After months of forgetting to self-check, I finally did and felt a little lump. Despite my dad being a breast cancer survivor, I didn’t treat it urgently enough, it could never happen to me, right? I decided to check on it after some time, and when I did the lump felt bigger.

Fast forward a couple of months, I was sitting in the doctor's office being told the results were positive for breast cancer. I didn’t have time to digest everything that was happening around me - I had to start treatment four days later. Further tests showed that the breast cancer was Stage 2b, HER2+, ER+. 

I’ve completed 7/8 rounds of chemo and am headed for the last session on the 2nd of January 2024. I’ve had 3/9 Herceptin injections. I’m coming to terms with my upcoming mastectomy, it makes perfect sense in my head but it’s taking my heart a little longer to play ball. I’ll have a few rounds of radiation after.

Nothing could have prepared me for the whirlwind that was chemotherapy. After the second session, I didn’t want to go on. I was given a one week break which worked well because my bloods were a little low. I felt better after the rest and went on.

I’ve been documenting my journey for advocacy and to help tell as many stories as possible. I try to fight with positivity, but some days it’s hard. I’m definitely not going to be the same person after this journey and that scares me a little. I’d just graduated and was looking forward to starting my career, but that’s been put on hold. Let’s see where this fight leads me.