October 9, 2018, I received a call from my breast health doctor saying, “I’m sorry honey, it is breast cancer.”

Cancer does not run in my family. So how did this happen?

Instantly, I felt lightheaded and sick. I always think of death when I hear cancer due to minimal knowledge. I am a pretty healthy 34-year-old, with a husband and four kids. I have stage I HER2 triple positive breast cancer.

I have never questioned God, as my faith will not allow it and that has kept me grounded during this journey.

From the day of diagnosis, everything picked up so quickly and I was on the go non-stop. I had many tests, blood labs, two surgeries, six rounds of chemotherapy, 20 rounds of radiation, and hospital stays, on top of trying to balance my mental health which was spiraling.

I currently still receive treatment for my two targeted drugs every three weeks and I am on a hormone-therapy medication called Tamoxifen.

I certainly try my best to keep my everyday life as normal as possible; not only for myself, but for my husband and children. I worked throughout my whole process (do not recommend). There were days I was exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally, but I wanted my life to be “normal” so I pushed myself.

I was very careful with the timing of how I told people who are important in my life. One of the hardest people to tell was my son.  Having to tell my 16-year-old son I have cancer and seeing him show emotion broke my heart. I know my husband had racing thoughts of possibly losing his wife; someone he pictured himself with for the rest of his life.

It never got easier having to tell those closest to me.

Let me say internet surfing is certainly not the way to go. During my journey, I found myself reading up on my diagnosis. Sometimes, I would find good information. Other times, I would find information that scared and overwhelmed me.

What I had to learn is that everyone is different. We have different forms of cancer, bodies react differently to treatment, we all start in different mental spaces,etc. However, I can say one thing we all have in common is the journey toward fighting to live.

Fast forward a year from diagnosis, I am learning to live life fearlessly!

This is such a cliché of a statement,but it is true. We all consume ourselves with working to pay bills, taking care of kids and we seldom stop to explore what this world has to offer.

My life used to consist of kids, husband, work, athletic events and no time for self-care.

All that has changed;I make myself a priority.

This experience has opened my eyes and mind to treat my body as a temple and to step outside of my fears.

I am learning there is life outside of cancer and this will not consume me.

Although I am still not officially cancer free, I know in my heart and soul…I am KICKING CANCER’s ASS!