In November 2024, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had to undergo surgery in December of 2024 and had chemo from January 2025 through June 2025. This was followed by radiation until August 2025. This journey has really been hard on me mentally and physically. I was first so angry and questioned my cancer diagnosis so much. Now it has been exactly one year this month, and I'm not so angry anymore, but I do still get emotional at times, going through it. I turned all that anger I built up inside me over this diagnosis into inspiration. When I received my diagnosis, I started working with an Oncology Medical Social Worker, she was my Counselor throughout this difficult time. She has been helping me every step of the way. She can’t necessarily speak to me from personal experience in terms of what I may be experiencing, or truly understand what I am experiencing; however, she can offer insight or a listening ear, which has been extremely helpful. This is what made me realize that I want to go into the Mental Health field and pursue my Master's in Social Work (MSW). My social worker inspired me, as I honestly don't know how I would have gotten through my journey without her. I want to become an Oncology Social Worker so that I can help others who have received a cancer diagnosis and can personally speak from experience, as I know what it is like to be in their shoes. I want to speak at support groups and share current tips and tools to help those affected by this diagnosis. I want to help guide others as they navigate a very difficult time in their lives. I want to help others see the light at the end of the tunnel and be there to guide them. I want this time that I have on this earth to be impactful and meaningful. I want to know that what I am doing in my life can really touch others in as many ways as possible. My life experiences of being exposed to a family of poverty with drug addictions, alcohol addictions, gambling addiction, and abuse, as well as my own health diagnosis of breast cancer, have influenced me personally and professionally to become a Medical Oncology Social Worker, and what better time than the present to help be that guide to others.

In November 2024, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had to undergo surgery in December of 2024 and had chemo from January 2025 through June 2025. This was followed by radiation until August 2025. This journey has really been hard on me mentally and physically. I was first so angry and questioned my cancer diagnosis so much. Now it has been exactly one year this month, and I'm not so angry anymore, but I do still get emotional at times, going through it. I turned all that anger I built up inside me over this diagnosis into inspiration. When I received my diagnosis, I started working with an Oncology Medical Social Worker, she was my Counselor throughout this difficult time. She has been helping me every step of the way. She can’t necessarily speak to me from personal experience in terms of what I may be experiencing, or truly understand what I am experiencing; however, she can offer insight or a listening ear, which has been extremely helpful. This is what made me realize that I want to go into the Mental Health field and pursue my Master's in Social Work (MSW). My social worker inspired me, as I honestly don't know how I would have gotten through my journey without her. I want to become an Oncology Social Worker so that I can help others who have received a cancer diagnosis and can personally speak from experience, as I know what it is like to be in their shoes. I want to speak at support groups and share current tips and tools to help those affected by this diagnosis. I want to help guide others as they navigate a very difficult time in their lives. I want to help others see the light at the end of the tunnel and be there to guide them. I want this time that I have on this earth to be impactful and meaningful. I want to know that what I am doing in my life can really touch others in as many ways as possible. My life experiences of being exposed to a family of poverty with drug addictions, alcohol addictions, gambling addiction, and abuse, as well as my own health diagnosis of breast cancer, have influenced me personally and professionally to become a Medical Oncology Social Worker, and what better time than the present to help be that guide to others.

In November 2024, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had to undergo surgery in December of 2024 and had chemo from January 2025 through June 2025. This was followed by radiation until August 2025. This journey has really been hard on me mentally and physically. I was first so angry and questioned my cancer diagnosis so much. Now it has been exactly one year this month, and I'm not so angry anymore, but I do still get emotional at times, going through it. I turned all that anger I built up inside me over this diagnosis into inspiration. I relied heavily on my Christian faith and started praying more and reading scriptures and the main thing was listening to Christian music. When I wanted to give up, and there were many times; I would talk to God, write down a prayer, or put on a great gospel song to get me through the dark times. I am here today because of my faith and learning to be strong and never giving up no matter the obstacle. When I received my diagnosis, I started working with an Oncology Medical Social Worker, she was my Counselor throughout this difficult time. She has been helping me every step of the way. She can’t necessarily speak to me from personal experience in terms of what I may be experiencing, or truly understand what I am experiencing; however, she can offer insight or a listening ear, which has been extremely helpful. This is what made me realize that I want to go into the Mental Health field and pursue my Master's in Social Work (MSW). I want to become an Oncology Social Worker so that I can help others who have received a cancer diagnosis and can personally speak from experience, as I know what it is like to be in their shoes. I want to speak at support groups and share current tips and tools to help those affected by this diagnosis. I want to help guide others as they navigate a very difficult time in their lives. I want to help others see the light at the end of the tunnel and be there to guide them. I want this time that I have on this earth to be impactful and meaningful. I want to know that what I am doing in my life can really touch others in as many ways as possible. My life experiences of being exposed to a family of poverty with drug addictions, alcohol addictions, gambling addiction, and abuse, as well as my own health diagnosis of breast cancer, have influenced me personally and professionally to become a Medical Oncology Social Worker, and what better time than the present to help be that guide to others.

In November 2024, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had to undergo surgery in December of 2024 and had chemo from January 2025 through June 2025. This was followed by radiation until August 2025. This journey has really been hard on me mentally and physically. I was first so angry and questioned my cancer diagnosis so much. Now it has been exactly one year this month, and I'm not so angry anymore, but I do still get emotional at times, going through it. I turned all that anger I built up inside me over this diagnosis into inspiration. When I received my diagnosis, I started working with an Oncology Medical Social Worker, she was my Counselor throughout this difficult time. She has been helping me every step of the way. She can’t necessarily speak to me from personal experience in terms of what I may be experiencing, or truly understand what I am experiencing; however, she can offer insight or a listening ear, which has been extremely helpful. This is what made me realize that I want to go into the Mental Health field and pursue my Master's in Social Work (MSW). My social worker inspired me, as I honestly don't know how I would have gotten through my journey without her. I want to become an Oncology Social Worker so that I can help others who have received a cancer diagnosis and can personally speak from experience, as I know what it is like to be in their shoes. I want to speak at support groups and share current tips and tools to help those affected by this diagnosis. I want to help guide others as they navigate a very difficult time in their lives. I want to help others see the light at the end of the tunnel and be there to guide them. I want this time that I have on this earth to be impactful and meaningful. I want to know that what I am doing in my life can really touch others in as many ways as possible. My life experiences of being exposed to a family of poverty with drug addictions, alcohol addictions, gambling addiction, and abuse, as well as my own health diagnosis of breast cancer, have influenced me personally and professionally to become a Medical Oncology Social Worker, and what better time than the present to help be that guide to others.