What happened, in summary

Marisol found several large lumps in her right breast and was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. The diagnosis left her frightened, nervous, worried, and powerless. Following her doctor’s recommendation, she chose a plan that included mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy.

Finalizing the treatment plan made Marisol feel more motivated and hopeful. She completed most of the active treatment and said the cancer was in remission. She remained on hormone therapy. She also tried to maintain healthier eating habits most days of the week.

Cancer changed how Marisol thought about time with her family. She made an effort to be with them whenever possible and hoped to travel with her daughter and take part in more activities with friends. Her greatest wish was to remain healthy enough to enjoy outings and daily life with the people she loved.

Fear about physical recovery remained part of the experience, but exercise and family time helped her cope. As treatment progressed, she described feeling increasingly thankful, optimistic, confident, and courageous, and she encouraged others to remain strong and hopeful.