I learned in February 2017 that I had breast cancer. I am grateful to God that the tumor was caught in time. I am a regular patient of St. Barnabas and the fact for the last 8 years I received mammography services at the same institution is a tremendous reason why the tumor was caught so fast.

I was an ADAMANT individuals that should I ever need chemo I would refuse it...well faced with recurrence that thought had to be put on the backburner and I needed to get in fight mode.

I had surgery to remove the tumor on April 4th and it was considered approx. 1cm in size,..and then the shoe dropped.

Because of the type of tumor it was (HER2 Positive Amplified) the likelihood of recurrence would be evident within 4-5 years. I elected to enter into chemotherapy treatment, as an option toward longetivity.

I began chemo on May 11th and was on a cocktail of Cytoxen & Adriamyacin, not ot mention steroids and anti mausea medicine (including some over the counter).

The first 4 rounds were T-O-U-G-H and I rarely felt like myself On July 6th I changed protocols and I am now on Taxol, Hereceptin and Perjeta.

So far I am managing the sideeffects. I am a fighter because there is nothing that will keep me down or lose faith.