Back in February 2024, I scheduled a routine physical after I discovered a lump in my left Breast. I wasn't worried about the scary “C” word, it never crossed my mind. My doctor checked it out and she didn’t look concerned either. She said it was soft and moving but she wanted me to have a mammogram and ultrasound. Here we are on March 8th, 2024 the mammogram itself went smooth and painless. At some point waiting in the waiting area with all the other women, I started to get a little anxious. Women were coming and going but I was still waiting. Finally, I get called into the room for my ultrasound. I explained to the tech my doctor sent me here because she thinks it’s a cyst. As I was saying this the procedure had started. I saw the look of concern on her face. She turned to me and said “ I don’t think this is a simple cyst “Before she could even get the words out the walls were closing in on me. My heart rate was sky-high and I just started crying. I knew at that moment it was the scary “ C “ work. Cancer! She couldn’t confirm or deny it. The doctor came in to check herself I was in shock I didn't say a word. She told me I needed to come back for a biopsy. She left the room and when she came back she handed me a paper on what to expect during and after the procedure. This was on a Friday. She scheduled me to come back that Monday! I knew the sense of urgency couldn’t be good. The whole weekend was a blur I just remember being so scared of what was to come. Monday came. My mother and sister took me to my appointment. The procedure went well until asked the doctor doing it do you think it’s cancer? He told me he couldn’t tell me anything and they would call with the results in 3-5 days. Again those days were a blur. I was watching my life flash before my eyes. Friday, March 14, 2024, at 5:30 pm I got the call that would change my life for the third time. Mrs. Cooke, we have the results of your biopsy you have breast cancer!

Fast forward to May 21, 2024, I went into surgery for a double mastectomy with reconstruction. The surgery went great! My mom took 3 months off to take care of me and the kids. I don’t know what I would do without her. about 3 weeks after my surgery I noticed I wasn’t feeling too well and the site where my drain was didn’t look good. Turns out I had an infection. Spent 2 awful weeks in the hospital. The antibiotics they gave me made me so sick I couldn’t eat and couldn’t hold anything down. The doctor told me my expander wasn’t compromised which is as great news. I wouldn’t need another surgery. As the weeks went on I was finally feeling better and stronger.

After the surgery, I met with my oncology team and we agreed on doing 4 rounds of dose-dense chemotherapy and 20 rounds of radiation. All as a preventative. The double mastectomy gave me clear margins, this was just some added assurance. I had my port placed and headed to round 1 of chemo. I was in great spirits I have the best family by my side and so ready to get this process started. First round we had some bumps in the road I had an allergic reaction, we took the cold cap off during that time and when it was put back on wasn’t flush to my head so I lost a lot more hair than I expected. 3 days after treatment I was in extreme pain and discomfort. I thought it was from chemo so I tried my best to hang in there. By the fourth day, I couldn’t even get out of bed. I had a fever of 103 heart rate of 160 while sitting. My mom called an ambulance and was rushed back to the hospital on August 1, 2024. Turns out my port was infected and the infection went into my blood and I became sepsis. Spent a few days in the ICU due to my heart rate being so high. Was given some more antibiotics except this time they actually helped me and didn’t hurt me. I had 2 surgeries in the next 2 days. The first port had to come out. Second my expanders. I was so upset. I had my last fill and was finally feeling good and not in pain just to have it all taken away. Again. Spent 8 days in the hospital recovering. My second round of chemo was delayed until I was strong enough. Here we are now I have one more treatment before I’m all done with chemotherapy!!!! This journey hasn’t been easy for sure. But I stayed strong in times I didn’t know how I was going to do it. I stayed positive in times I just wanted to give up. My family is a huge part of this journey I don’t know what I would do without them. My mom told me “ Amanda you are more than your cancer, you can’t let it beat you, you have to beat it “From that day on that’s exactly what I’m doing. Kicking cancer's ass!!!