1st Post

2011 was a tough year to say the least.  I was challenged with many difficult decisions and situations during the year.  Saying goodbye to my beloved father after he battled ALS, leaving a corporate position, coordinating my family’s cross country move, and then settling into a new town had left me a bit frazzled. 

Then, in October 2011, within days of moving to Wisconsin, I felt a lump in my breast.  It wasn’t lost on me that October is breast cancer awareness month.  There is a history of breast cancer in my family so I started having mammograms at age 38 and I even had one in January 2011 that didn’t show anything abnormal.  I’ve attended walks and races over the years and planned corporate events to benefit breast cancer research.  Those pink ribbons seemed like they were everywhere I glanced – magazines, billboards, yogurt - as I made the appointments that I knew I should and waited to find out more.  I prayed that this was going to be an easy thing to check off my to do list. 

On October 26th the phone rang. I remember the exact spot in the kitchen where I was standing when I answered and heard the radiologist tell me that the biopsy was positive.  Holy crap.  I am a 41 year old with two amazing kids and an awesome husband. I am a strong girl.  I am in good shape.  I eat well.  I played soccer. I've run marathons (granted it was before kids and over a decade ago). I can handle this. Well, maybe not the entire overwhelming, multi-decision, brain racking, huge ball of news...but I can handle today.  I went for a run.  And then I had to make some decisions.

I was diagnosed with Stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma, the most common type of breast cancer.  I've had two surgeries including a double mastectomy with reconstruction.  I’ve completed six rounds of chemo and fourteen infusions of Herceptin.  I stayed strong and optimistic and smiled more than I expected to.  Moms are tough…we have to be. 

I exercised as much as I could during treatment. Some days I ran, some days I went to spinning or did yoga, some days I walked at a snail’s pace down the street.  Exercise has always been great therapy for me both physically and mentally.  Luckily my medical team supported and encouraged my need to exercise.  I like having goals and something to work toward besides doctor’s appointments and infusion rooms.

A triathlon has always been something I have thought about but usually talked myself out of. Midway through treatment, I committed to train alongside other cancer survivors for my first triathlon this August.  It’s a big goal considering the year I’ve had but I know I can do it.  I am thrilled to have my appetite back, my hair growing, and can feel my body getting stronger.  Team Phoenix is an amazing group of Cancer Survivors and I can’t wait to cross the triathlon finish line with my teammates come August.  Cancer, take that!