Jill lives in northeastern Minnesota with her husband and two sweet puppies. She was diagnosed with stage 2A breast cancer in January 2016 when she was just 39. She had a bilateral mastectomy, six rounds of chemotherapy, one year of Herceptin infusions and is now taking a hormone blocker for the next five years. She has embraced her cancer journey, finding strength in sharing her story and works hard to focus on the positive.
I have always been a healthy person so you can imagine my shock when I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 39. Shifting from doctor’s visits every six or so years to appointments, scans and/or blood work every week was quite an adjustment.
Let’s just say that trying to navigate the “system” was not my strong point.
Take my first chemo treatment for instance. Did I know I was getting chemo that day? Nope. But honestly, who goes in for chemo not knowing that they are going in for chemo? This girl. My oncologist asked me why I thought I was there and my response was “I thought you just liked talking to me." Yep...I’m that sarcastic girl.
Then there was port removal day. As I sat there looking around the doctor’s office I started to notice things. A big light, a tray of surgical tools and a table with a gown nicely folded on it. How did I not know I was getting my port removed that day? Who knows...but in my defense, I was told I was having a surgical consultation to discuss port removal.
I am currently cancer free. I don’t know for how long but that’s okay. I will continue to do cancer...in true Jill fashion.