10/06/2026
I took this picture right after being diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago.
It was taken after a pep talk where I told myself this was just a chapter in my story, not my whole story. I was terrified I would somehow become defined by the diagnosis.
During treatment, I went into survival mode. I kept moving forward without necessarily processing all the emotions that came with it. I thought my grief, anger and fear made me ungrateful. And I insisted on staying positive because I truly believe attitude can affect outcome.
What I didn’t understand then was that positivity and fear can exist at the same time. So can gratitude and anger. Being strong doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to grieve what cancer takes from you.
Four years later, cancer still comes up in my life. It comes up in decisions about birth control, whether HRT will ever be an option, and when my doctor reminds me — again — that she would really like me to take tamoxifen.
There are decisions I will make for the rest of my life because I once had breast cancer.
But breast cancer does not define my life.
I’m a daughter. A sister. A friend. An artist. A writer. A dog mom. A woman who laughs too loudly, loves deeply, creates things, screws things up, starts over and is still figuring herself out. And yes, somewhere on that list, I’m an attorney too.
Breast cancer is part of my story. It was a hell of a chapter.
But the woman in that picture was right.
It was never going to be the whole story.
And because this is my annual reminder: please get your mammogram. Make the appointment you’ve been putting off. Remind someone you love to make theirs.
Mine saved my life. 💗