Mar 10
31
I was diagnosed December 9th, 2009. I am fifty seven years old. I had two aggressive doctors, and went into chemotherapy January 7th, 2010. I will complete chemo April 22nd. I will have my surgery in May, then I will have Radiation for six weeks. I will continue to take Herceptin until January 2011, and I should be free of cancer. I will be in the five year survival time then.
I have no hair now. I like to look at it as that I don’t have to have to worry about bad hair days! It has been a difficult time during chemo. I will not lie about that, it is rough, but it will kill the cancer cells, and that it what I want the most in my life and everyone who has cancer.
I may lose my breasts, but they have reconstruction. (It sounds like I am building…) I will be able to have a new bust line. It is a emotional and mental roller coaster, but it will be over with soon. I will not define myself as someone who has cancer. I just have the disease and an taking everything I can to get rid of it. There are many people who think when you have breast cancer, you will die, but research has made many strides to cure a woman of breast cancer.
The best thing I was told was by my twenty-four year old daughter. She said that “Mom, you are more than your breasts…you are a sweet and kind woman who will help anyone you can. Breasts can be made again, but you cannot.” This goes for every woman who has breast cancer.
I like to think of it like this: I have breast cancer, but soon I will be able to say ‘I had breast cancer.’ You have to have a positive attitude, and my prayer is that breast cancer will be cured in my lifetime. I believe it.
We will conquer breast cancer.
Valerie lives in North Carolina.
[...] few months ago we heard from Valerie who was battling breast cancer. Click here to read that story, and celebrate with her after reading her update [...]