Introducing What I Learned From Cancer

What I Learned From Cancer is a gateway into the world of a cancer survivor. Ever wanted to ask someone about what it is like to have chemotherapy? What life is like once you've had a major illness? I'll answer questions and write posts about how my life has been altered forever by this journey through cancer. Along the way, I may highlight new paths that have opened up to me or areas of life that I see more clearly now. I hope you find it helpful and humorous.

About me...

I'm a late thirty-something Mother of two young children, wife, career advisor/life coach, and wife to a wonderful man who has stood by me through thick and thin. I'm also a young breast cancer survivor, but I rather think of myself as a thriver.

I never would have thought that I'd write a blog on my experience, but I have found that life takes you in unforeseen places. It's how you react - if you lean into the turns rather than grasping for dear life, frantically pushing the imaginary brake pedal - that impacts your wellbeing.

So... off we go. Step One... How did I GET cancer?

Well I wish I knew. I didn't catch it like a cold or inherit it from a long lost relative. I had the gene tests - all negative. Perhaps I played in the bayou around my childhood home too much. Perhaps it was polluted. Well, I think that's likely true everywhere, but that's for another post. In any case, I was the working mother of two kiddos, one two years old and just weaning, when I discovered through the weaning process that I had a blocked duct in my right breast. Now, I am a huge breastfeeding supporter, but I have had my fair share of breastfeeding struggles. For example, I have seen 12+ lactation consultants in only TWO babies. Yes, I REALLY tried and tried. Anyway, I was used to blocked ducts. So I followed the steps I'd normally take to move the milk along.

After a little while, I came to the conclusion that it just wasn't going to move unaided. So I phoned a breast care center and asked to schedule an ultrasound. Ultrasound has been known to break up blocked ducts. I worried about mastitous. I didn't think about breast cancer as I waited for my appointment. As I tied on my *warmed* hospital gown, I thought about the email that was piled up from work, the presentation I had to do the next day. The techie seemed shocked at what she saw. She left the room and came back. I needed a mammogram. Ok.... what does that mean? I'm 35, no history of breast cancer. Why a mammogram? I complied of course. I could see the white dots and mass on the computer screen.

The rest is history and will be part of posts to come. I hope you find this journey motivating in your own life.