What happened, in summary

Veronica found a breast lump that felt suspicious and decided to have it checked. She was eventually diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer. The diagnosis brought fear, sadness, and a sense of being overwhelmed. She responded by changing her diet, eating more healthfully, and exercising more.

Her doctor recommended an intensive treatment plan, which Veronica chose to follow. Hormone therapy was added later after discussion with her doctor and her own research. By the time she shared her story, she had completed the other parts of her treatment plan and remained on hormone therapy. During treatment, she dealt with fatigue, lymphedema, and cognitive changes that she described as chemo brain. She tried to manage these effects through exercise, healthier eating, and prescribed medication.

Cancer also changed how Veronica connected with family. She contacted her parents more often and hoped to visit extended family in Puerto Rico. Looking ahead, she wanted to return to her work as a registered nurse and become an advocate for breast cancer screening. She remained concerned about recurrence but felt more optimistic, hopeful, and inspired after learning from other survivors and doctors about ways to cope with that fear.