17/07/2024
***From Stacia*** Hey friends and lovies. I’ll start with the most important thing to share: I’m going to be okay. 🩷
Now that we have that out of the way, I want to share the short version of a long story: I have breast cancer. It’s very early stage, and from what they can tell it is contained and highly manageable, but it needs to come out.
After a whirlwind month of tests (mammograms, MRIs, ultrasounds, biopsies), phone calls, consultations, and lots of personal study, I’ve decided--with the support of my surgical team, my beautiful partner Dusty, family, and friends--to undergo a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. Between my young(er) age, my genetic mutations, my family history, and my dense breasts, I don’t want to take any chances with my ability to be on this earth for as long as I can…so we’re going to reduce as many risk factors as possible.
It will not be an easy surgery. In about a month's time, I’m going to have to take an extended leave of absence from dance, working our bingo and other fundraising events, and all the physical activity that I love so much. But I’m going to be okay.
I have so much more to share…I want to share about how I got to this diagnosis, the journey my family has gone through with me as we’ve learned things and waited and learned some more, and of course what is to come. I plan on posting more, as my energy allows, and sharing the process. If you'd like, you can follow my journey on my personal page 🫶🏻
But for now, my friends…let’s be grateful together for every single day. We never know what the day will bring, but we are here to live it. Dusty & I love you. Thank you for being a part of our community. 🩷
**I took this picture right before I had the MRI that found the tumor. My dense breasts continued to show a clear mammogram, even on the day of my biopsy. More on that later...
