"I am a cancer survivor."
My story is about Attitude.

Through breast cancer, I've found things in myself that I never knew possible...bravery, courage, patience. It's recognizing how incredible you truly can become.

10 weeks after my wedding, at the age of 28, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite my urge to sit in my closet and sob for days, my attitude has been “Here is the problem, what is the solution? Let's get this fixed!” A month after diagnosis, I underwent a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. I wanted to live my life and for me, living my life meant loosing my breasts. They were a casualty of a war that I was determined to win and my scars would just be battle wounds.

After discovering I had 7 positive lymph nodes, I began dose-dense chemotherapy, which was followed by 5 weeks of radiation. Through each milestone, I've figured out ways to celebrate and take control. After my initial diagnosis, my husband and I had a "Pink party" where all guests wore pink. I began planning a head-shaving party and 2 weeks after my 1st infusion, before one hair fell out on its own, my husband shaved my head and had his shaved with my brother and 8 other friends. We celebrated with friends and family in the infusion room, high fiving and counting down each infusion that I got through. I ditched the wigs, wore bright scarves throughout this entire time and found ways to enjoy big earrings and makeup to accentuate my eyes.

Breast cancer turns your entire world upside down. I remember at my initial diagnosis, reading the survivor stories and wondering how I would ever get through it. And here I am. Breast cancer has become the most intimate thing I've gone through. I have shared my story and allowed everyone into the trenches with me. I wouldn't want it to be any other way and with my army of support behind me, I've been able to get through this with bravery. I'm still trying to deal with every emotion that comes at me . . . fear, anger, sadness, disbelief, excitement now that treatment is over. I'm trying to realize that I don't have to fight every day. I can have "non-cancer" days when I don't think about it. I can also have days when I'm scared or sad about my hair. It's saddening to give up your innocence at 28, but when you're stripped down to your raw self, without any hair, with cancer, you find strengths you never knew you had. You develop relationships that are closer than you ever though possible. You see love and support in those around you that overwhelm you at times. You become SO proud of your family and friends. You meet other women who are inspirational and give new meaning to the word, "strong." And that's not a bad thing to have in your life. It's an amazing feeling to label yourself "SURVIVOR."