One day, when I was 29 years old, I took a shower and found a suspicious lump during a breast self-exam. From that day forward my life was forever changed. I was soon diagnosed with an early stage triple-positive breast cancer, even though I was “too young” for breast cancer and had no family history. After taking a genetic test, I also learned that I carry the rare BARD1 mutation, for which the initial research shows an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

What lay ahead – over 1 year of chemotherapy infusions, hair loss, and multiple surgeries – was the hardest experience of my life. To get through the biggest challenge of my life, I learned I would have to do things differently. Every time I faced a hard moment, I reprogrammed my mind to find something to be grateful for. Doing this actively, even when I didn’t feel like it, made a huge difference in my outlook.

Most importantly, I found gratitude in having a voice that could change how other young women like me experience breast cancer. During my diagnosis, I learned what it was like to feel like you don’t belong because you are bald, or because talking about health is taboo in your brown community. I want all women who walk this path to know that their beauty flows from within and that cancer doesn’t define their worth. And learning about your health history, doing self-breast exams, and talking about breast health doesn’t have to be scary – it can be empowering and lifesaving.

Read the original article at the Dr. Susan Love Foundation website.