It was Boxing Day in 2022, when I felt a lump in my right breast as I was showering. It was not like I was doing a self examination, why would anyone in their early 40’s think too. I followed up with my new family doctor and she suggested I book a mammogram and ultrasound asap. February 2023 just a month later, I’m now lying on the table having not one but two biopsies. A moment that I pray my own daughter will never have to experience. A week later, I received the call and it was confirmed, Cancer. I understood what the word meant but I couldn’t understand why this was happening to me. It’s now March and  I’ve been told it’s Triple Negative Breast Cancer and the mass was measured close to 6-8cm from 2cm back on Dec 28.  As well, my genetic testing showed that I have BRCA 1 .  Triple Negative Breast Cancer and BRCA 1 those were big words coming from my oncologist. 

There are some hard physical, emotional and mental challenges/ trauma along the way. I pushed through it all knowing that I had the support and love from my family, friends and community. Six months of weekly chemotherapy, a blood transfusion, bilateral mastectomy on August 20,2023, followed by 15 rounds of radiation. All this was  completed by the end of 2023, in one year. Reminding  myself each day that my two young children, are  my positive  purpose to find that inner strength. 

As I continue to go through my treatments, therapies and more surgeries to come, I will fight for me, my pink sisters, and for all those who have been impacted by Breast Cancer.  Just like they say it takes a village to raise children, it takes an army to help you fight through this disease. 

1 in 8 Canadian women expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Your donation will fund compassionate support programs to make life better for people facing breast cancer today and fund world-leading research to  transform the future of breast cancer forever.

Thank you to everyone for their love and support throughout this long journey. Please feel free to donate or join me October 6, 2024 when I walk for the CURE with Team “Josie Bruno Breasties”.