Being diagnosed with breast cancer when my son was just 9 months old and still breastfeeding was a complete shock. When I first found the lump I thought it was a plugged milk duct and nothing to worry about. After an ultrasound, biopsy, and lumpectomy I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and told I would need to undergo chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy.

From the beginning of my cancer journey I have been determined to find the light and the humour in everything that is happening to me. It is how I find strength. Chemo was hell to say the least and even when my first round was during the great TP shortage of 2020 I still managed to laugh.

Ishrat was diagnosed with breast cancer in March of 2019. When she first heard the news from the doctor, she was very shocked because she did not expect it at all. Ishrat was worried about how she was going to give this news to her kids – especially her daughter, Kanta because after her divorce she changed a lot and I did not know how she would react.