Happy Birthday Erica you have cancer!!! the day before my 25th birthday i got diagnosed with stage 4 invasive duactual carcinoma breast cancer, it already spread in my breast, lymph nodes and the T4 section of my back. I had 4 surgeries partial mastectomy, left breast mastectomy, port insertion, tissue expanders insertion to start reconstruction for my breast...
The day I learned had cancer my world turned upside down. I was overwhelmed with emotions anger, frustration, stress. It was a surprise to me because 6 months ago, I consulted a doctor of my bloody nipple discharge. He said, I had nothing to worry about, i was too young to have cancer and that i didnt have any family history, the symptoms will go away... Unfortunately, he was wrong bec 6 months later, when I got checked again im already stage 4 i wasnt given the chance to battle my cancer at an early stage...
I went to partial mastectomy, surgeon took out 5.4 cm tumor still had cancer, aggressive chemotherapy which made me loose my long beautiful hair, still had cancer, then finally mastectomy on my left breast. good bye 38D's, while most girls my age pay money to get breast enlargement, I am taking mine off. It was a difficult decision but i thought, its a small price to pay to live. And with no breast no breast cancer right??? wrong bec i still had cancer..
So I went to M-F radiation for 5 weeks w/c burned my skin, it hurt and its right on my armpit area and chest so having it done in the summer of vegas didnt help when my armpitts sweat boy did it hurt!!!
And as if everything is not complicated enough in the middle of my radiation and still in hormone treatment medicine tamoxifen I found out...I was pregnant...It was a very difficult moment in my life because I eventually, ultimately, lost my baby...It was such a devastating blow. A very stressful time, I felt like im gonna die from stress first before my cancer. I was sick, I was hurting financially, i cant work, my bills are pilling up and on top of that the loss my baby. I felt like the next thing im gonna loose was my mind!!!
But thankfully I have great support from my family, friends, my co workers who participated in walking with the strides last year and walked on my behalf. The American Cencer Society and my fabulous health team. doctors,
nurses and everyone who works in my doctors office. my husband who helped me through it all and my 9 yr old son Manuel...who gave me courage to fight this cancer. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. and finally Oct 2007… I was told by my doctors, I was cancer free..
Now thats only Chapter 1. Whats worst than having to go thru all that I just did and having stage 4 breast cancer @ 24? Having it come back 9 months later...geez not even a year!!! yes my cancer relapsed, its back and its back with a vengance now its worst than last years. I have cancer is in my sternum, axilla, right pelvis, lymph nodes, numerous metastasis below my diagphram, pretty much my whole back bone, upper and lower thorasic area and liver. they even see activity on my kiddneys, bowel, spleen and bladder which they think is cancer but too early to detect with PET scan resolution. its easier to say i have cancer all over my body except my lungs, neck, right breast and brain.
Unfortunately, I have to go thru all these treatment again. Its round 2 for me. Im in aggressive chemo. I already had 2 months of chemos i just actually had one earlier today and im not feeling to great. i already lost my hair, eyebrows and lashes. But cancer is not stopping me from living my life. 3 days from now sat Oct 4 I will be the walking for the Making Strides for the American Cancer Society and will be the guest speaker for the pre walk ceremony. wheew, i sure hope i can make it to the finish line, 3 days after chemo and no exercise that will be tough. And next week Oct 11 I will be modelling for the From the Heart Charity Ball as well as their guest speaker, again i will be speaking and sharing my story to help raise awareness proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.
I just did my fitting earlier and my dress is so gorgeous that made me excited and happy. Prior to this in July i did a calendar i was the March girl all proceeds go to early detection for breast cancer and last week i did an interview with Channel 13 and week before that had an interview with Henderson Home News. My story came out on tv last fri and sat and in our local newspapers. and when i get my week off from chemo since i go every week with 4th week off. i go work at my regular hotel job as a front desk and still manage to sqeeze in my PT modelling. the latest one is i did a fashion show a couple of weeks ago for Dillards.
Cancer aint got nothing on me. I will continue living my life to its fullest and reach my dreams, but this time I will also raise awareness, spread the word and use everything in my power in helping us get a step closer in finding a cure for this deadly disease. I have a new calling, Im now a breast cancer soldier we have a war here against cancer lets focus on that instead of war in other countries. Sure I was devastated and upset when i found out it was back, but Im gonna beat it again just like i did last year.
And if I have to go down, it wont be withhout a good fight just like rocky balboa...I won’t be knocked-out by cancer. There will still be a chapter 3 to my story, I am not going anywhere, I’m gonna live to tell it, and it will have a happy ending. ..I know, I will eventually die, but it wont be from cancer I refuse to die from cancer. I’m only 26 I still plan to live my life to the fullest, I plan to see my son-Emmanuel, graduate from High school, dance at his wedding and I refuse to let him go through life without his mother by his side.
I know with your prayer and support, I will beat this cancer AGAIN!