Bukola, Nigeria

March 1, 2016, cancer turned my life upside down.

A diagnosis of stage 2B breast cancer, following a missed annual checkup, turned my life topsy-turvy:

1) The endless tests before deciding on a treatment plan

2) Having to travel out of the country for surgery and leaving my three children, all under the age of 10, in the care of my mother and a few close friends

3) Dealing with the fear of not coming out of surgery

4) Watching our finances drain rapidly, with the fear of not being able to recover

5) Watching my body become frail with the onslaught of each chemo infusion

6) Battling fear and anxiety, not knowing if there would be recovery

7) Even 10 years later… not knowing that this anxiety will follow me at each annual checkup.

8) Dealing with body apprehension when considering going to the spa after a double mastectomy.

9) Having to almost give up my love of swimming… for fear that my prostheses might fail.

10) Struggling with making clothes, because sometimes bust-size measurements don’t pan out right.

11) The deep feeling of not truly belonging with your female friends, knowing that your physical body is incomplete, and that you are not the same as they are.

Have your breasts checked today.

Join the PinkHavenWarriorLadi community for support.