Having a community of people who knew exactly what I was saying about my symptoms and did not try to comfort me with toxic positivity was what meant the most to me.
I know you want to give me the advice you’d give anyone else – to slow down, be mindful, plan, save, and focus on healing. I don’t want to hear that. I want you to recognize that I am grieving and moving forward all at once because I have no choice.
I was diagnosed at the age of 28. At the time of my diagnosis, my husband and I had only been dating a little over a year. There is nothing that could have prepared us for a cancer diagnosis. We went from figuring out what the future had in store to being forced to deal with the realities of our “right now.”
“You hear these inspirational stories and you know, people talk about my mate did this, that and the third. But you know, I know I wasn’t expecting some kind of magical happy ending. I just wanted you to live, that’s all, and I was going to do whatever I could to have that happen.” – Jason (Sincere529)
The most challenging part of being a caretaker is being a neglectful caretaker of your own mental and physical being; if you are not emotionally capable yourself, you are incapable of fully taking care of someone else.
It was my time to lean on the very same people who depended on me. In my head, there was no way that everyone wasn’t going to be there and support me in any way they could. However, that is not what happened.
When I stop to think of the bright side, I think of my husband, my co-survivor. During active treatment, I was so focused on myself that I didn’t stop to think about how afraid he must be. But I noticed what he did. He took care of me.
After fighting breast cancer, my oncologist highly recommended that I transition to healthier eating habits consisting of more fruits and vegetables, less meat and dairy.
Preparing for surgery can be a scary and exciting time…whether this is happening at the beginning of your cancer diagnosis, the middle or the end, it’s one more mountain to climb, and climb you will!
Shame has been used to control the minds and bodies of Black, Indigenous, and all People of Color since colonization. It has been passed from one generation to another in many different ways…Life is too short and too difficult to carry around the extra baggage that comes from shame.
Your voice, your story, and your support can make a difference. Join For the Breast of Us in our mission to empower, support, and advocate for women of color across the globe. Together, we can create a future where every woman has the resources and support she needs to overcome breast cancer.
On the Web:
www.breastofus.com
www.breastofusfoundation.org
Email:
hello@breastofus.com
Welcome to our community—where hope thrives, strength is found, and sisters in the fight become family.
