If someone had told me that, by the age of 24, I would be diagnosed with cancer, undergo a double mastectomy, lose my dog, watch my mum face her own diagnosis, support my sister through a double mastectomy and have to stop working, I would have been like, damn. I know I’m unlucky, but even that sounds too fucked-up to be true.

In February of last year, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer. At the time, I thought, “How did this happen to me? I am so unlucky”. Looking back at it now, after been given the all clear, I consider myself one of the luckiest girls in the world.

Having gone through a whirlwind of emotions from the moment I received the diagnosis, I’m in awe of how I got through such a tough time. I wish I could share everything I’ve learned throughout my journey with my 21-year-old self, or with those who still have time to take action on their health, in the hopes that some words of wisdom will change the course of their lives.

Not Knowing Is Scarier Than Knowing

Growing up, the risk of getting cancer scared me. When I was about 10 years old, my aunt lost her battle with breast cancer. She and I had a special bond and when she passed, I was devastated. That first feeling of loss never left me and I was always terrified of what would happen to the people I cared about.

Whenever I got sick, I avoided the doctor because I never wanted to face it. The funny thing is, if one of my family members got sick, I would tell them to go get checked as soon as something was wrong. We all know it’s the right thing to do, but we’re scared of the possible outcome.

Throughout my battle with cancer, I had to face that fear on a weekly basis. The process involves constant check-ups and the constant possibility of receiving bad news.

The reality is that knowing I had a family history of breast and ovarian cancer in the family ended up saving my life. My mum, sister and I were all diagnosed with the BRCA1 gene mutation, which meant our chances of having breast and ovarian cancer were much higher than the average person. We were booked in for yearly MRI breast scans, which is when the lump in my breast was detected.

Without knowing about the gene mutation, I wouldn’t have even considered undergoing any scans on my breasts until much later in life.

Trust Your Gut

You know that little inkling you get that something doesn’t seem quite right? Most of the time, that means it isn’t. Your body is an amazing thing and you know it well, so listen when it’s trying to tell you something.

I’m glad I did. With breast cancer, they say that the only symptom is the lump, but before my diagnosis I experienced a period of sharp pains in my chest. At the time, I thought it was weird, but – again – didn’t think anything of it. Today, I know my body was warning me that something was wrong.

Cherish Your Inner Circle

One thing I took for granted when I was younger was my family and friends. My family, who I adore, always copped it when I was having an off day or feeling a little under the weather. Because my family has always been there for me, I didn’t appreciate everything they did for me before my diagnosis.

My mum, dad and sister have been the biggest support to me when I needed them the most, in the hardest moments of my life. From taking me to appointments and taking the time to understand my diagnosis (sometimes more than I did), to spending their weekends at home with me after treatments, knowing that I was feeling like I was missing out, being there for me when I was dealing with a breakup, telling me losing my hair does not define me and re assuring me this won’t be forever. These are moments I will never forget.

My friends – who are some of my biggest supporters to this day – have also been a blessing. If you can find friends that will be there for you at your best, as well as at your worst, don’t let them go!

If Not Now, Then When?

Facing the possibility of your life ending at the age of 24 reinvigorates your will to live. When I received my diagnosis, all the plans that I had for myself – like travelling, a promotion at work, saving for a house – went out the window. Knowing my life might end kept me up at night, thinking about why I was so hesitant to do all the things I wanted to do.

You truly never know what’s around the corner and the reality is that nothing always happens as you want it to. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable and do what makes you happy.

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(Images courtesy of Pink Hope)

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Friday, September 21, is Bright Pink Lipstick Day. You can contribute to Pink Hope’s life-saving efforts by purchasing beautiful products here.