After being diagnosed with Breast Cancer at the age of 33, my whole world was thrown into a whirlwind. I was 32 weeks pregnant and I remember thinking how could life be so cruel. My baby was delivered at 38 weeks and I began what would be a long journey of treatment just two weeks after my baby girl was born. I wondered how I would care for a four-year-old and a newborn while undergoing treatment. With the help of many family and friends I made it through. Unfortunately, after six rounds of chemotherapy, I was diagnosed with a second breast cancer on the opposite side. Again, I underwent 6 more months of chemotherapy and radiation. My baby girl would turn one year before I would see the end of treatment.

Both my mother and grandmother have lost their battle to breast and ovarian cancer and as it turns out my breast cancer was BRCA 1 positive (genetic type). I am happy to say that today, I am happy and stronger and I am well on my way to getting my life back to normal. My hope is that one day a drug will be discovered that will help those who carry the gene. My daughter and my son have given me every reason to fight this disease and be well for them. I asked someone recently, at what point can I call myself a survivor and they answered “today you are a survivor”! There was a period in my life when everything seemed so uncertain, but now I know there is such thing as life after breast cancer.