LifeCYCLE Member and Survivor, Adriane Brooks
My husband and I had just completed a 40 day fast. Soon after, I performed a self breast exam and found a small, hard, marble-like lump on my breast. I immediately called my doctor, was seen quickly and they said it was likely fibroids. But because I was under 40 they were concerned enough that they ordered a mammogram.
When my mammogram came back abnormal, they performed a biopsy. The biopsy showed I did in fact have breast cancer (stage 3) and it had traveled to my lymph nodes. My doctor said had I not recently been fasting and lost weight, I probably wouldn't have been able to feel the lump and it would have gone undetected until the my first mammogram at 40, almost two years later.
Fast forward I had a double mastectomy, chemo and radiation, finished by numerous reconstructive surgeries. During this period of time I was taking regular trips to John Hopkins and doctors appointments multiple times a week.
With no family in the area I relied on friends, neighbors and my church family to help with my 4 kids who were 7, 6, 4 and 3 at the time. I was also introduced to the Red Devils, a Maryland based organization that helps families dealing with breast cancer. They gave me gas cards, dinner vouchers, house cleanings and helped with bills. They even paid for my kids to go to summer camp when needed so I could finish my treatment.
When people ask me about my journey I say it was just a chapter in my life not my whole story and the rainbow is that they used my belly fat to reconstruct my breast...now who doesn't love that?! Always remember to do self breast exams!
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Adriane! We absolutely adore you ❤️
