Post 9 - Cancer and Me: A Year in Review

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to share this, but on my walk this morning, I listened to the Mel Robbins podcast, and she was talking about her new book, Let Them. I wondered if this topic could be too much or triggering for others, but listening to Mel reminded me of the importance of prioritizing myself and being true to myself. The whole point of this blog is to provide an authentic perspective on dealing with anxiety and life’s challenges. To do that, I have to be brave enough to continue to share my story—the good, the bad, and the ugly—because let’s face it, life is not a fairytale. If you live long enough, you will go through some stuff.

As I reflect on my 2025 goals, I can’t help but reflect on where I was this time last year. In September 2024, I was recovering from surgery to remove a cancerous lump from my right breast and preparing for a month of radiation throughout October 2024. In fact, my last radiation treatment ended up being on Halloween day in 2024. It was a year that took an unexpected turn, but it wasn’t my first time being diagnosed with cancer. I had a very similar experience in 2021 when I had surgery to remove cancer from my left breast. The first time was classified as stage 0 and the second time as stage 1. Everything happened so fast both times that it’s still a little hard for me to wrap my brain around the fact that I was diagnosed with cancer twice. It was a terrifying experience, and of course, my anxiety was right there in my ear making everything harder to face. However, through it all, I always knew things could be a lot worse. I knew I was one of the lucky ones because the cancer was caught early. And even though I felt deep sadness and fear for all that I had to experience, I also felt deep gratitude that I had options and the chance to survive.

It's a very humbling experience to sit in a waiting room with people at all levels of their cancer battle and to know that some people may not make it. I even wonder for myself, will this come back again? I think once you’re diagnosed, you can’t help but ask yourself that question, and in my case, I’ve had two diagnoses. Fortunately, as I mentioned, mine was caught early, and I received excellent medical care. I am currently cancer-free, but all of this, especially my second diagnosis, has had a major impact on how I’ve chosen to live my life this past year. Also, the fact that I was already working with a therapist on building the foundations for self-love contributed greatly to the energy I was able to put into my intentions for 2025.

As I look back at the past 9 months, I’m proud of what I have accomplished so far this year. I’ve taken more steps and stayed more on track than any other year.  I feel like this year has been a love letter to myself. I have been able to love, honor, and cherish myself in a way that I never have before. I believe in myself in a whole new way, and because of that, I do feel like I have stepped into my power and made significant changes to my lifestyle. I am working hard to change my diet, and I am more thoughtful about what I put into my body. I exercise with much more consistency, intensity, and purpose. Although the weight is still not falling off fast enough for me, my body shape is changing, and I am slowly losing pounds and keeping them off. I am taking the time to pour into my beautiful friendships and prioritizing girlfriend time, which feeds my soul. I am also taking the time to rest, go slow, breathe, be body aware, and listen to my intuition.  I started developing this blog last year before my diagnosis and did my first post in the middle of my treatment plan but have been able to post more regularly this year. This is huge for me to share my voice in this way. It can be intimidating but moving beyond my fears and just doing the things I feel called to do is so exhilarating.  I have even advanced significantly on my entrepreneurial journey, and I'm focusing on budgeting and improving my financial management skills.

This does not mean that this year has not had setbacks, disappointments, and challenges. It certainly has, but what’s different for me is that I’m not letting the roadblocks permanently stop me. I take the time to acknowledge and feel what I need to feel, and then I dust myself off and step around the roadblocks to continue my journey. Having cancer twice reminded me of the fragility and unpredictability of life. It also helped me to understand the importance of pursuing the life of my dreams. We all deserve to have that type of life and should not allow fear to rob us of the opportunity to try. We don’t have to wait for a life-changing diagnosis or to lose something or someone very important to us. We are the architects of our own lives every day, the painters of our own masterpieces, and every stroke matters. Love yourself, believe in yourself, and take baby steps each day. You’ll be surprised at where you might arrive in a few months, six months, or a year.

Wishing you love, light, and a life filled with Authenticit-E

Estella