On April 7, 2022 at 1:37pm, I got the call that none of us women ever want to receive.  My breast biopsy was cancerous. To be honest, deep in my gut I already knew.  I had signs.  Not physically - because the tumor is too small to feel and was only picked up by an eagle-eyed Radiologist on my yearly mammogram. But my intuition knew.

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I had my routine mammogram on St Patrick's Day.  Those of you who know me, I come from a big Irish family and we love us some corned beef, cabbage, and good beer, and believe in the Luck of the Irish. 

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A few days later, I got the call that they wanted additional views by mammo and ultrasound.  On March 29, on my way to the Helen Graham Breast Center, I was listening to WMMR's Preston and Steve, who I haven't listened to in a while since I am working from home and no longer commute.  That day, they were interviewing someone from the Headstrong Foundation, which supports cancer patients.  They said how just today, thousands of people will be diagnosed with cancer, and their mission is to provide the support so no one ever feels alone in their journey.  At that moment, I was pretty sure that I was supposed to hear that message.  Then, when I pulled into the Breast Center, and Katie Perry was telling me that "This is my Fight Song", I knew.  I have had these "coincidental" things happen before, and they are never wrong. 

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I waited almost a week to get the official results.  On World Health Day, my world changed.  But my Irish Luck prevailed, and it was caught very early. For that, I am extremely grateful.

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That day I decided that #1, I am going to win this battle, and #2, I am going to make something positive come out of this.  So I have gotten the most brilliant minds from the University of Pennsylvania to plan my treatment, and I am going to chronicle my journey for all the women who will get the dreaded call today, tomorrow or next week.  I want to give hope, strength and love to those battling with me and after I get to ring that magnificent "all-clear" bell.  This is going to be a tough year, but I have an amazing support system to help me through it. You can follow my journey as I share the good, the bad, and the ugly to help make this not so scary to face.