Tyrrea

In February 2020 while completing a self breast exam I noticed a lump to me that felt like a pebble.I took note but didn’t stress couple of weeks later I returned to the area and noticed it felt as though it grew a little larger in size now the size of my index finger tip.

During the height of the pandemic I was able to see my doctor who immediately got the ball rolling. July 15, 2020 at the age of 43 I was diagnosed with Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) micro invasive grade 3 stage 0.

This means the cells that line the milk ducts of the breast have become cancer, but they have not spread into surrounding breast tissue. I opted for a partial mastectomy, lymph nodes were also removed to ensure that the cancer had not spread.

My surgery was successful, the cancer had not spread and 6 weeks of radiation was recommended to prevent a reoccurrence in my right breast.

2020 has definitely been a year of awakening. Prior to my diagnosis, I tried to control almost every aspect of my life worrying about tomorrow and what the future held. In the beginning I went through and sat with all of the emotions of hearing the words “it’s cancer”. Once that passed I began to move through this space with gratitude.

I let go of the things I couldn’t control, the things I thought I could and came into the realization that ultimately God is in control. I stopped dwelling on the past and dreaming of the future and instead stayed in the present. I also stopped carrying the extra weight of others around me.

I weighed in heavy on my faith and with God, the love and support from my family and close friends, I got through this time.
Today I am truly grateful. Grateful for God’s timing, God’s grace and mercy, and ultimately God’s healing. Grateful to the doctors and all those that I have encountered throughout this journey.

Grateful to my family and friends whom never let me feel alone even during COVID. I move through each present day with gratitude. For “Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Melody Beattie

Tyrrea