At 45, I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer after a routine mammogram and ultrasound: my doctor found a small, hormone-positive tumor in my left breast. I had no history of breast cancer, so it was unexpected and shocking. I’m now cancer-free after surgery and radiation, but the journey was more than medical. It was deeply personal.. I faced the challenges of talking to my 10 year old kids about my diagnosis, finding the balance between sharing with my family and friends while protecting my own boundaries, juggling my treatment with work and family responsibilities, and managing the emotional weight of facing my own mortality and grieving the loss of the health I had taken for granted. Even a year later, I continue to process the impact—physically and emotionally. I understand how complex and overwhelming this journey can feel, and I am here to help or listen.