Breast cancer was my lemon. Learning Stillness and Touting Early Detection is my lemonade

After finishing my fellowship in breast surgery, I asked myself the question: “How can I better serve my patients?” The answer came few months later in form of my own breast cancer diagnosis.

Yes, I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer on March 27, 2015 – Thanks to a SCREENING MAMMOGRAM (sadly, I was putting it off due to a busy life).

I never thought I would say this but that cancer changed my life for the better (it allowed me to become still and know God- Psalm 46:10) and I am happiest I have ever been in my life. I thank God for giving me another chance at life and I have so much more gratitude for my family and friends. God placed the most perfect people in my life to help me. I love my husband more than ever for standing by my side – this time, it is for “in sickness and in health”. I am thankful for my surgeons- Dr. Mark Cripe (breast surgeon) and Dr. Pankaj Tiwari and Dr. Ergun Kocek (plastic surgeons) for going above and beyond for me.

I am so very grateful for my family and friends who flew to be by my side, brought us food, sent me flowers, cards, phone calls, text messages and for their amazing prayers. There are too many names to mention here but you know who you are and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am forever grateful.

I want to turn my ‘mess into a message’ and here is my message:

Women – if you are 40 and over, please follow the American Cancer Society guidelines and get an annual SCREENING MAMMOGRAM. For women over 20 years of age – please see a doctor if you feel a breast mass or see any changes in your breasts.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Women and second cause of death after lung cancer. Breast cancer does not discriminate – it does not matter if you are black or white; young or old; rich or poor; have risk factors or not; Breast cancer is REAL and it can happen to anyone. I was allowed to go through this experience to help other women and men (yes, men get breast cancer too!). SCREENING MAMMOGRAMS SAVE LIVES and it definitely saved my life. If I help one person because of this message, it will be all worth it.

#Godisgood #IamaDaughter #Sister #Wife #Mother #BreastCancerSurgeon #BreastCancerConqueror.