Since I have been an adult and a mom of an 11 and 8 year old, people have asked me, "how do you stay so thin and eat so much?" I have always said, "I am a genetic freak of nature." I have always been healthy, eaten organic, and have never gotten sick.

In February 2010, I felt a bump in each of my breasts. I went to my obstetrician and she gave me a referral to get an ultrasound. She told me it was probably my implants as I didn't fit the profile of breast cancer. The ultrasound showed that the lumps were the valves from my implants, but it also showed something that didn't look right so they did a mammogram. Nothing showed with the mammogram, so they did a more extensive ultrasound and decided to do a biopsy.

Treatment: Bilateral Mastectomy, Chemotherapy

Since I have been an adult and a mom of an 11 and 8 year old, people have asked me, "how do you stay so thin and eat so much?" I have always said, "I am a genetic freak of nature." I have always been healthy, eaten organic, and have never gotten sick.

In February 2010, I felt a bump in each of my breasts. I went to my obstetrician and she gave me a referral to get an ultrasound. She told me it was probably my implants as I didn't fit the profile of breast cancer. The ultrasound showed that the lumps were the valves from my implants, but it also showed something that didn't look right so they did a mammogram. Nothing showed with the mammogram, so they did a more extensive ultrasound and decided to do a biopsy.

Two days after the biopsy was done, they called me to come in for an MRI since the pathology report came back positive for breast cancer. They believed from the MRI that I was Stage I. When they told me this information, they said that I shouldn't have this cancer as I didn't fit the profile and this cancer usually is found in women 55+.

They wanted to schedule me for surgery right away, but if I didn't fit this cancer why did I have it? I asked them to test me for the BRCA gene, because they wanted to do a lumpectomy but if I had the BRCA gene I would need a bilateral mastectomy.

I kept putting off the surgery so I could do some research. I didn't want them cutting into me to do a lumpectomy if they would have to then do a mastectomy. I met with 6 different surgeons and 3 oncologists; all who said "don't worry you won't have the BRCA gene.” The results came back and I did have the BRCA II gene. This meant that I would have to have a bilateral mastectomy vs. a lumpectomy. I picked my cancer surgeon and my reconstructive surgeon thinking let’s get this over. We were all prepared to go in and since the tests showed this to be stage 1, I wouldn't need any chemo or radiation.

Just after my cancer surgeon finished her part, she went out to the waiting room to tell my mother and boyfriend the bad news; it had spread to my lymph nodes and I was actually Stage III. I was devastated, but also thankful that I did the bilateral mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy.

The recovery was easy and I didn't need any pain killers. Two weeks later, I was scheduled to start chemo therapy. My oncologist recommended 8 chemo treatments every two weeks. I decided to get a second opinion. That oncologist recommended 6 different chemo treatments every 3 weeks. He forwarded his recommendation to my oncologist. I went with my oncologists recommendation.

After the first treatment just before my second treatment; my oncologist retired. His partner met with me and he worked with the oncologist who I received my second opinion from. He decided to change my treatment to the 6 chemo treatments. Whew! Now I had one less treatment. I had my second treatment and I must say the worst part was my hair falling out. The treatments have not been so bad. I work every day.

I feel great! I now realize that I am a genetic freak of nature; one because I have this BRCA gene and two because even though I have breast cancer I am lucky to be me and be alive! I tell everyone "It's like being pregnant except instead of having a baby and saggy boobs at the end, I get my life and a boob job!" I have attached this particular picture as "this is what breast cancer looks like, "me.”