On September 14, 2023, quite by accident, I found a lump in my left breast.  My mammogram in October 2022 was clear so I was surprised that it was large enough for me to feel.  It must be a cyst, nothing to worry about.  After a mammogram, an ultrasound and a biopsy, the results came back as cancer.  It was a scary time for me, my family and my closest friends, who were all amazingly supportive!  After the lumpectomy, the results came back showing micro cancerous cells in the margins (the area around the lump they removed).  This meant I had to decide if I wanted another lumpectomy taking a wider margin or if I wanted to have a mastectomy.  I agonized over the decision but decided that I couldn't take the chance of missing even 1 cancerous cell.  I was fine with my decision until the day I removed my bandages (which I did while I was alone because I was too ashamed for anyone else to see)  That's when I lost it!  What had I done to myself? I was hideous, deformed, incomplete!  After a lot of tears I realized that what I had done was to give myself the best chance at life without recurrence.  Another long wait for the pathology report to come back.  This time good news!  Everything looked good and I would not need chemotherapy!  I had 15 radiation treatments and will be on hormone therapy for 5-10 years.  I am truly one of the lucky ones!