The Metastatic Breast Cancer Journey
Stories of Hope with Action Items for Survival
It was the summer of 2013 when my mom got the news that she had breast cancer. We were shocked and concerned since we had no known family history. She and Dad assured us that it was going to be okay; it was small, not aggressive, and could be removed. She had a lumpectomy and then started 21 days of radiation. We live eight hours apart, so we checked in often on the phone to see how she was doing. She was tired frequently but came through smoothly.
The name Helga means holy or blessed, and in a way, I was blessed to slip into a cancellation slot with the physical therapist while I was already in the building. Her time is in high demand and we were having trouble synchronizing our schedules. That’s not why I call her Helga. I did not feel blessed by the time she finished with me. Helga is the wife of Hagar the Horrible in the once popular cartoon strips. Helga is the founder of the Hufflepuff house in the Harry Potter series. Helga is the name I assign to women who inflict pain instead of pleasure.