October is pink month focused on building awareness and fundraising for research that will lead to a breast cancer cure.

Many of you know that I was diagnosed in January 2000 with stage 1 breast cancer; had a lumpectomy, followed by aggressive chemotherapy (because I was so young); and, ultimately finished the treatment with radiation. I was Her2 negative; so, there was, at the time, no recommended and/or available treatment after radiation like there is for Her2 positive diagnoses.

I journaled through my experience in the year of 2000. Here’s an entry from my journal on July 24, 2000.

“Wow! I can’t believe that it has been almost a month since I’ve made time to sit down and write down my feelings. In some ways I can’t believe that chemo treatments are done. It’s as though I have emerged from a dream only to face reality. Looking back and knowing that the time has passed and yet realizing that you are in the present.

I only have one answer to realizing where I am now and where I was and that’s Almighty God, our Father of Israel has carried me through:

The initial diagnosis

Surgery
Chemotherapy Treatments

And now, today I started the final phase of treatment with a radiologist oncologist consultation. 6 ½ weeks of M-F of radiation to the breast to treat the local area. Each phase of the process I experience different emotions. Today, it was more of an emotion of sadness of what’s ahead.

Sadness for all of the people in the building that are sick too.
Sadness that I have little control over all of the things that are happening – isn’t that weird? Because I know viscerally that God is in control of all things.

Also, I feel that I was emotional in so many ways today because the fatigue is bothering me. It’s day #4 after the final chemo treatment and I’m battling the side effects from that. I’m tired a lot but I’m really trying to stay with walking along the East River every day for 3 miles or so. (Approximately 1 hr.). It helps me clear my head and also it helps me think through thoughts and process emotions.”

For all of you receiving a breast cancer diagnosis; and, those of you going through treatment, I see you and I have been there too. Stay strong, focus on you and you will move forward!

Interested in hearing about my journey? Here are additional posts:

Healthy and Blindsided…

I was running for me…

October is breast cancer awareness month: My Breast Cancer Journey: Post III

October is breast cancer awareness month: My Breast Cancer Journey: Post II

October is breast cancer awareness month: My Breast Cancer Journey Post I

Sonya Ruff Jarvis is an entrepreneur and Managing Member of Jarvis Consultants LLC. Sonya is a Business & Marketing Consultant; Content Creator & Connection-Maker; Thought Leader & Industry Expert and Book Author & Entrepreneur. Areas of expertise include: Retail, Marketing, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and Human Resources. Sonya has been a part of the B2B retail industry for more than 30 years . Interested in Sonya’s books? They can be found on Amazon. Please feel free to contact her at sonya@jarvisconsultants.com to talk about your next project and how Jarvis Consultants can support your initiatives.