When my chemotherapy ended, I expected relief and joy to carry me through. But instead, I found myself gripped by post-chemo panic. The world seemed to expect me to go back to normal, but I wasn’t ready. Surgery and radiation were still ahead, and I hadn’t even begun to process the emotional toll cancer had taken on me. The hardest part wasn’t over; it was just beginning

The first day of chemo is when the reality of my cancer journey truly set in. I had spent weeks consumed by fear and uncertainty, but nothing prepared me for sitting in that sterile room, wondering how long it would take before I stopped recognizing myself. As the world around me continued to move forward, I felt stuck in place, battling emotions I didn’t know how to share. The loneliness of treatment was something I didn’t expect, and while friends and family tried to help, I often felt like no one truly understood the turmoil beneath the surface. This journey was mine to walk alone—learning how to be my own friend became a part of my healing."

A few weeks before my breast cancer diagnosis, I was consumed by fear and dread. I couldn’t eat or sleep, and I was overwhelmed by the thought of how this would impact my daughters. I knew the diagnosis was coming, and those weeks leading up to it were the hardest. Once the confirmation came—triple-negative breast cancer—I entered a whirlwind of appointments, treatments, and the toughest conversations I’ve ever had. Telling my girls shattered their innocence, and the emotional toll weighed heavy on my heart. But even in the midst of fear, I found the strength to fight, knowing I had to be there for them."

Approximately four weeks after surgery, I met with my radiation oncologist, who explained the process in detail. Two weeks later, I began my 16 radiation sessions, which were surprisingly straightforward. The actual appointments were short, but the fatigue that set in during the second week was next-level. I found it hard to believe that such brief treatments could cause so much exhaustion. Radiation turned out to be the least scary part of my cancer journey, and with some self-care at home, I made it through without skin issues. I hope sharing this helps anyone facing radiation treatment.

When I was first diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, my immediate reaction was to have a double mastectomy. I didn’t want to take any chances. But after hearing about the complications some women faced with multiple surgeries, I began to reconsider. During my appointment with my surgeon, I was relieved to learn that a mastectomy didn’t lower my chance of reoccurrence. Together, we decided a lumpectomy was the best option for me. Although the surgery came with unexpected challenges, including nerve damage and a longer recovery, I’m grateful for the outcome and feel confident in my decision.