came to a screeching halt, it changed my life in every way, I don’t even know where to begin, at 40 every woman they recommend to go get a mammogram, which to me made me feel old but I went, got called back for 2nd mammogram, every dr told me not to worry, then scheduled a biopsy. Then on February 14th, yes Valentine’s Day 2018. I was told that my biopsy not only showed cancer but that is was stage 2 close to 3 & needed a surgeon right away due to my “young” age. The idea of 40, loosing a breast if not both was devastating but the thought of loosing my life was overwhelming. I had the mastectomy & lymph nodes removed for testing. Surgeon called me 4 days after mastectomy & told me lymph node was positive. Which meant this nightmare was just beginning, had bone scans, CAT scan of my chest wall, echocardiogram, for oncologist to say I needed lengthy chemo & radiation to lower risk of it ever coming back. In meantime I can’t work due to being public place with crowds opens me up to infection. God that feels like a lifetime ago! Cancer doesn’t just change my life physically & financially, but emotionally, mentally drains you. I have had unilateral mastectomy, 7 months of chemo, 30 rounds of radiation, physical therapy, more surgeries than I can count, oh and oral chemo. And I’m still battling, it’s hard! Any donation goes towards medical costs, my unilateral mastectomy was $150,00 alone! I’ve paid off everything in my savings, and still battling, even thought about stopping treatments due to the overwhelming medical costs. I would like to say this to every woman, GO GET A MAMMOGRAM! If you think you feel lump & dr says not to worry, GET A SECOND OPINION! Literally your life could depend on it!! I fight this disease everyday & will for rest of my life. I’m sure people see a lot of gofundme pages, and a lot of donations, I don’t know how they do it, and to be honest, I don’t have a huge friend base, that’s due to cancer, when I got diagnosed the first thing you will realize is who are your real friends, who has your back, when you can’t go out like “before”, when your sick who will hold your hair back until it falls out, who will go to chemo & sit with you for hours, so on and it won’t be all the friends you started out with but your real friends. Cancer isn’t a good, fun time, but the people who really support me are who you make my life better, thank you, thank you for reading my life, my journey, I hope it inspires everyone to get checked! Any donation is beyond appreciated!