In July 2024 at age 38, I felt a large lump in my armpit. I was scared—it was right after I finished breastfeeding my second child. I assumed it was an infection, but after an ultrasound, mammogram, and biopsy, I learned I had metastatic cancer. I’ll never forget the date—August 13—because I found out by reading the results online, alone.
After more imaging, they found the primary tumor: HER2+ breast cancer. I had a port placed and started six rounds of TCHP chemotherapy in September. Chemo hit me hard. I’ve always been healthy, and it was devastating to go from being with my kids constantly to not being able to care for them like I used to. In February, I had surgery to remove the tumor and eight lymph nodes. Unfortunately, there was residual cancer, so I’m now in targeted chemo every three weeks through the end of the year, with radiation and hormone suppression still to come.
Aaron’s LifeList:
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A trip with his girlfriend