Paula at present day after completing her treatments.

My name is Paula and, like many others, thought that I was the picture of health. I rarely, if ever, got sick, was physically active and in the best shape that I’ve been in years. Life was pretty good, or so I thought. I had just recently met a wonderful man, my kids were grown and wonderfully independent, I have two beautiful granddaughters and I am only 50!

In the early spring of 2010 one of my dearest friends came over for dinner and during the course of the evening we spoke of her now deceased mother who had died seven years earlier due to breast cancer that had eventually spread through her entire body. She passed away in her very early 50s. Her story is that the lump had not been correctly diagnosed so therefore enabled the cancer to spread to many areas of her body. The reason we spoke of this was because I too had a lump in my breast that had been there for five years, but I had been told it was just a cyst. I had left it since I had not noticed any changes in my breast at all, and so felt relatively safe. With the urging of my dear friend and my wonderful man, I promised I would get it checked again and just have the lump removed. I made my appointment feeling very confident that all this would entail is the removal of the cyst and life would go on. I was not at all prepared for the news I received. Within one week I went from healthy Paula to someone with breast cancer. It was rather unnerving to me as my grandmother on my father’s side had breast cancer and passed away in her early 60s back in 1964 or 1965. I felt I was safe from this disease since it was my father’s mother, but now realize that genetics are not parental-specific.

Upon diagnosis, the surgery was booked and I had a new procedure done. Once the pathology was complete, they determined there were more cancer cells and so I had another surgery. I was able to retain the breast but ended up with complications which I am still to this day dealing with and will be resolved hopefully by the end of the year.

Paula during her treatments.

After surgery, I met with my wonderful oncologist and my chemo plan had been put into place. Apparently my treatment consisted of the most difficult chemo to take after which I lost my hair, eyebrows, eyelashes and even my fingernails. I would look in the mirror and see my father, bald and aged and very unattractive. I still had spirit though and this disease was NOT going to take that away from me too. After the chemo which I choose to not think about too much, I had six weeks of daily radiation. Then the magical day was here … I’m DONE all treatments (with the exception of the issue in the breast I am currently dealing with). The worst was over! Now I had to figure out how to cope, to deal with who or what I am now. My life after one year is no longer governed by doctor’s appointments, and people caring for me. I had to take back the reins and I am still doing this. But I AM A SURVIVOR! I will be strong, as there are others with worse conditions than my own. I have my hair back, I have my looks pretty much back, I am me again and I am going to do what I want to do with my life and be so thankful for all the support and kindness that was shown toward me. I have a second chance like so many others do not have and for that I am eternally grateful and I wish with all my heart to be there for others who may be suffering through this presently. No one understands as much as a person who is either going through this or has survived it.

Life is a gift and we must treasure it each and every day. Our loved ones are also gifts and to those people, family and friends, I wish to thank for all your love, support and kindness during this difficult time.