Let’s Help Megan Fight Cancer
“As many of you may know, my name is Megan. I attended Yorktown High school and graduated in 2009. I had never planned on going to college, but after guidance counselors, teachers and my principal insisted, I applied to one: Iona College in New Rochelle. I was accepted with a scholarship and some grants, and I attended, desperately wanting to get out of small town Yorktown Heights, where I had made lifelong friendships, but also experienced lots of grief, including the death of my sister and several friends.
Attending Iona was one of the best decisions I ever made. I gained a better understanding of the world through my peers and their experiences and met some of the most incredible people, some of whom I consider best friends, and others who I love and cheer for from afar. Being part of an alumni that is so supportive, loving, and tight knit has given me a sense of community that I had never felt and I am forever grateful for.
Shortly after college I married my husband, who I had went to High school with but had never really spoken to. He joined the navy and we relocated to Virginia, where we have been for 4 years. It is difficult being away from our family and friends, and we visit NY as often as we can.
We decided to expand our family and I gave birth in 2021 to two perfect twin boys, which was as surprising to us as everyone else. I had stopped working to stay home with them and was breastfeeding my boys one day when I felt a lump in my armpit. I remember telling Joe it was strange, but google told me if the lump moved it was nothing to worry about. I called my doctor anyway and scheduled an appointment. I was told it was “probably nothing” and “just a cyst” but was sent for an ultrasound just to be sure. I knew something was odd when the ultrasound woman told me the radiologist would come speak to me. I knew things were worse when the radiologist asked where my husband was and told us he could bring the babies into the office, even amidst covid.
I am 30 years old and newly diagnosed with Stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, a common form of breast cancer, which has spread to my lymph nodes. I am Estrogen Receptor, Progesterone Receptor positive with a HER2 positive gene amplification. They call this cancer “triple positive”. Luckily, modern science considers this highly treatable and curable, with many different forms of treatment available to me. I will be starting chemo on Wednesday, January 26th, and doing six rounds. Afterward, surgery, radiation, and eventual hormone therapy for years.
Because of this, I have had to stop breastfeeding my boys early— something that was so central to our bond and special to us has been cut short. I know this is not the first thing cancer will take from me. My hair will go, nausea will ensue, and there will be many nasty side effects. Through all of this, though, I will not let cancer take my positivity, my hope, or my future. I will be here to raise my boys with my husband. I will be here to watch them grow up.
All of this to say: please go get check ups. Ask your doctor for a mammogram. Don’t listen when they say it’s probably nothing. Feel your boobs. Cancer can happen to anyone, at any age. Knowing how quickly things can change serves as a reminder to all of us to hold our loved ones tighter, forgive easily, and to enjoy every moment we have with our families. I know that’s what I’ll be doing.”
