Lise, right, with her friend Anne as a breast cancer survivor at the Freedom Ride in 2010.

Here is my story of breast cancer.

I received my diagnosis of breast cancer on Dec. 19, 2007 … Merry Christmas?!?!?

I had noticed a lump in my right breast in October and found that in November it was still there. I had a biopsy done on Dec. 12, 2007 to find out on Dec. 19, 2007 that it was indeed cancer.

My husband and I were horrified. We had to tell our three children and also, Christmas was only a week away … How do we deal with that kind of news during a festive season like Christmas?  It was really hard, but my husband is my rock and together we were able to go through the festive season smoothly.

Early January, I had an appointment with a specialist  and after a physical check-up and analysing the results from the biopsy, she told my husband and I that I had no choice but to have a full mastectomy of my right breast. After recovering from my surgery, I saw my oncologist later in February and I started chemotherapy in March 2008. I needed six chemo treatments every three weeks. The 15th day after my first treatment, I lost my hair … I found it harder to lose my hair than to lose a breast. I remember standing in front of the mirror and just running my fingers through my hair and coming out with big clumps of hair … I just burst in tears; it was very hard. A few days later, my sister-in-law shaved my head; that made it much easier to bear.

Lise, right, with her friend Anne at the Freedom Ride in 2008, with one more treatment to go.

During my treatments, I was very sick and I had to be hospitalized after my fourth treatment because my blood count was very low. I finally had my last treatment in July 2008. Just before my last treatment, a very good friend of mine offered that I ride with her at the Bikers Reunion and I was feeling good enough (I was in my good days) to do the “freedom ride” … WOW that was the highlight of my summer and I can never thank my good friend enough for that!

Now almost three years later, I’m still on tamoxifen, but feeling really good. I just had another A-OK check-up.

I had so much support from my family, my friends and the community we live in; it was very overwhelming and I think that that’s what kept me going and fighting and I was not going to give up ever!!!

I love life and everything it has to offer and I am very grateful every day for having a second chance at life.

Throughout my sickness, I wrote down everything in my journal; the way I felt, the things I did, everything. It helped me cope and it was my way of dealing with all of this; just like therapy.

Looking back, I can still remember when I heard the diagnosis. Of course I was stunned and did not hear much of anything else when I heard the word “cancer,” but I never said “Why me?” I’ve always believed that everything happens for a reason and it was the same thing with this. I’ve learned to live life better and appreciate all the little things in life. I try to avoid stress as much as I can and enjoy every day that God brings. My faith has grown through my sickness and I believe that it is that same faith that helped me live through this ordeal in a positive way. I’ve also met so many incredible people through all of this; other cancer patients (we now have a connection every time we meet), nurses, doctors, volunteers. Through my sickness, I even got to renew friendships that I didn’t think I still had.

My husband and my children were always there for me and I am grateful for having them in my life. I now enjoy being a grandmother and I am so grateful for that.

I would like to end with a message for newly-diagnosed cancer patients: “Stay positive, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and be a little selfish … learn to take care of yourself and keep loving life!”