Breast cancer survivor: Finding my cancer posse

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 at the age of 37, I had no close friends who had been through cancer treatment. I felt alone. I felt like nobody on earth could know how I felt. 

I have now amassed a whole cancer posse, and I could not live without them. No question is too weird, no emotion is too scary, and no frustration too small to share with these women who have walked the path of breast cancer treatment. 

We talk about reconstructed nipples and scar tissue and menopause and sex after cancer treatment. We talk a lot about long-termside effects of chemo, radiation, surgery and staring death in the face. We talk about these things because there is much to process. And because when you wake up in the night deathly afraid that the pain in your rib is bone metastasis and you don't sleep the rest of the night, those sisters will not think you are a crazy hypochondriac. They have been there.

Sharing my breast cancer journey 
As my breast cancer treatment gets further in the rearview, the experience will probably grow dimmer. But I hope I always remember that I'm a survivor. And I think talking about it helps other people.

I have a new friend I met through breast cancer treatment. We would not be friends if I were not so outspoken about my own journey. She has gone all the way through chemo without a cancer posse and has lots of questions. When I answer, she is grateful for my honesty. Because it's important when you are going through treatment to realize that you are not alone.