Hi everyone! Michelle here :) I'm starting this page to share with my community what's been going on with my health in 2026 - the year I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Quick timeline of events so far: - Early February 2026, felt a lump in my left breast. Went to the doctor the next day, they confirmed lump, ordered mammogram and ultrasound. - Feb 17, mammogram and ultrasound taken, lymph nodes in my armpit show as swollen. MRI and biopsy ordered. - March 17, MRI. - March 20, Biopsy. - March 24, Confirmed Stage III Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, AKA ye olde Breast Cancer with spread to the lymph nodes in my left armpit. - April 16, PET scan to confirm no further spread. Results came back clean. - April 28, Began Chemotherapy. WOW what the heck. Writing that all out feels surreal. It's simply been a lot to process. I feel so so incredibly lucky to have the community around me that I do; my loving family, my extraordinary friends, my beautiful fellow weirdo improvisors, and everyone in between (all beloved!). You guys have made me feel so supported and held in this time. Thank you so so much, from the bottom of my heart, for making this whole ordeal a whole lot more bearable with your check-ins, jokes, delicious meals, prayers, kind words, and hugs. I'll update this page every as often as I can, keep you all in the loop if you'd like. I apologize in advance for my slow responses to texts and emails, that's why I wanted to start this page. Please know I see everything that comes my way and hold it deeply in my heart. Thank you again. Love you all forever, Michelle
A few notes! 1) I love and appreciate all advice and I know that it comes from a place of love and concern. That being said, I am following my doctor's plans first at all times. I love to see cool articles or videos about lifestyle changes to consider, diet ideas, meditation or therapy practices for mitigating stress, or anything that could fall under the blanket umbrella of “actions that can coexist alongside my doctors’ treatment plan.” There is a lot of information out there on the web. I want to reiterate that I trust my doctors and their vast knowledge to get me to the healthiest place I can be. 2) If you'd like to send or bring over any food, YOU ARE AN ANGEL. The meals that have been dropped off or prepared have been an absolute godsend. I'm trying to eat as many vegetables and lean proteins as possible to make sure I'm getting all the essential vitamins and minerals that my healthy cells need to survive during chemo. If you'd like to provide food at this time, there are a few extra cleaning tips for food prep during chemotherapy - https://www.cancer.org/cancer/supportive-care/weak-immune-system.html