Over the past several years, I have been very open about my breast cancer journey in 2015. I can’t believe that it has been over 10 years since I experienced this “blip on my radar”. But it is way more than a “blip on my radar” and instead is something that has profoundly changed me over the past 10 years.
First, thankfully my physical self has not changed much. But that is not true for everyone, some women have changes to their body that can affect their self-esteem and body image. When those kinds of changes occur, that can also lead to some lasting emotional effects. I love the women that I know who have embraced those changes and use them as a constant reminder that they have survived!
So, I talked about emotional impacts that can carry a variety of emotions. First there is the relief that you are done with treatment (whatever that may be). But I talk with a lot of women that have anxiety about recurrence. And I would be untruthful if I told you that thought has never crossed my mind. It is something that I am vigilant about having my regular checkups and making sure that I stay on top of changes in my body.
I think, however, that the most powerful part of having breast cancer is that it has changed me and gave me a new sense of purpose. I now feel empowered to talk about it and to help other women who are going through it and encourage them to find a support system to help them through the treatment. It has also made me look at my lifestyle and habits over the past 10 years. On most mornings you will find me out walking or spending some time at the gym, I drink less alcohol than I did pre-diagnosis (although I still enjoy a great glass of wine) and my biggest change is that I have eliminated a lot of stress in my life.
My biggest piece of advice for those reading this as we remember that 1 in 8 women will have some sort of breast cancer in their lifetime. Go get that mammogram and annual checkup that you have been putting off…you have a 99% chance of survival if your breast cancer is discovered as a stage 1, so early detection is key! Make your appointment today!
