Survivor luncheon

Yesterday I went to the FW Komen "In the Pink" Survivor Luncheon. There were women of all stages of breast cancer there, newly diagnoses and going through treatment, ladies in remission, and ladies that have been in remission for decades. Having breast cancer is such a huge part of my life, for more reasons than just the obvious. It has allowed me to meet some of the most strong and amazing women I have ever met, hands down. You would never know by looking at them now just what they have been though. Some of the women are no longer with us, and others are only here by a miracle.

When I was going through treatment, and shortly there after, people could look at me and know that I had cancer, and believe me...I got lots of stares. People staring at you like you are some freak of nature because you are wearing a scarf on your head, and wanting so badly to yell out, "Hello!!! I see you staring at me!". My situation was also different because I was so young. There aren't a lot of 27 year olds with cancer. Even at my oncologists office, I was known as "the 27 year old" among all 12 doctors! They all knew who I was, and some of the nurses would actually say "Oh YOU'RE the 27 year old with breast cancer". They were not ugly about it, they were very sweet. My case was talked about because like I said, it's not every day you come across someone so young with breast cancer.

Looking at me now you would have no idea that I had cancer. My scars are fading and my hair is back to normal...thanks to highlights of course. I always meet new people at breast cancer events, and hearing these women's stories always get to me. You would not believe some of the things these women have had to go through, and you would never know by looking at them. I am a member of a survivor group, Young Survivors of Tarrant County, and it is all women that were under (or around) 40 when they were diagnosed. I love this group and our monthly meetings! Support groups aren't for everyone, and I totally respect that. But when I was diagnosed, the one thing I said is if one person hears my story and does a self breast exam, or tells their friends, then it's all worth it. Having the lumpectomy, getting a punctured lung from my port surgery, losing my hair and having to wear a wig at my wedding, days where I couldn't get out of bed, losing my eyebrows (that never came back), delaying my honeymoon because I had to start radiation two days after my wedding...it was all worth it. The survivor group allows me to share my story with others and hopefully offer some comfort to women that might be in the same shoes I was in. I might not ever know if my story made an impact on somebody, but I hope in my heart that it has, or will in the future.

I will never say that I am "thankful" that I got cancer, that is definitely not the word. But I can't imagine what my life would be like without it, and unfortunately I will never be able to completely shut it out, as recurrence is always going to have a small place in the back of my mind. And to be honest, I don't want to know, because I am so happy with where my life is right now and wouldn't have it any other way.

Remember something good ALWAYS comes out of something "bad".