2025 was supposed to be my year? then my cells went rogue and pulled the biggest plot twist of all: breast cancer. *wait until I write my yelp review on this one*

This year has been one of the hardest years of my life. Surprisingly, it has also been one of the best. I owe a thank you to cancer for bringing me closer to my family, boyfriend, and friends. I feel so loved and supported. 

In November, my college girlfriends are flying out to support and walk beside me in the Susan G. Komen MORE THANK PINK walk. This walk is so important to me, as it will be my first as a breast cancer fighter. 

We?ve set a fundraising goal of $5000.00 and would love your support in reaching it! Even if it?s a few dollars, every bit counts. Thank you in advance to everyone who donates and also a special thank you to everyone who has supported me so far. 

My breast cancer story: 

On January 11th I had a dream in which someone told me to check my breast. In the morning after remembering my dream I went to check. Sure enough there was a grape sized lump in my left breast.

After meeting with my PCP I was sent in for a mammogram, biopsy, and later an MRI. On February 28th, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer - Stage 1B, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Triple Positive.

From here, everything started to move quickly. I was forced to make decisions that I would have otherwise never had to make and some decisions that I thought I had years to make.

I had a port placement surgery done first. Since this is how I would receive my chemo drugs, it made everything feel very real. 

Since chemo affects fertility, I then went through two weeks of fertility shots that ended with an egg harvest surgery to freeze my eggs. I also started on monthly Zoladex injections, which would temporarily shut down my ovaries and put me into medical menopause. *cue hot flashes and mood swings*

On March 26th, I began my TCHP chemo regimen. I went in once every 3 weeks and completed 6 rounds. 

Because TCHP causes hair loss, I wore a -42 degree ice hat during chemo to slow the drugs from reaching my head and protect my hair follicles. After 40 total hours of cold capping, I finished my last chemo with 95% of my hair. 

On August 12th, I had a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction surgery. I was starting to see a finish line?

I received my pathology report back a week later. The good news is that there was no cancer found in my breast tissue! The not so great news was that residual cancer was found in my sentinel node. 

Even though the cancer was small, it changed my treatment plan. I felt like the finish line, which before had seemed so close, now felt even farther away. 

In two weeks, I?ll begin Kadcyla infusions. Kadcyla is made up of two drugs: Herceptin and a chemo drug. These will be once every 3 weeks and I?ll complete 14 rounds. 

In addition to Kadcyla infusions I?ll also be doing 6 weeks of radiation which will be Monday-Friday. 

Overall my pathology report isn't bad, but when you?ve already been fighting cancer for 8 months even another week feels exhausting. 

Unfortunately for cancer, I?ve got enough jokes to carry  me through next year. Rest assured, I will have the last laugh.