My Story of Finding Joy in My Journey with Breast Cancer

Author: Aurora Monsivais-Cruz

My diagnosis was as it would be for anyone.  It was shocking because I was very healthy, very active, an avid bike-rider; I took care of myself.  I feel so grateful to God for the way I found the lump.  I was lying on my sofa with my dogs, and the way that they were pushing hard on me, which made my breasts more elevated.  It was then that I saw a lump protruding from my breast.  I feel that if my dogs had not been lying on me and pushing on me in that position, I might not have seen this lump so soon.  I knew instantly that this was cancer.  I had gone for mammograms in the past, but I hadn’t gone to get one more recently during that time.  I didn’t think cancer could happen to me. I immediately called Hector and told him that I felt this lump and knew it was cancer.  Hector kept trying to calm me down, but I knew it deep down in my soul – I knew I had cancer.  The next day I called my doctor and was told that they didn’t have an available appointment for another month.  But I was persistent and explained that I had found this lump and I knew this was cancer.  They told me to come in right away, so I left work immediately.  I was there for several hours going through different tests, and they were going to call me with the results.  That was on a Friday, and they said not to expect the results until the following week, maybe Thursday or Friday.  They wound up calling me by Monday morning right at 8 a.m.  They gave me the devastating results over the phone – I still remember that moment when she gave me the words, “I’m so sorry, but you have cancer.”  In that moment, I fell to my knees crying.  I went to my co-worker, Amy’s office, and I broke down like I had never done before in my life…

~ To continue this story, please open the video links to be able to hear Aurora share the rest of her journey. ~

~ …continued from video vlogs ~

I truly believe that I am the happiest I have ever been in my life, so I will never be upset that I got cancer. If it wasn’t for the cancer journey, I don’t think I would’ve learned lessons, and I would’ve never reached out to Mariza to reach out for the opportunity of financial freedom and one day owning my own time.  And most importantly for me at the time was the fellowship and surrounding myself with positive influences.

I told myself I would not let cancer defeat me and I knew I would fight this; and part of that was taking in all the nutrition, staying active, staying positive, and remaining focused on God.  I would have some sad days, but I never fell into full blown depression.  I knew that God was going to use this experience for a greater purpose.  I have been able to be there for so many people and have wonderful conversations, helping others to encourage them and uplift their spirits.  After the things I’ve gone through in my life, I could have become depressed.  But I truly feel like I am living my best life!

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If you would like to read more about Aurora’s journey in Finding Joy in her life, read the following links as she shares her journey in finding love again and her journey to financial freedom.

https://findjoy.blog/2021/03/10/our-story-of-joy-in-finding-love-again/

https://findjoy.blog/2021/03/10/my-story-of-joy-in-the-journey-to-financial-freedom/