I was diagnosed with breast cancer on April 4th, 2023.  I was lucky that the doctors caught it early –a routine mammogram with a suspicious spot. Nothing I could even feel with my own hands. Within two weeks, I was in surgery: a lumpectomy on my left breast and the removal of one lymph node.

I entered my treatment phase on June 14th. The first part of the journey was chemo infusions spread out every 21 days. After that, I moved to another chemo drug they gave me weekly. I had my last session the day after Christmas. After a short break,  a month-and-a-half of radiation followed. Currently, I'm on a pill called Tamoxifen that is supposed to force me through an early menopause. I'm supposed to take it for the next five years.

On this page, you'll find various ways I've documented the journey.  Originally, I planned on doing much more art. Turns out, having cancer is exhausting. I have been keeping notes, though, and hope to someday tell this chapter of my life more thoroughly. For now, here are some pictures and videos of the last year.

Thank you following along. 

I decided to hold a head shaving ceremony instead of letting my hair fall out naturally from the chemo. The video below showcases the highlights from the evening. Local writer Heather Parish also wrote about the event for the Munro Review.