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Health & Fitness

It's Never Too Late: A Breast Cancer Journey

I remember it all. The disinfectant smell of the small exam room. The hardness of the chair I was sitting in. The sweat on my hands. "I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but you have breast cancer that has spread throughout your bones and liver." My doctor couldn't even look me in the eye. When she finally did, my first words were, "Okay, now what?” There was no time (in my mind) for crying or panic. That would come later.

The type of cancer I have is called HER2-positive, an especially aggressive form of cancer, so things moved very fast. Five months of weekly chemotherapy plus two drugs, Herceptin and Perjeta, which are specially tuned to my type of breast cancer. In August I had scans to see if the cancer had shrunk or progressed. I was in remission...I was beating it back into submission!

We are making big steps in treating cancer. I am living proof of that. The American Cancer Society reports cancer deaths are down 20% in the last two decades. We are living longer, and that's wonderful. We will take it, however much longer we can get!

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I don't know how much longer I have to live. I’m hoping for that percentage who live five years after diagnosis. I’m praying for ten years and beyond. Not knowing these things is hard, but there are some things that I do know.

1. It’s never too late to start something new. I’m planning on taking some college classes this summer.

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2. It’s never too late for romance! My husband and I love each other more now than ever! Vavoom!!

3. It’s never too late to make new friends. I’ve met some of the most wonderful people since my diagnosis and throughout my treatment. (You all know who you are.)

I hate having cancer. I’ll never be the same person I was a year ago. But I’m choosing to think of this as the next new adventure in my life. Who knows how it will turn out, but I’m going to have all the fun I can finding out.

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