MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Do you have a family history of cancer? Have you ever considered the possibility of getting cancer? Well, I don’t have a family history of any cancer and didn’t even think getting cancer was a remote possibility as I have always been in excellent health.

The fact is, regardless of how well I took care of myself and how immune I thought I was to cancer and how well I took care of myself, I was devastated when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011.

This is my story.

I was in the cycle for deployment and one of the requirements included a routine screening mammogram. I underwent the exam and to my surprise the results came back abnormal. Additional imaging was required to include a breast ultrasound and multiple biopsies. Unfortunately, my worst fears came to realization as all tests were positive for right breast cancer. I was not prepared for this news!

Generally, people with new cancer diagnosis may feel confused, angry, discouraged and depressed. I didn’t feel any of those emotions, acceptance was my way to cope. I tackled my diagnosis head on with hope and optimism for the best outcome. The diagnosis cancelled my opportunity to deploy, which was something I had dreamt about for years. Instead, I was tackling breast cancer.

My fight and recovery journey begins.

I accepted the diagnosis with an open mind which made it easier for me to handle. Having cancer is quite complex, as the treatment is multifaceted. My care was managed by an oncologist, radiation oncologist and a surgeon. I saw a surgeon who assessed the area of breast tissue that needed be excised to remove the cancer. I went through right breast lumpectomy and axillary biopsy in March 2011.

There were many visits with the oncologists during my 37 radiation treatments. This seemed overwhelming at the time but I took it one day at a time. I focused on getting better and staying positive.

Even though I was later cancer free, I continued to experience bumps along the years. First, I had a complicated surgical revision in September 2013, it took me eight weeks to recover. In June 2016, I experienced further complications and underwent my second surgical revision. I am now 18 weeks into this recovery and all is looking well. I continue to work my recovery with a positive attitude and focus on the beauty of life.

This cancer journey has taught me a lot about life! It has its ways of challenging us as well as presenting prospects to learn. It has its way of making us strong enough to endure, even though at the face of a challenge, we don’t quite understand the greater reason. I learned to see life in a different light, with a greater understanding of why I survived cancer. I am here so I can impart strength and hope to you!

I am thankful for all my blessings; my Air Force career, past and current leadership and my family’s love and support. I harnessed the fruit of life’s challenges, turned them into golden opportunities. If you can learn anything from my story, learn to stay healthy and undergo scheduled preventative care to include annual mammograms as advised by your health care provider.