November 2023, age 38, single, just re-opened my house cleaning business and it is starting to boom. One sister recently gets engaged and another one has her first baby. The holidays are approaching quickly and I have a cruise planned in February. Life is good.

I notice a lump one day and sort of brush it off until a conversation with my mom included some symptoms. Mammogram scheduled and a week later a biopsy. In the matter of 2 weeks my whole world had collapsed as I received that phone call stating you have breast cancer and need to start treatment right away.

Sitting in the doctor’s office receiving my treatment plan was sort of a blur: chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and so many other terms hitting me in the matter of minutes. I was diagnosed with stage 1B, triple positive, her 2+ aggressive breast cancer and needed to start treatment ASAP.

2 weeks later I was starting chemotherapy, chopped my hair, cut back work hours and my whole life changed. No more going out with friends on the weekends, no travel for a while, no sushi, I was unable to work as much due to the amount of doctor appointments I had and treatment sessions.

I took very detailed notes of my symptoms and how I was feeling round 1, to prepare myself for round 2, but it did not follow the same pattern and I am learning my body is getting weaker and this will get harder before it gets easier. I will become sicker and I will be unable to work as much as I want. Being self-employed I am unable to receive and SSI, disability, or unemployment benefits so my only hope is to work when I feel good and hope for some assistance throughout this difficult time.