My Lucky Story

I'm getting a mammogram today!

As a lot of you know, I had breast cancer. It was on December 7th in 2017. I was in a doctor's office with my husband, getting the diagnosis, feeling very lucky.

After my last surgery in September this year, I finally finished all of my scheduled surgeries. (my last one wasn't cancer-related) So many tests, so many shots over the last three years. Of course, I wasn't sick all the time in the past three years, but I was in bed for a few weeks after every surgery. I know staying in bed for weeks is a luxury for any mom, but I'm glad to return to a healthy self again. Today's mammogram is the first since my initial diagnosis. I've had MRIs and ultrasounds every six months and have been lucky to find nothing in there anymore. Nobody is a fan of the mammogram, trust me, ugh. I do it for my family tho! I hope they find nothing again!

So why do I felt lucky at my doctor's office getting the diagnosis? It's because I caught it very early. Mine was stage 0 cancer. (Cancer stages are 0-4) It was way easier than other people who go through this.

Holding “Omamori” good luck charm from my high school friend in Japan. In the hospital bed after the surgery.

It was three years ago in November. I felt a little sting on my left side of my breast when I was drying my hair one night. I thought a spider bite or something, but I felt a little bump when I touched it. It was like a pachinko ball (if you know what pachinko is ...) inside. I lost my dad to cancer. His cancer was so invasive, the doctor told my brother and me that we need to be "careful" when we pass 30 yrs old. So I didn't wait and wonder what it could be. I called the hospital right away, scheduled an appointment with any doctor that was available that week.

I hate "wondering". For me, it's just a huge waste of my energy and time. Why do I spend time wondering what/how it could be when I can do something about it and get an answer or understand the situation?

The doctor saw me, send me to a bigger hospital to get tested, and within a month, I got a call from them saying it was cancer.

From there, I started my two years of surgery journey (my first surgery was in early 2018, and surgery takes steps). I have to admit that I was very fortunate not to do chemotherapy. My cancer was stage 0, which means the cancer cell was still in my milk duct and didn't spread anywhere else. I could just take that out and be done with it. The doctor gave me two options. 1- is to remove only the cancer area and have radiation therapy five days a week for eight weeks or 2- remove the whole breast and don't get radiation. For a mom of 2 with young school kids, do you think I had time to go to the hospital that's in Hollywood for five days a week?! Hell No! I was a driver for my kids, going to schools to after-school programs and activities. So it was a no brainer. I chose to remove the whole breast.

Me right before going to the surgery.

Beautiful flower gift. This cheered me up.

One of the things I clearly remember from that doctor's visit was that the doctor was surprised how well I took the diagnose. She even asked my husband. "is she always like this?!" lol. Well, for me, it was a lucky diagnose. I thought it'd be way worse than how it was. So I was ready to take care of it and be done with it. I guess she was so used to seeing women get breast diagnosis and cry at the office. I was more like, "oh yey! let's do it!". Maybe I'm too not-sensitive? I just didn't think it was a bad situation at all. We scheduled our surgery date that day, and I started my journey.

Fast forward three years and three major surgeries; I'm happy and healthy today. It wasn't all easy and fun, of course. After my initial surgery, I couldn't raise my arms. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to hold a camera because I couldn't even wash my own hair! But I'm not the type of person who gets depressed in the situation. I knew I had to get better, somehow! So I did everything I can to make the situation better. But I didn't do it all myself. My family and friends helped me tremendously. They brought us food and drove our kids to schools. My family wouldn't have survived it without my friends. I'm forever grateful for them...

We got creative on how to play when mama was in bed all the time.

So! If you're over 40 and reading this today, consider this as a reminder to get a mammogram. If you haven't done it, schedule yours TODAY. Early detection is so important!! If my story can ease your worry about breast cancer, I'm happy to share my experience. (even mine was stage 0...)

Celebratory drink after the final doctor’s visit.