Sally Diaz: Breast Cancer Survivorship Symbolizes Strength, Bravery

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By Sally Diaz
San Antonio Cancer Survivor

On May 5, 2014, just 6 days before Mother’s Day, my world came crashing down.

I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Triple Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. I noticed my lump on accident while waking up from bed and stretching. I was 42, married, and a mother of a 10-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy. I tested negative for genetic testing and I had no history of breast cancer in my family.

Within two weeks of my diagnosis my roller coaster ride had begun and I was admitted into the hospital so that a medi-port could be implanted in my chest for chemotherapy.

My life has never been the same.

As a mother diagnosed with cancer, the first thought that comes to your mind is your children and the fear that you will not be there for them. For me the fear that I would miss milestones in their lives was of course on my mind but more importantly was that THEY WOULD miss out on having a mother to be there for them.

Survivorship to me symbolizes strength, courage, and bravery. At the beginning so many of us believe we are incapable of defeating cancer. But you do what you can and whatever you can to survive and to be that person you never knew you could be.

For those that are recently diagnosed, I would like to let them know that even through the worst of times that things will get better. God will send you angels and messages when you feel defeated. I promise they will come when you least expect them and they will have such a profound impact on you.

While a survivor’s battle doesn’t end after treatment and reconstruction, it continues with fear of reoccurrence and depression, I continue to move forward and take each day as it comes and enjoy all the happiness and blessings that come my away.

Be STRONG when you are weak and be BRAVE when you are scared.

Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of guest blog posts from Breast Friends Forever (BFF) in San Antonio, Texas. BFF is a support group that enables young breast cancer survivors to share stories and experiences, developed by the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio (the team behind Salud America!) and Susan G. Komen San Antonio. Email BFF or Visit BFF on Facebook, and check out breast cancer news from Salud America!. The main image above features Sallie Diaz (right) and Stanlie Murray.