February 2006. That was when my life changed forever. I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and my life took a sharp turn. I was a mother, a wife, a sister, a friend, and suddenly I had to face the harsh reality of a cancer diagnosis.
At that time, my daughter Olivia was only 10 years old. I can’t help but think about how my diagnosis shaped her life, how my cancer journey became a part of her story. Olivia has lived two-thirds of her life with a mother who has cancer, and as she grows older, so does the weight of that reality. For her, cancer isn’t just something that happens in passing; it is something that has defined her childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
But as I sit here 20 years later, I realize how far I have come. Eighteen of those years have been spent living as a cancer survivor, navigating through treatments, surgeries, and recovery. I’ve had my ups and downs, moments of triumph and moments of fear, but I made it. I got through it. With my metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, the label survivor doesn’t fit anymore. I know I won’t be a survivor, so I choose to be a thriver.
For the past two years, I have consciously chosen to thrive. To embrace the life I fought so hard for -20 years living in the shadow of cancer. I have become a thriver – a term that reflects strength, resilience, and a commitment to living fully, regardless of the challenges that may lie ahead.
Looking back over the past 20 years, the journey has shaped who I am today. Cancer has been my constant companion; however, it no longer defines who I am.
Olivia is now an adult. Over the years, she has watched me fight, heal, survive, and now thrive. In many ways, her journey has been as much about survival and thriving as mine. She has had to learn to navigate life with an ever-present shadow of uncertainty. She’ll never be free from the weight of my diagnosis, but she is thriving. Watching her grow into an incredible young woman has been one of the greatest gifts of this journey. She has found her own way of thriving, and it’s been a beautiful thing to watch.
As I continue on my cancer journey, I do so with a sense of peace and a deep appreciation for the life that I have been given. Every day is a gift, and as a cancer thriver, I choose to make the most of it.
Thriving,
— Brandi
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