My name is Erika, and after investigating some suspicious symptoms, I was eventually diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer.
As of November 2023, I have completed treatment and am thankfully cancer free, though I still continue to take hormone medication.
At that time, my symptoms really raised suspicion. My breasts were sore and painful, and had little bumps on them. The doctor said that at stage 2, my 5-year survival rate was 80%.
Being diagnosed with cancer was a frightening experience. I felt nervous, worried and overwhelmed.
After being diagnosed, I made improvements to my diet by eating more nutritious meals on a daily basis.
Though I’ve mostly completed treatment, the journey itself wasn’t straightforward.
At first, my doctor recommended I undergo a mastectomy to remove the entire breast, along with chemotherapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapy. I agreed to this at first, but I felt a bit discouraged, and also anxious and scared.
Eventually, after doing my own research and with my doctor’s advice, I opted for hormone therapy instead of radiation therapy. Making this change motivated me a bit more, and I felt less anxious and scared. My finalized treatment plan included:
- Surgery: Mastectomy (Removal of the entire breast)
- Chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Targeted therapy
I’ve completed all the other treatments, and am now on hormonel therapy.
The treatments had a few side effects, and the most major ones I experienced were:
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Nausea and vomiting
I managed these through better nutrition and by using a cold cap.
Throughout and after treatment, I maintained my change in diet and ate better daily. Since discovering I had cancer, I also contacted my parents almost daily and visited them more often too.
There are many things I look forward to; I’m thinking about making a trip to the Bahamas for New Year’s, and also attending a cousin’s baby shower next month.
In the longer term, I aspire to grow my own baking business and hopefully find a brick and mortar store here in Atlanta. My biggest dream is expanding my baking business to store locations around Atlanta. I’ve always had this dream even before I had cancer, but ending treatment gave me the boost to act on my dreams and quit my corporate job to do something I love.
At some point, I’d love to start a family with my husband once we're ready.
These days, I’m a lot more optimistic. I feel hopeful and thankful.
Nonetheless, the one fear I had while on this journey was recurrence, because I didn’t want cancer to derail my life plans again. I signed up for a cancer survivor support group just last month, and I’m now thinking of seeing a therapist to manage my anxiety.
Don't let cancer ruin your life or define you. Take this as a sign to do something you love and cherish your time with your loved ones.
This patient's story is published and shared with their full consent. Any personal data that can be used to identify the patient has been omitted.
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