The Shocking Diagnosis
Cancer was never something I thought I'd be writing about from personal experience, but here we are. I'm officially done with surgeries, chemo, and wow...what a year it's been. I've learned more about myself than I ever thought possible. I've learned what strength really feels like, what gratitude actually looks like, and how much resilience you can find when life throws you the hardest curveball.
Back in August 2024, I felt a lump in my right breast. My boyfriend and I had just moved to a new town, and I happened to be sick at the time. I brushed it off, told myself it was probably stress. From August through January I came down with flu-like symptoms every single month. Finally, in December 2024, I went to my primary care doctor. She agreed it was probably nothing, but we both knew it was smarter to be safe than sorry.
After an ultrasound and biopsy, I got the call: invasive ductal carcinoma, the most common type of breast cancer. It was February 6, 2025, and my whole world turned upside down. At the time, I was smack in the middle of tax season (I'm an accountant), but thankfully my employer reminded me that my health had to come first. I started focusing on my physical, mental, and emotional health. I'd already been seeing a therapist since late 2024, and now I needed her more than ever. Meeting with her weekly gave me the mindset I needed to fight.
Two weeks after my diagnosis, I jumped into the IVF process to freeze my eggs in case chemo damaged my fertility. Having the chance to still have kids one day mattered to me. My egg retrieval surgery happened just two weeks before my 13-hour surgery.
On March 18, 2025, I had a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction using my gracilis muscles (from my inner thighs). Yep, you read that right. They literally took my leg muscles and used them for my breasts. I like to joke that I now have 'Double G's.'
Harsh Recovery
Recovery was brutal. For 2-3 weeks, I couldn't get out of bed without two people helping me. I had four drains, one in each leg and one in each breast. About a month later, I found out I'd need chemo, not because the cancer spread to my lymph nodes, but because my oncology score was 37, meaning it was aggressive. That's when I started monthly Lupron shots to shut down my ovaries and protect my fertility.
Chemo was four rounds, and I cold capped through all of it. People will tell you cold capping doesn't work or that it's painful, but honestly I had zero pain and I kept about half of my hair. I still lost some, but I'm beyond thankful for what stayed. Chemo was rough, no sugarcoating that, but you just push through. People ask me all the time, 'How did you do it?' My answer is always the same: 'You just do.' Because what choice do you really have? You lean on your people, you celebrate the tiniest wins, and sometimes you laugh at the ridiculous stuff that happens along the way. I was so lucky to have an amazing support system, I can't imagine doing it without them.
After Chemo: Treatment & Healing
After chemo, I started on a hormone block (letrozole) and Verzenio, a targeted therapy that helps kill of any sneaky cancer cells. On August 28, 2025, I had what I hope is my last surgery: fat grafting to fill out my breasts, removal of my chemo port, liposuction from my legs and tummy (used for the fat graft), removal of thigh skin from reconstruction, and a little scar revision.
The Present Moment
And now? I'm sitting in a coffee shop writing this, and I feel a mix of grief, appreciation, and hope. I know I've made it through the hardest part, and now I get to heal. I'll be on Verzenio for two years and hormone blockers for five, but I plan on living life fully in the meantime. I still dream of the family I've always wanted, whether through IVF or naturally, and I'm determined to live with gratitude, joy, and adventure. At just 26, I've faced the hardest fight of my life, and I'm proud of myself for getting through it.
Why I Share This
I'm sharing my story not just to help anyone who's going through something similar, but also to raise awareness about the importance of self-exams. I caught mine at Stage 1, and I hope others do too.
If you're reading this and you're in the middle of your own fight, please know this: you are not alone. You are loved. You can do this. Keep your head up, lean on your people, and trust that you will be okay.