More than three years ago, I felt a sharp, shooting pain in my right breast and realized there was a lump. After a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsies, my doctor diagnosed me with stage 3 breast cancer with lymph node involvement.

After the diagnosis, I made significant changes to my nutrition and diet. I started eating healthily. I also exercised more.

To treat my cancer, I followed my doctor’s recommendation and had surgeries — mastectomy and lymphadenectomy; chemotherapy and radiation therapy. I did some research on my own before making my mind up. Having decided on the treatment plan, I felt slightly happier and motivated, although I was still a bit scared.

I experienced tightness and dryness from radiation burns, along with some swelling and fatigue. However, exercise and good nutrition have helped to alleviate these side effects. My doctor also prescribed some medication.

Since my diagnosis, I continue to eat a healthier diet every day of the week. I have decided to maintain this change in my diet and nutrition. Since discovering I have cancer, I've made an effort to call or text my parents more often.

I really want to visit my parents in my hometown more often and go on more trips with them. In the coming years, I want to focus on taking better care of my mental health; I was diagnosed with ADHD after recovering from cancer.

My biggest aspirations are to continue being positive and braving through my cancer, mental health issues and lymphedema.

My biggest fear throughout this journey has been cancer returning or suffering from other long-term side effects apart from lymphedema. I communicated frequently with my doctors and cancer care team on how I could manage and cope with side effects and emotions I was facing.

These days, I feel neutral about my condition. As time has passed, I’ve become more confident and hopeful about the future.

"It’s okay to have bad days. If you have bad days, and you want to scream or cry or just wish things were as they used to be, then let yourself feel that. There’s no right or wrong way to do this. Cut yourself some slack, and just do it."