My cancer story began in 2013 with a tiny cancerous tumor in my breast, which led to a lumpectomy and 16 radiation treatments. Easy peasy for the most part, and forgotten until 2017. In 2017 I had my annual mammogram and they asked me to stay for an ultrasound. The technicians noticed some irregular cells that were later confirmed to be stage zero cancerous cells. I was advised to have a double mastectomy, after which I was informed that they found invasive cancer and then recommended six rounds of chemotherapy.
This all happened so fast and triggered a multitude of questions, so I turned to the Cancer Support Community (CSC) to find answers. While I waited to get into a breast cancer support group I joined a general group and my husband joined a caregiver group. Getting cancer is like traveling to a foreign country where you don’t know the language. CSC is full of amazing “travel guides” and a whole room full of fellow “travelers,” some experienced others as lost as I was. They teach you the language of cancer (so many acronyms, tests and drugs!) and share their stories. My father-in-law once told me that “knowledge is power” and I found that CSC was the place to become powerful. Even though I am now cancer free, I continue to take classes at CSC about nutrition, exercise, cancer prevention and someday I’m going to partake in the ukulele classes. As I tell my friends, all the services at CSC are free, you just have to get cancer! CSC offers the emotional support to boost your spirit and the educational support to help you make informed, lifesaving decisions.
I will always support CSC in any way I can to pay it forward to those in need that come after me.
Shake up your COVID routine and join us for our virtual 2021 Hope Walk, Sunday May 9 through Saturday, May 15. The most important thing is that you participate and encourage your friends to get out and help us reach our fundraising goal of $200,000.
I hope you will join us!
Amy G.
CSC member and cancer survivor
