New Normal
Breast cancer taught me to be unapologetically free!
Breast Cancer survivor, Marquita Goodluck shares how diagnosis and treatment changed her approach to life.
July 19, 2020
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Breast Cancer survivor, Marquita Goodluck shares how diagnosis and treatment changed her approach to life.
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.
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.
Throughout this experience I found myself. My diagnosis closed a chapter in my life, but my current journey of faith and confidence in myself is open!
The word “normal” is no longer a word I use because life after breast cancer will never feel “normal.” I am forever changed and I prefer “okay.”
I told myself I didn’t need a man to make me happy and that was true, but the life partner assigned to me wouldn’t walk away when I felt unworthy, struggled with self esteem and body image or when all the woes of survival came to disturb my peace.
My cancer made it very clear to me that tomorrow wasn’t promised. So, I needed to make the most of my time. I wanted nothing more than to recover what we were rebuilding and move forward.
Unfortunately, his cancer didn’t make him feel the same.
Being a breast cancer advocate starts at home by advocating for yourself and can expand as you become comfortable sharing your story and even connecting your community to resources that have helped you along the way. You don’t need access to anything or anyone special.
It isn’t easy to begin again, because after treatment, that’s what it feels like; like starting over. But I found something that not only eases my emotional pain and anxiety, but that of others as well. And for that, I am thankful.
Many times I expected people to know what kind of support I needed. But I realize now, I didn’t know what kind of support I needed. As soon as I was diagnosed, people would offer to help, but I never knew exactly what to tell them. I lost myself. I never truly knew the extent of help I would need.
