My breast cancer journey began with my mom.
Unfortunately, her journey ended after her breast cancer returned, despite getting a unilateral mastectomy.
I thought I was taking care of myself, and then it turned out, I had breast cancer.
Photo courtesy of Suzette Simon / Designed by Julie Bang / Verywell
Springing Into Action
After my diagnosis, I didnt allow myself to become devastated.
My doctors were hopeful about my prognosis and suggested a simple lumpectomy to remove the cancer.
I would then plan to get breast reconstruction afterward.
I feel like I flashed half of New York before I finally found the perfect surgeons!
Even though its a medical procedure, I wanted my new breasts to feel sexy!
I signed up for new boobs, but not for chemotherapy and radiation.
But when the doctors biopsied my lymph nodes, they found cancer in two of them.
Again, after my moms experience withmetastatic breast cancer, I didnt want to risk anything.
So, I asked for them to throw everything they had at me.
I also didnt want to gain weight.
But luckily, I did pretty well on chemoI didnt have any major disruptions to my life or schedule.
For me, chemo was also pretty short.
Despite all of my efforts, I still dont consider myself cancer-free.
I am here, though.
I was luckymy breast cancer was much more manageable.
Many women of color, though, dont have that same experience.
I have had issues with social media, though.
But Im going to continue working on #StrongBlackBoobs.
The whole campaign is motivated by a love for my mother and for Black women everywhere.
