Encourage by sharing…
When I started my journey with breast cancer I had no idea what to expect. Luckily, I had friends and family who could share their experiences, but that still did not fully prepare me for what lay ahead.
When my chemotherapy started, I was given a care package from one of the charities affiliated with the hospital where I was treated. The package, a small duffel bag, included items to keep me warm during treatment, items to keep me hydrated and fresh throughout treatment, and a diary and pen for writing thoughts or reminders. Attached to the thoughtful gift was a letter explaining how the charity was started, from a previous patient who wanted to help others with what she had learned and what you aren’t told in advance of treatment. Needless to say, I used the duffel bag’s items of wisdom within.
I also had to do quite a bit of personal research and reading to understand just what was happening to me and how to get through the various phases of treatment. This all inspired me to create this site, explaining as best I can what I learned along the way with the goal of helping others. My hope is to create a spark within individuals reading my story to reach out and share their journey, their own experiences after being diagnosed with breast cancer. It can be a confusing and painful time, but sharing the knowledge starting with one individual, and another, and then another, can resonate in helping an entire community.