Find The Beauty In Your Battle

It’s a beautiful October day in New York City. It’s not quite the crisp, pumpkin-picking, wood-burning fireplace feel yet… but October is in the air. It’s my favorite month.

It’s also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For those of you who don’t know… I am a survivor. I was diagnosed in 2016 and finished treatment in 2017 a cancer-free woman. Now, I take Tamoxifen every day and am navigating the Thriver life! 

It feels like a lifetime ago. Life before cancer seems like a past life. I am very grateful for where I am today and to be able to help other warriors on their own journeys. I am also thankful I blogged during parts of mine. The posts reminds me of how far I have come, how strong I am and how important community and telling my story is.

For those of you on the fence about mammograms… don’t be. Hop the fence and make that appointment. It doesn’t matter if your family has a history of cancer or not. Cancer can touch anyone. That is why a cure is so important to find. In the meantime, take care of you. Advocate for you.

That’s what I did when I went to my gynecologist for a prescription refill. She did a breast exam and felt nothing. I hadn’t felt anything either. I had no symptoms. It was your typical gynecologist office breast exam. However, this time she said, “Jess. It’s time for you to get a mammogram. You’re 40.” In less than a week I was getting my first mammogram. 24 hours later I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The mammogram didn’t show my tumor clearly but the ultrasound did. Thanks to making that appointment… and an ultrasound tech with a very keen eye…. my cancer was caught early and the tumor removed.  

For those of you reading this battling any type of cancer. There is CAN in CANcer for a reason. You can do this. You will. You’ll have crappy days. You’ll have great days. You’ll have days you wanna get off the crazy cancer coaster. The coaster jolts, has loops and has hills. Know this. The rollercoaster does level out and stop. You’re not alone on the ride. Just keep going. Your friends and family are on that coaster with you cheering you on. I am cheering you on. Just keep holding on… cause you CAN. 

As one beautiful warrior and thriver said, "We may not have the power to control what happens to us but we have all the power in the world to control how we react to it. Find the beauty in your battle."- Nalie Agustin