Danielle
“I look at everyday as a new day. A new adventure, whether it is good or bad. But I will make the most of my days surrounded by my kids, my friends and my family.”
2021 Update
I am coming up on year six since I have been diagnosed with cancer. With Metastatic Breast Cancer our life expectancy is 3 years. Scary to think of if you ask me. Have I done everything that I wanted to do in life? No! Hell no! My kids are only 11. I’m 37 years old. But I will continue to live my life to the fullest with my kid’s happiness first & foremost. I am on my third treatment since starting chemotherapy/maintenance chemotherapy. After my first line of treatment, I was put on another line that was put through my port but my liver didn’t like it, so now I am on an oral line of maintenance chemotherapy. My cancer has been maintained! And that is what we want as Metathrivers. We want to maintain, as we are never curable! And ultimately this is going to kill me. But I don’t look at that, I look at everyday as a new day. A new adventure, whether it is good or bad. But I will make the most of my days surrounded by my kids, my friends and my family.
2015 Story
Life isn't easy by any means. I used to be a girl that would run constantly, have so much energy, but that has changed!
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November of 2015. I saw an indent on my left breast - I just assumed my bra did it. I had asked family members and friends, who are RN’s, in October. They told me to watch it and call my doctor if I see any change. I thought it would go away in time. At that point in my life, I made a job switch and I was in my second week of training in November of 2015. When I noticed that my indent was longer, I freaked! And that is when I went to see Dr. C. I was late on my yearly check-up by a few years, life got in the way of making that appointment. The moment Dr. C came into the door he knew I was scared. And believe me I was! He knows I am strong! But during my exam he had a face that I could sense something was wrong with me! He said I needed to go to the hospital and get a mammogram immediately. Luckily my mother in law and father in law came with. After the several conversations, my mother-in-law insisted that I shouldn’t go alone. She knew I was scared. And with losing my husband 15 months prior to my appointment, she was my rock. We got to the hospital and my heart sank that I needed this at all. After the mammogram, I was told to wait for the results. I waited, it seemed like forever! It was to me! But they showed me the results with Dr. G. Dr. G was my surgeon that Dr. C recommended. And that is when they told me that I needed to do a biopsy. They didn’t wait another day, let alone another moment! And damn the biopsy hurt (lots of cussing & crying was had) but I knew I needed to do it.
Back to when they showed me the mammogram results, I saw the difference immediately. But they didn’t tell me what it was. I started to pray and talk to my dad and Scott, my late husband, asking for this to be nothing. Following that, I had appointment with Dr. G the next day & that's when I found out with Ryan, my boyfriend, that I had breast cancer. All I could think of is I want it out. Take it out! All I heard from Dr. G was I have a tumor in my left breast, everything after that I read when I got home. But the plan was to remove the tumor and get reconstructive surgery - I even saw a plastic surgeon for implants.
On January, 2016, my 8 hour surgery was set and I was prepped, waiting to go in with my mom by my side. Things didn't go as planned in the morning and 5 AM was too early to call Dr. G. So, when I saw him 30 minutes before surgery I was going to ask but then I saw Dr. T behind him. Something isn't right! I knew it! Even with the happy juice. Now let’s go back a few days before the surgery. I had a bone biopsy on my L3 on NYE since I was having pain there since September 2015. That was the moment I was told that the cancer moved to my L3 and we weren't doing the BIG surgery. I was going to get my port put in & start chemo the next day. That is what happened. So it didn't go as I planned.
I started my chemo treatment that had put me in the hospital, made my bathroom my best friend, kept me in bed, and ultimately made me sicker than I ever thought I could be in my life. My priority was always the kids first, and then myself. But at times I had to put ME first. It was painful to see my kids go through and see me the way that they did. They knew mom was really sick and I was getting better. All I thought about was I have to get through this for them! They've been through enough with losing their dad and some of their family on that side and now me having breast cancer! So, I am fighting hard! I have my moments that I don’t want to fight anymore. I wanted it to end but I look at them and I know that is not an option. Never will that be an option. Throughout the months of chemotherapy, radiation and now maintenance chemotherapy, I've found out that my life will never be the same. But that's okay with me because I am here! I am kicking ass! I am going to continue to kick ass and be that strong, stubborn bitch that I am.
- Oregon
- North Carolina
- Indiana
- Tennessee
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Washington
- Utah
- West Virginia
- Colorado
- Massachusetts
- Missouri
- Arizona
- Wisconsin
- Nevada
- New York
- Kentucky
- Hawaii
- Minnesota
- California
- Florida
- Pennsylvania
- Michigan
- Canada
- Texas
- Illinois
- Connecticut
- New Hampshire
- Ohio
- Georgia
- Maryland
- Ontario
- Virginia
- Idaho
