My mother's side of the family is loaded with cancer. For me, it wasn't a matter of if I was going to get it, it was a matter of what kind and when. I just never thought it would be at age 34.

2011 was such a busy year for my family. We had a new baby in April, a new house in July, and my husband got a new job which had him travelling out of town every other week. When I found my lump at the end of August I was nervous, but was thinking it was probably a plugged milk duct from my recent pregnancy. I was wrong. 3 different biopsies later and almost 3 years to the date that we buried my mother due to metastatic breast cancer, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in two different spots in my left breast. One spot was invasive, the other non-invasive. They were close enough in proximity so that the surgeon was able to get all margins clear with a lumpectomy. When all was said and done, I was a Stage 2A, Grade 3 with one lymph node involved.

I know that it sounds cliche, but cancer definitely does give you a new perspective on life. I try not to "sweat the small stuff" anymore. I keep reminding myself that I am not my mother, and I will beat this. I have 3 young children and I WILL be dancing at all of their weddings. The amount of support I've gotten in the least expected places has been incredible and I fully intend to give back to help other women in their fight with breast cancer.