August of 2023 was just like every other month....until it wasn't. I had just finished my fifth half Ironman (1.2 mile swim/56 mile bike/13.1 mile run) and was getting ready to start a new school year teaching kindergarten. My son and I had had a fantastic summer and we were looking forward to Fall adventures.
The day after I went in to set up my classroom, I felt a large lump on my right breast. It felt like a pulled muscle because it reached pretty much from my armpit to the center of my breast. I figured it was from moving furniture and I had an appointment the following week with my primary anyway for a physical. When I went for my physical, she did not like the looks of it and sent me for a mammogram and an ultrasound. I got the mammo in the middle of September, and the radiology doctor told me to come back in 3 to 6 months. He said it didn't really have the characteristics of cancer, and it wouldn't have just appeared out of nowhere. I was not happy with this, because I felt like something was wrong. I followed up a week later with my primary again.
After giving me a round of antibiotics to make sure it wasn't an infection, I was sent to a breast surgeon. I had been to one before because 2 years ago I had a suspicious small bump on my left side that ended up being nothing. I had a different feeling about this one. I had to get an MRI before they would let me get a biopsy since the first report said to come back in 3 to 6 months. I continued to live life, celebrating my son's 12th birthday and going on a hike I had been training for in the Smoky mountains with Meat Fight, an organization I'm part of because of my multiple sclerosis.
I was 42 years old. A marathoner, a half Ironman, a single mom, a daughter, and a teacher. And I now had stage 3 triple negative breast cancer. My entire world changed. I endured 16 rounds of chemo, a double mastectomy with many lymph nodes removed, and 32 rounds of radiation. I was tired, depressed, still trying to work out when I could, and lacking a sense of purpose. I also met some wonderful pink sisters. One of them, from the Breast Cancer resource center, told me about Dance for The cure.
I applied, and my application was accepted. I cried so many happy tears that day! In January I had taken a leave from work and planned on being out for the whole school year. I wasn't doing my usual tutoring, and I couldn't teach summer school. I pay into private disability, but it was definitely a change. The money I received was one less thing I had to stress out about, and it allowed me to bring some normalcy to our summer. When I was able to, my son and I took day trips. When I was unable to, it helped us order food in so I didn't have to cook. I didn't drive a lot until radiation started, and then I went through gas like crazy! I was grateful to not go into debt while I was not working.
I am happy to say that I am back in the classroom and this September feels somewhat "normal" again. I am back to indoor cycling, running very slowly, and living life to the fullest. I don't know where I stand cancer wise, because there is still treatment to be had. However, I am going to continue to do all of the things to the best of my ability for as long as I can.
Are you or someone you know struggling due to a breast cancer diagnosis?
We would like to help. Please visit https://www.danceforthecure.org/get-help
Kommentare