Why did you write this book?
My original intent was simply writing a daily Web log for my family and friends to stay up to date on my treatment. I also used my blog, The Cielem’el Cancer Journal, as a place where other young women recently diagnosed with breast cancer could read about the experience of a young woman diagnosed with breast cancer and, hopefully, draw strength and inspiration to know that they can get through it too. After chemo and radiation, when I started speaking with cancer support groups, so many people were interested in the story that I was continually asked when it would come out in a book format. I wrote My Tango with Cancer to reach a wider audience and convey messages of encouragement, survival, and inspiration to everyone diagnosed with cancer or facing other life threatening or emotionally destructive adversities and life trials. My Tango with Cancer is a book about survival and growth through adversity that everyone can be inspired by.
Do you still post to The Cielem’el Cancer Journal?
Yes, I do. After chemotherapy and radiation treatment were completed, I gradually expanded back into my pre-cancer life, which broadened the web log into The Cielem’el Cancer Survival and Growth Journal. I had always questioned the meaning of our existence and sought self development, trying to become a better person. After the harshest cancer treatments were over I continued to blog about my experiences as a breast cancer survivor, but I also started writing more about my life experiences and learnings in personal and spiritual growth as I continued to seek meaning and pursue self development.
How did you find out you had breast cancer? What was your diagnosis?
Being just 32 years old, I had never had a mammogram and quite honestly hadn’t even given the idea much thought since that sort of thing “doesn’t matter” until you’re 40 years old. My tumor was found by my gynecologist in a regular annual physical exam. If I hadn’t happened to have that annual appointment at that time, it could have been many more months before I discovered the lump myself because of my lack of concern or fear of getting breast cancer at my age.
After all the biopsies, surgeries, gene tests, etc., my formal diagnosis was that I had two tumors in my right breast, both invasive ductal carcinomas. The larger tumor was a stage 3, and the smaller tumor was stage 2. No lymph nodes were involved, and the cancer had not metastasized to any other part of my body. All in all I was pretty lucky that my gynecologist had found that first lump when she did.