›› Fearless Females: Latina Sterling

My Story… Back in October 2008, shortly after my 29th birthday, I was feeling some strong pain in my armpit. I did the self breast exam, I felt lumps and I immediately scheduled an appointment with my doctor. The first doctor couldn’t feel what I had felt. So he suggested that I come back if anything got worse and it did. I was back two weeks later, the second doctor told me “Yes I can feel a lump, but cancer doesn’t cause any pain and plus you are too young to have breast cancer. I had this worried look on my face as if I wanted to cry, so he was concern with my feelings and said okay I will order necessary tests to rule out any concerns about cancer.

My gut feeling was true. Over the next several weeks from the ultrasound, biopsy, and MRI my life would be changing forever. All tests confirmed cancer. On January 26, 2009, I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Breast Cancer, Stage IIIA. I held back my tears because I didn’t want to cry, I didn’t want to own the fact that I had cancer. That was my way of saying this is not who I am, I will fight
this no matter what.

My Oncologist discussed my treatment plan and I agreed with everything. From that point on I knew I was in good hands because, the night before I prayed and felt someone sitting on my bed and consoling on me, something my Grandmother would have done if she were here. Feb 6, 2009 was the start of chemo, since then I have completed 6 cycles of chemo and underwent a Mastectomy (right breast) on June 22, 2009. It was very successful! I am recovering well. My journey is more than half‐way thru, but I will inspire others and be a testimony for a lifetime.

Love & Peace
Latina Starling