Project Pink: An unexpected education for breast cancer survivor

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We asked readers to recount how breast cancer has touched their lives. Here is one of those stories ...

I wasn?t supposed to get breast cancer. In fact, I was so sure I wouldn?t get it, I didn?t even bother having a regular mammogram. I never paid attention to any information on the subject because it didn?t pertain to me.

You see, I had the misconception that breast cancer was only inherited from the maternal side of the family; so I was home free (so I thought), because no one on my maternal side had ever had it. As my education progressed after diagnosis of HER2 positive, Stage III breast cancer, I found that only 15 percent is hereditary and the kind I had is not hereditary. However, there is a relationship between the genes in a person?s DNA and breast cancer in general. I made it my mission to tell as many people as I can.

Everyone?s journey is a very personal one and I am no different. I decided early on this cancer curse was not going to get the best of me or my family. I have always been a very strong, determined person; so I laid out my plan and stuck to it throughout the course. I listened to my capable team at Cancer Specialists of North Florida, and followed the protocol religiously. I found strength in faith and prayed to God frequently ? even reciting ?The Lord?s Prayer? during PET scans and before surgeries. My loving husband, John, was always by my side and he was the rock who kept me feeling safe in his love and devotion.

I did not tell my daughters, Desiree and Suzanne, for four months after my diagnosis. Under normal circumstances I would have, because telling the truth to loved ones is the best policy, but Desiree was two months from giving birth to her first child and my first grandchild, Gabriel. I decided I didn?t want her to be agonizing over me during the happiest time in her life. I wanted the luxury of pure happiness over his birth and then my last Christmas ?without cancer.? It was a little tricky hiding my bald head with a wig (I pretended I purchased on a lark) and trying to appear ?perky? even though I was undergoing chemotherapy, but it felt good to be ?normal? just a little while longer. When I did tell them, we all held one another and cried. I am so fortunate that I have wonderfully supportive and loving daughters.

It?s been two years since my diagnosis and I am a survivor today. I?ve learned a lot about appreciation and deep gratitude for all my blessings I once took for granted. I am optimistic that my future will remain cancer- free. I will take each step, one at a time, and savor every minute life has to offer.

Source: http://jacksonville.com/news/health-and-fitness/2012-10-21/story/project-pink-unexpected-education-breast-cancer-survivor

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