I was 28 years old when I first dug my nails in the side of that blue recliner and held my eyes shut so tight, that a single tear fell as I braced myself for the needle to make contact with my port.

I was 28 years old when I stood in the mirror with tears streaming down my face, literally peeling my hair from my scalp.

A few days after my 29th birthday, I was nervous and lying in a hospital bed being prepped for surgery. Just 5 days after my birthday, I was kissing “my girls” goodbye.

At 32, I had my ovaries and tubes removed. It was probably the hardest surgery I’ve ever undergone. Physically, this was not the hardest—I’ve undergone far more complicated procedures. However, mentally and emotionally, this surgery hurt the most.

I can be completely transparent and admit that I felt like less of a woman when I had to look at myself in the mirror and see scars and tissue expanders where there should have been breasts. I was devastated, rubbing my head and feeling not even one strand of hair. I still brace myself before looking in the mirror at the two scars that mark the place where my ovaries used to be.

Many things that I considered a part of my womanhood were stripped from me. I had to redefine my womanhood.

My womanhood had nothing to do with the hair on my head. The removal of my breasts did not subtract from the sum of my womanhood. In fact, breast cancer taught me just how much of a woman I really am.

Here are three affirmations I used to redefine my womanhood after breast cancer:

I AM strong! My breast cancer journey helped me discover strengths that I didn’t know I possessed.

I AM resilient! Breast cancer awakened in me, a fierce woman warrior that was forced to really put some faith walking behind all her faith talk.

I AM beautiful! Breast cancer helped me find the beauty in my imperfections. The port scar that I used to desperately hide, I now display boldly because it’s proof that I survived.

I AM Woman!