Becky's Story of HOPE

Everyone always thinks it is not going to happen to them, at least they hope it never will. I always thought the same thing until one night I was in the shower and found a lump in my left breast. I honestly wasn’t worried at first because I have no family history. I just thought it was a cyst and so did my family doctor. He sent me for a mammogram and from that determined I needed a biopsy. Then I started to worry. After a couple long weeks I got the dreaded news that no one ever wants to hear. I have breast cancer.

Due to no family history they recommend I have a double lumpectomy and some lymph nodes removed. After a few weeks of healing and a couple complications I started 7 weeks of radiation at the Walker Cancer Clinic. Radiation is exhausting and resulted in third degree burns to my breast.

They sent my tumors off for testing and they came back as a triple negative breast cancer so I started genetic testing. I have waited 6 months for the results and today I found out they came back negative!!! This means I get to keep my boobies and my children and siblings do not need to be tested. This makes me extremely happy.

I write this to tell you my journey and to make you aware to do self checks. If I had not caught this when I did it would have been a very different outcome.

I always made sure to stay positive and to try and keep a smile on my face. It is amazing what a positive mind can do.

I did this photo shoot to document this time in my life and at the time these were taken I wasn’t sure if a double mastectomy was in my future. I wanted to just feel like myself and feel beautiful again after all I have been through.

Cancer affects everyone around you, your family, friends and coworkers. I have honestly had the most amazing support system. I want to thank everyone from my daughter’s hockey team, my entire family, all my friends and all the wonderful staff at the Walker Cancer Clinic. You all sure do know how to make a girl feel loved <3

- Becky