Cancer Stories

Breast Cancer & Marriage

September 9th, 2006

I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 24.  I wasn’t sure if my boyfriend at the time would want to stay with me, with all the surgery, radiation, chemo that I would be going through, not to mention the losing of half my breast.  Before my surgery, we attended his company picnic and won a free couple’s getaway package at a local hotel.  We decided to take the weekend a week before my surgery.  I was looking forward to it, since I was really nervous about surgery, and couldn’t wait to get away.  As we were getting dressed for our free dinner at a great place, he proposed. Completely surprised me!  Life after that was a whirlwind.  There was surgery, chemo, and radiation, and all that goes with cancer treatment.  Yet there was also wedding planning!  It was wonderful to have something to distract me, and wonderful to have such a caring person to stand by me. 

We planned on our wedding the next fall.  We didn’t realize at the time that our wedding date was the exact day, a year later, that I started chemo!  What better way to celebrate?  Things were coming together.  The only thing I got to miss out on was getting my hair styled.  I had to wear a wig for my wedding, which I think turned out well, but wasn’t what I pictured as a little girl.  Marrying my prince charming was, though. 

It is so great to have a person like that in my life. I can’t imagine going through this on my own, and having a boyfriend stick around through it. I believe if it weren’t for him, and of course for God, that I wouldn’t have gotten through it.

Entry Filed under: Survival Stories