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| Looking out to the Pacific Ocean from Terranea, where this all started. |
Three words I didn't expect to come out of my mouth at 34 years old.
But here I am. I have breast cancer.
SO. MANY. QUESTIONS.
What?! How? Why? When?
SO. MANY. EMOTIONS.
Shock. Sadness. Anger. Denial. Fear.
I was diagnosed with Stage 2A, Grade 3, Triple Negative, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) in August 2018 and underwent a partial mastectomy (AKA lumpectomy). I have no lymph node involvement (YAY!) and the tumor was removed with clear margins (YAYAY!).
Its been a whirlwind, everything changed in a matter of days and weeks. The unknown has become normal and the fear of it, too. What hasn't changed is the love and support all of my friends and family have given me during this time. I knew I had surrounded myself with amazing, kind, loving people and they have stepped up and been there for me through everything.
The one thing I hear over and over is how surprising it is that I've been SO positive and strong throughout this ordeal. I laugh it off because what other choice do I have? When you're faced with something like this, the only way you survive is to be positive, think beyond the bad news, think about what you really want from this, what will make you happy. And what I want is to be healthy, cancer-free and back to a place where I can enjoy my life. After a years-long battle with anxiety, depression and traumatic loss, I am REALLY proud of the work I've put in with my therapist (love you, Chris!) to get to a point where I can be this strong to fight and this positive to live happily in the middle of chaos. I have a newfound peace and understanding that has been a great source of strength.
Cancer is just an obstacle. It's totally doable and I've got this!
I start chemo tomorrow, Friday, September 21, 2018. A date that already has so much significance to me. It's not lost on me that it's Michael's 37th birthday, it's more confirmation that I have a pretty fierce guardian angel on my side. I'm fortunate to only need four rounds of a TC protocol, before starting radiation. And I was able to secure cold cap therapy to (hopefully) save the majority of my hair. I hope you'll follow along as I tell my story.
If you want to read all the gory details, check out My Cancer Story.
If you don't self-examine your body monthly, or if you haven't had a mammogram, colonoscopy or other cancer screenings in the last year, let me be the inspiration for you to get that done. I found my own tumor and it saved my life!
To pay it forward, my friends have started a Race for the Cure team, Ash's Tenacious D's, that will participate in the Race for the Cure on October 27, 2018 at Autozone Park in Memphis. I'll be walking the 1-miler, plenty will be running the 5K. Join our team, donate to our team, or just send positive vibes our way. We want to make sure the research continues for the future generations to have even more options to fight.
Love and Light,
Ashley
Its been a whirlwind, everything changed in a matter of days and weeks. The unknown has become normal and the fear of it, too. What hasn't changed is the love and support all of my friends and family have given me during this time. I knew I had surrounded myself with amazing, kind, loving people and they have stepped up and been there for me through everything.
The one thing I hear over and over is how surprising it is that I've been SO positive and strong throughout this ordeal. I laugh it off because what other choice do I have? When you're faced with something like this, the only way you survive is to be positive, think beyond the bad news, think about what you really want from this, what will make you happy. And what I want is to be healthy, cancer-free and back to a place where I can enjoy my life. After a years-long battle with anxiety, depression and traumatic loss, I am REALLY proud of the work I've put in with my therapist (love you, Chris!) to get to a point where I can be this strong to fight and this positive to live happily in the middle of chaos. I have a newfound peace and understanding that has been a great source of strength.
Cancer is just an obstacle. It's totally doable and I've got this!
I start chemo tomorrow, Friday, September 21, 2018. A date that already has so much significance to me. It's not lost on me that it's Michael's 37th birthday, it's more confirmation that I have a pretty fierce guardian angel on my side. I'm fortunate to only need four rounds of a TC protocol, before starting radiation. And I was able to secure cold cap therapy to (hopefully) save the majority of my hair. I hope you'll follow along as I tell my story.
If you want to read all the gory details, check out My Cancer Story.
If you don't self-examine your body monthly, or if you haven't had a mammogram, colonoscopy or other cancer screenings in the last year, let me be the inspiration for you to get that done. I found my own tumor and it saved my life!
To pay it forward, my friends have started a Race for the Cure team, Ash's Tenacious D's, that will participate in the Race for the Cure on October 27, 2018 at Autozone Park in Memphis. I'll be walking the 1-miler, plenty will be running the 5K. Join our team, donate to our team, or just send positive vibes our way. We want to make sure the research continues for the future generations to have even more options to fight.
Love and Light,
Ashley
Love you and your strength. Thank you for sharing this journey and your light with us, you’re beautiful ((big hug)) ❤️
ReplyDeleteToday, on Michael's birthday he is definitely with you as you start this next phase. Together you two are unbeatable. Thank you for sharing your story, you may well help another woman to survive this, just like you're going to.
ReplyDeleteLove you - you have a beauty and light that is far beyond your knowing. You have a purpose and a testimony. Love to you ��
ReplyDelete