From ‘Probably Nothing’ to Stage One: My Story of Catching Breast Cancer Early
Hi, friend! Welcome to my porch! Today, we’re about to discuss a subject that always makes me emotional. I want to share my cancer journey with you. Are you ready? Some of the things I’m about to share might not be very comfortable, but I’ll do my best to maintain a positive tone throughout my story. Life is full of ups and downs, right? Well, this is one of the most difficult challenges I’ve faced. Read on and see how I discovered my breast cancer.
This is how my journey started.
We’re all scared of cancer and other dangerous health issues, and we’re trying our best not to focus on the negative parts of life or the possibility of becoming a victim. However, life is extremely unpredictable, and wise people say that what you resist, persists. Unfortunately, even though I took care of my health, I suddenly ended up being diagnosed with breast cancer. The diagnosis changed my life forever and made me understand what life is all about. But before we get to the lessons I’ve learned, let’s start from the beginning.
My Beautiful Grandma
When I was about 15 years old, my grandma, the person I loved the most, was diagnosed with stomach cancer. She lived a happy life raising her children and taking care of her garden. She loved gardening. Even though she fed herself with the best ingredients, directly from her garden, her stomach started to upset her. After a few months of not understanding what could have been going wrong, she finally saw a doctor and received a diagnosis. She had stomach cancer with a low chance of living.
When my family heard the news, everything changed. All the beautiful energy that surrounded our home and family members faded away and left us in silence, shocked by the awful news we got.
My beautiful grandma was one of the strongest people I’ve ever met. She was full of joy and positivity, and she never let her head down. She was always looking forward and working to become the best version of herself.
The Hardest Battle
Unfortunately, even though my grandma was extremely strong, the doctors had to hurry up and perform surgery. So, they basically cut her stomach, giving her another 7 years on Earth. She needed 10 days to wake up after the surgery that ruined my mother’s mental health and seriously affected her in the long term.
I remember like it was yesterday, how my sweet mother did her best and controlled her panic attacks. The sudden news, the diagnosis, the pain. Everything affected us. I never thought we’re going to heal. I felt like my all world was falling apart. I never saw my mother in such pain since then. And even now, more than 40 years later, I struggle talking about what happened that time. My grandma’s cancer journey was both inspiring and heartbreaking, and made me realize how fragile life is.
My Biggest Fears
We’ve lost my grandma 7 years after the surgery was performed. She lived the longest she could, and she made the best out of her time. She was always smiling and basically refused to ever accept the hard truth. She was alive, and she made a promise to herself. She needed to be strong, not just for her, but for us. When she saw how devastated we were, she did her best to hide her fears.
She was my superhero, an incredible person that I’ll never forget. I’m incredibly grateful that I had the chance to meet her, and my only regret is that we couldn’t spend more time together. I miss her so much, and what happened to her shaped me as a person.
Even though I didn’t realize it at first, my grandmother’s diagnosis affected me a lot. I began to be scared of cancer, and all my life, I felt like this diagnosis followed me.
My Journey
It started with something so small, a kind of itchy tenderness under my arm. Not pain, just weirdness. First, I thought that it might be because of shaving, or maybe because I wore an uncomfortable bra. Summers in Arizona are extremely hot, so I thought that it had to be a rash or something similar.
Still, I found myself checking that spot more than usual. Over the next few weeks, I noticed my left breast felt heavier than the right. Not swollen, it was a feeling that’s hard to describe. I started to panic when the itching became uncontrollable and when I also started to notice some changes in the way my skin looked. I knew that something was wrong, but I continued to wait for two more weeks.
I just wanted to make sure that something wasn’t quite right. So, when I finally went to see my doctor, she immediately told me that we’re ordering a mammogram and an ultrasound. She was calm and firm at the same time, and I knew by the way she paused at my breast, pressing just a bit longer, that she saw it too.
A few weeks later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and my entire world was breaking apart. I was picturing myself going through the same process as my grandma, and I couldn’t believe that it was actually happening to me. I went through phases of anger and anxiety, and I didn’t feel strong enough to win the battle.
What scared me even more was the fact that I also didn’t have any serious signs. However, I did some research and I’m about to share with you a list of the most common signs of breast cancer. Most women encounter them before receiving their diagnosis.
8 Signs of Breast Cancer You Should NEVER Ignore
1. A new lump
This is one of the most common signs of breast cancer. Lumps are dangerous, especially when they don’t feel like moving around easily and don’t go away after the menstrual cycle. However, not all the lumps feel the same. For example, some women describe it as a hard bump, while others notice a thicker area deep in the tissue that feels more like a knot. Most of the time, lumps are not painful, so that’s why it’s essential for you to remember that even if it seems small or harmless, it deserves a lot of attention. Once you notice something different, don’t wait until it’s too late.
2. Swelling
Swelling caused by breast cancer can appear in the breast ot underarm area, making one side of the chest feel heavier and even warmer. Most of the time, it’s not a visible swelling; it’s just a tight feeling that’s even hard to describe. In other cases, women notice that their underarm feels swollen or sensitive, which may indicate that the lymph nodes are reacting to changes inside the breast. Unfortunately, many women misunderstand this feeling (just like me) and think they might deal with a pulled muscle or a too-tight bra.
3. Changes in skin texture
This is one of the more subtle signs of breast cancer. The asking might start looking more dimpled like the surface of an orange. Some women notice that the skin feels tighter or thicker in one spot, while others see a shiny or swollen area that doesn’t match the rest of their breast. As a woman, you should be aware that these skin changes are often caused by underlying tumors that push or distort the tissue, and they may appear before a lump forms.
Although the texture of your skin may change and return to normal within a few days, don’t overlook this symptom.
4. Nipple changes
Nipples usually offer the earliest clues that something isn’t right. For example, if a breast’s nipple starts to turn inward or flatten, it’s a sign that something isn’t functioning quite right. Many women diagnosed with breast cancer have told me that they used to have very itchy nipples, while others felt a strange sensation.
The worst part about breast cancer is that usually these changes are painless and can be easily overlooked. We should all learn from my mistake and see a doctor as soon as something feels wrong. Being scared and running from reality shouldn’t be an option. Cancer can silently grow inside your body, and if you don’t pay attention, you might put your life in danger.
5. Nipple discharge
Did you know that cancer can also cause discharge? I can only say that this symptom is not pleasant for some women. The discharge might be clear, milky, or even yellowish. If you experience something similar, never assume that it’s something hormonal. Spontaneous discharge, especially from just one nipple, should immediately be investigated.
While I was undergoing my treatment, I had the opportunity to meet many strong women. We shared our stories and discussed our symptoms. It’s interesting how some of us experienced only minor signs, while others struggled for a long time before receiving an official diagnosis.
Some of the women I spoke with mentioned that the discharge often leaks on its own. However, what matters most is seeing a doctor as soon as you notice even a few drops. It’s unusual for the body to behave this way, so you shouldn’t ignore it.
6. Redness or warmth
Even though the type of cancer called inflammatory breast cancer is rare compared to others, it’s one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. One of its early signs is redness or heat in the breast. Some women notice their breasts look pink even though they didn’t bump or injure them. It may also feel hot or itchy, which is easy to mistake for an infection.
I think that one of the most important things in life is to trust your gut. Believe it or not, we usually feel it first when something is happening inside our bodies. It’s always better to be cautious than to wait too long.
7. Crusty skin around the nipple
Sometimes, breast cancer can affect the nipple and the surrounding skin in a very specific way, creating a lot of dry patches. Most women mistake this symptom, thinking that it’s just a rash or eczema. However, pay attention to any changes that don’t go away. If the peeling skin returns even after moisturizing, there’s clearly a problem.
Again, one of the worst parts about cancer is that most of these symptoms can easily be dismissed. When it comes to crusty skin, many women tend to believe that it’s caused by a bra, detergent, or heat, but in reality, if the rash doesn’t go away within a few days, all these little details should be taken seriously.
8. Heaviness
As I mentioned earlier, one of the symptoms I’ve experienced is a peculiar sensation of pressure in my chest that won’t go away. It feels somewhat annoying, like a weight that lingers. To clarify, the discomfort isn’t sharp or severe; rather, it resembles breast tenderness, similar to what I feel just before my menstrual cycle begins. What’s unusual is that this feeling can persist for quite a long time.
Throughout my journey, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to always listen to what my body is trying to communicate. There are always signs; you just need to be brave enough to acknowledge and confront them.
I also realized that fear does not contribute positively to our lives. Due to my grandma’s battle with cancer, I became terrified of the disease, and ironically, I ended up developing it myself. Sometimes, I feel as though I brought it upon myself through my fear.
While our health is incredibly important, what’s even more crucial is our courage and mental clarity. We shouldn’t confront negativity with aggression; instead, we should learn to approach challenges slowly and thoughtfully, taking things step by step without panicking. I know it’s difficult, but it is not impossible.
The Part NOBODY Warns You About
Usually, people prefer to talk about their physical changes during cancer. But, in reality, what matters the most is mental health. All those scans, surgeries, medicines, treatments, and scars can seriously affect a patient’s mind. Cancer makes everything feel uncertain. When I first heard my diagnosis, I felt like depression was slowly but surely invading my body. I’ve felt a deep panic, and I basically began to grieve my old life, even before treatment was done.
There was a part of me that thought that even if I was going to win this battle, I was never going to be the same person again. But do you know what helped? Talking about my feelings. Sharing them out loud. I told my doctor I wasn’t mentally fine, and she recommended the best counselor, who specialized in cancer recovery. That woman is the one who saved my life.
Even if I am extremely ashamed to admit it, for a second, I was ready to give up. Then, all those open conversations made me understand that I’m not alone, and life is worth living. So, I decided to take things slowly and enjoy every day of my life like it was my last.
Another thing that helped me a lot was journaling. I establish a routine, and I used to write all my thoughts before going to bed. It helped me feel relieved and focus on the recovery. I let myself cry whenever I felt the need, and I also tried to stay as active as possible.
Last but not least, it’s essential to mention that I had my family with me. My husband is my rock and the one who always gives me courage and strength to move on. I don’t know what I would have done without him.
Here’s a book that made me stay positive throughout my journey. I had many days when I thought I would never be able to win the battle. The problem was that I wasn’t feeling strong enough to have such an important mission. Makes sense? But this specific book meant everything to me, especially on the days when I couldn’t see the light.
The book is called HEAL BREAST CANCER NATURALLY: 7 ESSENTIAL STEPS TO BEATING BREAST CANCER, and it can be easily found on Amazon. Check it out!
Before leaving, here’s today’s song pick: Survivor by Beyoncé. My daughter would be proud of me if she knew I recommended this specific song. Ha, ha! Enjoy listening to it and see you next time!
Don’t know what to read next? Here’s another article found on my website: The 4 Biggest Money Mistakes I Made After Retiring