Most Asked Questions About My Breast Cancer Journey

Take Heart

Hi, sweet friend.

One of the unexpected blessings of this journey has been the kindness of so many people checking in on me.

Everywhere I go—church, the boutique, the grocery store, even walking through town—I hear many of the same questions.

Instead of answering them one at a time, I thought I’d answer them here.

Thank you for praying for me, encouraging me, laughing with me, and reminding me that none of us walks through life’s hard seasons alone.

So…let’s have a little coffee chat.

How did they find out I had breast cancer?

Honestly…

I found it myself.

It felt like a golf ball sitting just beneath my skin.

There was no denying something had changed.

That one discovery started a whirlwind of doctor’s appointments, biopsies, scans, and more information than I ever wanted to learn.

Today, after five rounds of chemotherapy, that same mass feels about the size of a dime.

It’s no longer sitting right beneath the surface like it once did.

Every time I feel that change, I’m reminded that treatment is working.

I still have more steps ahead, but every small victory deserves a moment of gratitude.

Does cancer run in your family?

Unfortunately…

Yes.

Cancer has touched both sides of my family.

My sister and my aunt both battled breast cancer, though each of us had a different type.

My sister later passed away after a brain tumor caused a stroke at the age of 55. I will be 55 this year.

My dad and grandfather both faced colon cancer.

When I was about eight or nine years old, my mom was diagnosed with uterine cancer.

More than thirty years later, it returned—spreading to her stomach, lungs, and brain.

She experienced remission for a season, but eventually cancer spread throughout her body and lost her battle over 2 years ago. .

.

That’s a lot of heartbreak for one family.

But here’s something I say with faith, not fear:

The curse stops with me.

I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know Who holds tomorrow.

And I choose to believe that God is writing a new story for the generations that follow.

Has chemotherapy been as hard as you expected?

Surprisingly…

Not really.

Now before my oncology nurses call to make sure I’m behaving…let me explain.

The hardest part?

Looking in the mirror and realizing I could probably win “Most Likely to Blind Someone With My Bald Head on a Sunny Texas Afternoon.”

I miss my hair.

I really do.

But as far as side effects…

They’ve been much more manageable than I imagined.

I’m tired.

Really tired.

The best way I can describe it is remembering that first trimester of pregnancy when simply getting dressed felt like an accomplishment.

I’ve had dry mouth.

I’m thirsty all the time.

Some days food doesn’t sound very exciting, but I still make myself eat.

I’ve lost weight, mostly because I cut out sugar completely and my appetite isn’t what it used to be.

I’ve also lost some muscle because I’m simply not as active right now.

Every once in a while something odd pops up—a new ache, an annoying symptom—but thankfully it usually disappears as quickly as it came.

Overall…

God has been incredibly gracious to me through this process.

How is your daughter handling all of this?

This question usually makes me emotional.

She has been my greatest earthly blessing during this journey.

We’re incredibly close.

She’s been my Uber driver…

My note taker…

My medicine reminder…

My appointment buddy…

My encourager…

And sometimes my boss.

She has gone to doctor’s appointments, asked questions I forgot to ask, wrote everything down, and made sure I followed every instruction.

Having her home from college this summer has been a gift I knew I would need.

More than anything, I’m thankful she’s been able to see that cancer doesn’t get the final word.

She has watched me cry.

She’s watched me laugh.

She’s watched me trust God anyway.

My prayer is that she leaves this season not remembering how scary cancer was…

But remembering how faithful God was.

What about Dory and Ralph?

Oh goodness…

Those two deserve employee of the month.

They’ve taken this “caregiver” role very seriously.

Dory’s job description is simple:

Never let Mom out of your sight.

If I’m sitting…

She’s touching me.

If I move…

She’s following me.

If I take a nap…

She’s already there.

Then there’s Ralph.

He’s still trying to figure out what that funny little port in my chest is.

Every now and then he gives it a cautious sniff, almost like he’s thinking,

“I don’t remember ordering this accessory…”

They may not understand cancer…

But they definitely understand love.

Animals have a beautiful way of showing up without saying a word.

The Question Nobody Asks

People often ask how I’m doing physically.

Fewer people ask how I’m doing spiritually.

The truth?

My faith has grown deeper than I ever imagined.

Cancer has changed many things.

But it has also stripped away distractions.

I’ve learned to celebrate ordinary days.

I’ve learned that peace isn’t found in perfect health.

It’s found in the presence of God.

This journey has reminded me that tomorrow isn’t promised for any of us.

So hug your people.

Laugh often.

Forgive quickly.

Trust deeply.

And don’t wait for a crisis to start living the life God gave you.

Thank you for every prayer.

Every text.

Every hug.

Every meal.

Every encouraging word.

You have carried me more than you’ll ever know.

And if you’re walking through a difficult season yourself…

I hope my story reminds you that hope is still alive.

There are still blooms after the storm.

So until next time…

Keep blooming. Keep believing. And take heart.

— Missy 🌹🩷