Two days before Christmas, Lynn Leclerc was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She tells us how she stayed happy and hopeful.

Lynn Leclerc (4)

It was like waking up from a bad dream! It was two days before Christmas 2005 and I was told I had breast cancer. I was given an appointment to see a surgeon on January 5, 2006. I was a very fit 40 year old woman who had always taken good care of herself. How could this be happening to me?

Not knowing how good or bad the situation was going to be, I began to worry. I told my family but not our four children. I wanted them to have a happy holiday season.

I lost 15 lbs over the holidays from the stress of worrying. When I met the surgeon he told me that he would have to remove my right breast. It was very difficult to wrap my mind around this terrible news, but I quickly went into survivor mode and dealt with it. I was scheduled to have the surgery a few weeks later on January 25.

In the meantime I did something very positive to get my mind off the cancer issues and planned a wedding. Yes, my wedding! Ben and I were married on January 21 surrounded by family and friends in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec. With the help of so many we planned the event in only 13 days and it was a fabulous day for all. It was honestly the beginning of my new life.

After surgery I received more bad news, the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes. I now had to have chemo and radiation therapies.

For chemo I chose a clinical trial that used new, more aggressive drugs. This was a better treatment plan than what had first been offered to me. I wanted to go hard to kill this thing! With 8 treatments over 3 1/2 months the chemotherapy made me very sick and I suffered from hair loss and many other side effects. With my wonderful husband Ben by my side every step of the way and the endless help from our family and friends, I made it through chemo. Radiation was next and began in August with 25 treatments over 36 days with more side effects. Radiation finally ended on September 8, 2006. I am now taking drugs to lower my risk of cancer recurrence.

Lynn Leclerc (2)

Going through treatments was difficult but I stayed positive and kept up my normal lifestyle. I continued to eat well, exercised and went for my runs! My oncology team could not believe how good my energy level was. It was important for me to feel good even if I was going through treatments that made me ill. I did not look sick! It was quite the opposite; people could not even tell I was going through treatment. I always prided myself on looking great and it was never an effort to do so. When you look good, you feel good!

In October 2007, I began the process of breast reconstruction. I had several surgeries and by spring 2008 I had resumed my regular physical activities and exercise programs and I could honestly say that I felt somewhat normal again. I looked great in my clothes and felt that my femininity was totally back.

I know firsthand how this terrible disease can affect not only individuals but whole families. I can only hope and wish that one day all cancers will be something of the past and that my children and your children can live free of the fear of breast cancer.