It was December 2014, and I was just finishing up my workout when I felt a lump under my right armpit. I immediately contacted my gynecologist, but as a 36-year-old without health insurance, she wouldn’t refer me for a mammogram, telling me to come back when I turned 40. I was frustrated and scared, but I didn’t give up. I started searching for other places where I could get the mammogram done, and after many phone calls and rejections, a kind lady from a mobile “mammovan” suggested I reach out to Nueva Vida, a non-profit organization that advocates for Latino families with cancer issues.
Finally, in February 2015, I was able to get a mammogram, which detected a cyst in my right
breast. However, I was told to come back in another six months. Over the next few months, the cyst thickened, and I knew something wasn’t right. I reached out to the screening center again, but once again, they denied me another mammogram, telling me to wait until I was 40. Anothersix months passed, and my lump was still there. This time, I reached out to my patient advocate from Nueva Vida, and she pressed for another mammogram.
In February 2016, I had a bad feeling when I went for my screening. While waiting for my results, they called me back inside and told me I needed to get a biopsy as soon as possible because the “cyst” had changed. The biopsy was a horrible experience, and waiting for the
results was agonizing. When I was finally given a diagnosis, my world was rocked. I had stage 2
ductal carcinoma in situ, a pre-invasive breast cancer that starts in a milk duct and has not
grown into the rest of the breast tissue. I was angry that I had been told to wait for so long, but I was also grateful that I didn’t give up.
After my diagnosis, everything happened quickly. During my first visit with the oncological
surgeon, I received a lot of overwhelming information. They asked me the big question, “Would you like a mastectomy or a lumpectomy?” I had no clue what to do. I had no knowledge about cancer procedures, so I decided to wait for my multiple panel genetic test results before making a decision.
With no family history and no pathogenic mutations identified on my genetic test, I finally
decided to go with the lumpectomy. In March 2016, I had a lumpectomy with sentinel node
dissection, and seven lymph nodes were removed.
After the surgery, it was time for my treatment plan. During my next visit with the hematologist oncologist. I learned that my treatment would involve adjuvant therapy, which included six weeks of radiation therapy and ten years of hormone therapy with aromatase inhibitors. I’m also receiving Lupron injections to put me under medical menopause and stop estrogen production.
It was a long journey, but all I could think about was my eight-year-old daughter. I wanted to see her grow up. Since then, my life has changed so much, and so have I. But it wasn’t time to be afraid; it was time to fight. I put on my big girl pants and faced my “new normal” the best way possible. I decided to enjoy my life, stay strong, and remain positive.
If you’re going through a similar experience, know that you’re not alone. It’s normal to feel
scared and overwhelmed, but don’t give up. Advocate for yourself and seek help from
organizations like Nueva Vida, who can provide support and guidance. And remember, it’s okay to not know everything. Take your time to make informed decisions that are right for you. Most importantly, stay positive and stay strong. You can get through this, and you will come out stronger on the other side.
