So this one has been a long while coming, but honestly, it’s just that everything happened so fast.
In late September of last year, I noticed a bump on my breast. It was like a pimple but nothing happened when I poked at it. I went to my GP, and then got an ultrasound, and they thought it might be a cyst, and decided to try antibiotics, but nothing happened. Before I went back to the GP, I went to my OB/GYN and he sent me to a specialist.
It was there that after another ultrasound, mammogram and biopsy, I found out I had breast cancer.
I’m good.
I’m also very lucky. We are not sure of anything yet, but it looks like it was caught very early. But I got that diagnosis two weeks before Christmas and then it was a race to get me into surgery as soon as possible.
Initially, we thought we could conserve the breast, but after getting the results of genetic testing, we realised I have the gene that makes me susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer. So on December 30th, I had a mastectomy on my right breast. I’m currently at home, recovering and healing well according to doctors.
I will need more surgery. With my genetic markers, it’s recommended to remove the breasts and ovaries and so that’s what I’m going to do. I will also need reconstruction, radiation and possibly chemo. But for now I’m grateful for life, and so thankful to my team of doctors and the healthcare system that made my cancer treatment possible–quickly, professionally and compassionately. Yes, testing, preparation and after care is expensive and I paid, and I’m still paying, for a lot of things, but my God, I could never had afforded the surgery and treatment. I am blessed to live where I live.
I just want to say, get that lump checked out no matter what. Everyone said I had nothing to worry about right up until the biopsy said cancer. Make sure you know what it is. Don’t guess. And I hope it’s never the c-word.
Don’t skip your pap smears and mammograms and PLEASE, pay attention to your body. If anything changes, get it checked. Cancer does not look like you think it does. Mine felt like a pea-sized fluid sac, but when we went in, it had grown to the size of a grape and was solid.
In closing, just know that I’m doing great and my sister is taking really good care of me.
Thanks for listening and all the best for now.
R.S.A. Garcia 
Rhonda dear, I am so happy to know you are still in the world and recovering. You are one of my favorite people – I think of you often and still laugh out loud when I remember your response to Worlds Apart. Thank you for taking your health seriously. You have so much still to do!
So happy to hear from you ::HUGS:: Thank you for your encouraging words. And that’s how I felt when I got the diagnosis. I’m going to fight like hell because I have too much still to do lol!
Ah, fuck cancer – glad you found it early and are getting great treatment, especially in these pandemic days which I’m sure impacts the healthcare of so many. I hope the next steps of treatment aren’t too taxing xx
Sadly, I have a lot ahead of me. Several other surgeries. But so far so good!