“I’m a few days late sharing this, but I’m so relieved to say that my annual mammogram came back normal! From now on, I’ll only need to see my oncologist once a year, and I’ll keep getting mammograms each December. I also recently changed my hormone therapy from tamoxifen to an aromatase inhibitor plus Lupron, which has put me into medically induced menopause by shutting down my ovaries. I’m still feeling unsure about this switch, but I’m monitoring how I feel and what changes I notice. If it negatively impacts my quality of life, I’ll reconsider the medication.
Cancer has taught me so much. It’s given me strength, courage, bravery, and independence. But it has also taken away a lot – friends, comfort, and my naïveté about life and death. Over the past four years, I’ve used my social media to support other young women who are going through similar battles. Starting in January, I’ll be going back to school in this field to change careers so I can reach and help even more people. I’m terrified, but I’m done letting fear keep me from truly living. My friend Abi, who recently passed away, never let fear dictate how she lived her life. She embraced the “challenge by choice” mindset, and to honor her, I plan to do the same.”