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In the last 4 years, I have been through child loss and I’m going through cancer. But I’m still here... I’m so thankful to have a loving and supportive husband and family, great friends and I thank God for covering me through it all. There’s always something to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃🍁🍽🥂💕🦃🍁🍽🥂💕 Keep shining! 💖 🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀 #happythanksgivng #happythanksgivingday #thankful #hope #love #pinkpickedme #alicatslifestyleblog https://www.instagram.com/p/CIDiGQaAD0O/?igshid=11jb95rqoejw1

I developed “white coat syndrome” My blood pressure would go up to stroke levels. I had to take anxiety pills just to enter a place that was helping me live. I am also battling depression because I’m unable to function normally, and be around people, and do things that I love because I’m just too sick. White coat hypertension (WHT), more commonly known as white coat syndrome, is a form of labile hypertension in which people exhibit a blood pressure level above the normal range, in a clinical setting, although they do not exhibit it in other settings. Keep shining! 💖 🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀 #whitecoatsyndrome #anxiety #depression #breastcancer #fuckcancer #cancersucks #mybreastcancerjourney #alicatslifestyleblog #love #hope #fightingbreastcancer #onedayatatime https://www.instagram.com/p/CIBkLhAA0eC/?igshid=1my7r23hs42pp

TBT 💖 https://www.instagram.com/p/CHf9SMHAJ4F/?igshid=o7unosv83o1c

Please don’t delay treatment because of COVID. It has been challenging for me to have been diagnosed and treated during COVID. My treatments were extended, my surgery was rushed, I couldn’t have any visitors at the hospital, Quarantine has become a big part of life due to the chemotherapy weakening my immune system. COVID won’t stop me from fighting for my life. Keep shining! 💖 🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀 #covid_19 #fuckcovid19 #cancersucks #breastcancer #breastcancerjourney #fightingbreastcancer #curecancer #gettreated #dontwait #saveyourlife #hope #hopeful #love #pink #thinkpink #alicatslifestyleblog #pinkpickedme https://www.instagram.com/p/CHf8PgUANGe/?igshid=14dt5j1n1pukm

Surgery day. I was definitely not feeling so good. My husband couldn’t stay with me due to COVID. When I woke up I was so sick and weak. I was in the hospital for one day. Keep shining! 💖 🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀 #breastcancersurgery #surgery #breastcancer #breastcancerjourney #cancer #cancersucks #curecancer #curebreastcancer #curecancer #hope #hopeful #love #mystory #pink #thinkpink #alicatslifestyleblog #pinkpickedme https://www.instagram.com/p/CHf5LnjgrdM/?igshid=x1ozj332y6hr

I had a mastectomy, some lymph nodes removed and a drain attached to me (it hurt when the nurse pulled it out) The cancer did spread to my lymph node, but it was dead. The surgery went well. I was in a lot of pain and needed my son and my husbands help. My Mom also came by to help. I received immediate breast reconstruction with a temporary expander injected with 350 cc’s. I have to get radiation before I can get breast reconstruction. Keep shining! 💖 🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀 #breastcancersurgery #surgery #postsurgeryrecovery #breastcancer #breastcancerjourney #breastcancerfighter #cancersucks #hope #hopeful #recovery #love #pink #thinkpink #alicatslifestyleblog #pinkpickedme https://www.instagram.com/p/CHf4LbOAwXB/?igshid=1un6g9dzjnu27

💖 https://www.instagram.com/p/CHbFoDWg-EC/?igshid=4o8iivh30i1e

Before I began radiation treatment, my radiation therapy team carefully planned my treatment in a process called radiation simulation. They positioned my body, made marks on my skin with tattoos (this hurt, I was always afraid of getting a tattoo) and took imaging scans. Every time that I go for radiation, I have to be in the exact same position. Keep shining! 💖 🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀 #radiationsimulation #radiationtherapy #radiation #breastcancerradiation #breastcancertattoo #breastcancer #breastcancerjourney #beforeradiation #hope #love #hopeful #cancer #pink #thinkpink #cancersucks #letscurecancer #alicatslifestyleblog #pinkpickedme https://www.instagram.com/p/CHbFenOgeqj/?igshid=1x37jo1ztktd9

Fbf ❤️ https://www.instagram.com/p/CHRqavKg69E/?igshid=195ukgi95fez2

During my initial visit with my surgeon, I was a candidate for a lumpectomy. However, after chemotherapy, my tumor grew and spread to my lymph node. I was faced with a very difficult choice to have a mastectomy or a double mastectomy. I chose to have only one breast removed (mastectomy) All breast cancer patients have to make the best decision for themselves. My BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 tests were negative. That helped me make my decision. Keep smiling! 💖 🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀 🎀 #lumpectomy #masectomy #bilateralmastectomy #doublemasectomy #surgery #breastcancersurgery #breastcancer #breastcancerjourney #alicatsblog #blogger #blog #hope #love #pinkpickedme https://www.instagram.com/p/CHRqIyyg4FF/?igshid=spgfcx7kkfud

Tbt ❤️ https://www.instagram.com/p/CHOALRRjxIS/?igshid=5idhhtdxq33z

Here are some side effects that I experienced when taking chemotherapy - Allergic reaction, Fatigue, hair loss, bruising, anemia (low red blood cell counts) Nausea and vomiting, weight loss (lost 10 pounds before chemo) weight gain (gained 20 pounds from steroid medication) Appetite changes, Constipation, Diarrhea Mouth, tongue, and throat sores, pain with swallowing, Peripheral neuropathy and other nerve problems, such as numbness, tingling, and pain, Skin and nail changes such as dry skin and color change, Chemo brain, which affects concentration and focus, Mood changes (sorry to my hubby) Changes in libido and sexual function, Early menopause, excruciating bone pain, headaches, anxiety, depression. https://www.instagram.com/p/CHOAGFPDpu4/?igshid=agpnpkqilqs5

Tbt ❤️ https://www.instagram.com/p/CHN_GaWDWPW/?igshid=1caupo95vlp0o

I had to get 8 rounds of chemotherapy. I had to change my course of treatment half way through due to an allergic reaction to the chemo. I could have died. I’m thankful to MSK for making sure that I got threw it. There were a lot of dark days. But I made it through. Keep smiling! 💖 https://www.instagram.com/p/CHN-GkJjnJc/?igshid=bihxlyy2di5o

I can’t stress how important it is to get mammograms. Early detection could save your life. I had a 3D mamo on 6/8/19 (inconclusive- dense breasts) I was retested (results came back negative) Mamo on 1/29/20 came back positive. Keep smiling! 💖 https://www.instagram.com/p/CHN9U1GD75r/?igshid=1ayao26gp8l22

On February 22, 2020, it was bittersweet. I was relieved to find out that the symptoms that I was having weren’t all in my head. I could stop taking the antidepressants that were prescribed to me (misdiagnosed.) Diagnosis - Stage 2 - triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer. A very aggressive form of breast cancer. I was in shock. I was in denial... 🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀 #breastcancerdiagnosis #breastcancerjourney #breastcancer #triplenegativebreastcancer #triplenegative #alicatslifestyleblog #blog #bloggers #life #love #hope #hopeful #pink #keepgoing #keepsmiling #keepshining🌟 #pinkpickedme https://www.instagram.com/p/CHN3cMsjc4B/?igshid=b4a5exyyfxs7