“Tell the story of the mountain you climbed. Your words could become a page in someone else’s survival guide.” — Morgan Harper Nichols
My first breast surgeon gave me the news that I had cancer and the choice to keep my “healthy” breast. They didn’t explain my condition or their plan of action the way that I expected. In fact, the eight minutes I sat with them was not enough time to explain very much at all about anything.
Going into chemotherapy, I knew there was going to be a plethora of side effects I would need to brace myself for. But there was one side effect, one challenge, I hadn’t seen coming. And as something I hadn’t seen coming, I couldn’t thus prepare for it.
Personal Story: A young woman’s story of genetic testing and risk-reducing mastectomy Alejandra Campoverdi comes from a family with three generations of breast cancer. As
Stress can wreak havoc on us inside out, especially if we don’t take some time to be still and breathe deep. And what is 10-20 minutes a couple of times a week to reduce stress, which also reduces the appearance of aging, fatigue, and frustration on our faces?
Recognizing that I never used to set healthy boundaries – What does that look like to engage in that process in an act of self-preservation, self-care and compassion towards self? How do I unlearn this old programming where I thought to put me first was a sign of selfishness? Forreal, to put me first has been a struggle!
IBC is real and it doesn’t always appear like a typical breast cancer diagnosis. Pain, swelling, discoloration, change in appearance are all a part of IBC. If any doctor tells you that breast cancer doesn’t hurt, that’s a lie.
This body got me through cancer, and I am proud of it. By being vocal and sharing my story and images I hope that surgery without reconstruction becomes less of an outlier, and more of a viable choice for young women.
To tell or not to tell, is the million dollar question as it relates to when you believe it’s the perfect time to share your breast cancer diagnosis with family or friends. Even more importantly, when do you share with your children?
For the Breast of Us may have started as a place for women of color affected by breast cancer to connect and share stories about their experiences, but one year after launching it’s become so much more than that.
Typically when we think of spring, we think of pastels and light colors, rain showers and sunflowers. And we will not let any pandemic disrupt our anticipation of summertime fun in the sun!
Your voice, your story, and your support can make a difference. Join For the Breast of Us in our mission to empower, support, and advocate for women of color across the globe. Together, we can create a future where every woman has the resources and support she needs to overcome breast cancer.
On the Web:
www.breastofus.com
www.breastofusfoundation.org
Email:
hello@breastofus.com
Welcome to our community—where hope thrives, strength is found, and sisters in the fight become family.
