Breast cancer taught me to be unapologetically free!
marquita goodluck
July 19, 2020
Breast Cancer survivor, Marquita Goodluck shares how diagnosis and treatment changed her approach to life.
“Tell the story of the mountain you climbed. Your words could become a page in someone else’s survival guide.” — Morgan Harper Nichols
Breast Cancer survivor, Marquita Goodluck shares how diagnosis and treatment changed her approach to life.
In working with women of color it can be very difficult to find resources that cater to our unique needs. For a lot of us, the mindset is if you are struggling with something, we are taught to rely on our faith. But that can be extremely difficult when you are faced with the unthinkable.
My first breast surgeon gave me the news that I had cancer and the choice to keep my “healthy” breast. They didn’t explain my condition or their plan of action the way that I expected. In fact, the eight minutes I sat with them was not enough time to explain very much at all about anything.
Going into chemotherapy, I knew there was going to be a plethora of side effects I would need to brace myself for. But there was one side effect, one challenge, I hadn’t seen coming. And as something I hadn’t seen coming, I couldn’t thus prepare for it.
Personal Story: A young woman’s story of genetic testing and risk-reducing mastectomy Alejandra Campoverdi comes from a family with three generations of breast cancer. As
Stress can wreak havoc on us inside out, especially if we don’t take some time to be still and breathe deep. And what is 10-20 minutes a couple of times a week to reduce stress, which also reduces the appearance of aging, fatigue, and frustration on our faces?
Recognizing that I never used to set healthy boundaries – What does that look like to engage in that process in an act of self-preservation, self-care and compassion towards self? How do I unlearn this old programming where I thought to put me first was a sign of selfishness? Forreal, to put me first has been a struggle!
IBC is real and it doesn’t always appear like a typical breast cancer diagnosis. Pain, swelling, discoloration, change in appearance are all a part of IBC. If any doctor tells you that breast cancer doesn’t hurt, that’s a lie.
This body got me through cancer, and I am proud of it. By being vocal and sharing my story and images I hope that surgery without reconstruction becomes less of an outlier, and more of a viable choice for young women.
To tell or not to tell, is the million dollar question as it relates to when you believe it’s the perfect time to share your breast cancer diagnosis with family or friends. Even more importantly, when do you share with your children?