by Jenifer Perico Chavez on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 2:04pm
I thought I had a lot on my plate, husband has a good job, new house, new job , one healthy baby but fate tapped me on the shoulder and reminded me that there will always be new challenges for as long as I'm alive. Being diagnosed with breast cancer can be daunting. I never thought I would have it because I am way too young for it. I tried to eat healthy food, lived a very healthy way of life but felt betrayed.
I had felt a lump during my late pregnancy with Sofia in 2009, my Dr thought it was pregnancy related and would resolve itself. I have it checked again after giving birth, and Dr. said it could be a clogged milk duct and related to breastfeeding, she said be back after 6 months if I feel the lump getting bigger. I got busy after then and forgot about the lump thing. After few months I started having abdominal pain and went to a new Doctor as I don’t feel confident with my old one, my new Dr. sent me to get an abdomen ultrasound and we did find out that cancer has spread to the liver and bones as well. Another request for mammogram, which couldn’t detect the breast tumor because it is way too small (0.98cm), went for ultrasound and biopsy result show for sure it was cancer.
I get mad sometimes thinking back about it! With my doing a research about cancer, I just found out that there seems a lot of us with young children were told "it's nursing issues" which it turned out NOT to be. I say forget the early detection- because I detected EARLY.. there needs to be more focus on early DIAGNOSING! early detection could SAVE LIVES. I will say that if YOU feel a lump then have it check and make sure to request for a biopsy if Mammogram couldn't detect it.
I am not happy to have cancer, but am happy with how everything is going so far. I will say what has changed most in my life is I found out how many people REALLY love me. How many people are willing to make big changes in their life to accommodate the changes in mine.
I still haven’t asked "why me" ....my feeling is "why not me" what makes me any different than the milllions of women all over the world who may get cancer, have cancer, or have died from cancer. I have seen many tragic situations happen to people who certainly didn't deserve it. Children with cancer, tragic accidents, the list goes on. I’m certainly no saint, but I don't believe cancer is a punishment anymore than "a gift”. I do believe in God and have become more spiritual. Should I expect a miracle? maybe yes, I plan to live a longer life.
What cancer has taught me something, "bad things happen to good people", and life was good before cancer, am I upset I got it, your damn right I am, do I wish it never happened, your damn right I do, but has cancer made me re-evaluate my life, and how I have lived it....................not a chance..............cancer does not deserve credit for anything, other then being the horrible disease that it is............
I did not need cancer to take over my life, for me to all of a sudden find the "beauty in life" All I have to do is look at my daughter, my house, my loving husband, my family and friends to realize how blessed I am, and life is good... Cancer has changed my perspective to some degree, but I have always been a person who has tried to live each day to the fullest and I haven't put off those things I have wanted to do.
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