But once she finally had an answer, she also found a new purpose.
This is her story as told to SELFs associate health director Allison Tsai.
Im not your typicalbreast cancerpatient.
Amika Cooper
Unlike a majority of people1with the disease, Inever felt that telltale, panic-inducing lump.
But Ididfeel like something wasnt quite right with my body.
My first symptom, a dull pain in my left breast, felt like a muscle ache.
But just one month later, my symptoms only progressed.
One day, I looked down and noticed blood leakingfrom my nipple.
This definitely wasnt normal, so I went back to my ob-gyn and insisted on a mammogram this time.
Its not easy as a woman of color.
Once I finally got my diagnosis, I immediately started chemotherapy.
I did six intensive rounds and a total of 17 antibody treatments.
My husband had to solo parent our daughter while I was at the hospital.
This was one of my biggest fears, so when it did happen, I took it pretty hard.
It was a deeply emotional time for me.
Id just lost my mother to Pagets disease6, a rare form of cancer, a few months before.
My diagnosis simultaneously opened those wounds and created new ones.
In some ways, though, my moms journey with cancer prepared me for the long fight ahead.
A month after I completed chemo, I had a double mastectomy per my doctors advice.
I was already bald and sick because of the chemo, and then I had to go to surgery.
When I came out, I had two surgical drains on my sides.
Even though she didnt totally understand, she knew something was different.
It was such a hard recovery, and I was essentially immobile for two months.
Then, a couple months after that, I started radiation therapy.
Just trying to survive was like a part-time job.
These appointments often lasted hours.
Afterward, I would come home and just rest.
Thats the date I plan to celebrate my cancer-versary.
But I still feel the mental and physical weight ofchemotherapyevery day.
I struggle with overwhelming fatigue.
Sometimes, chemo brain strikes mid-conversation, and I cant remember what I was saying.
Now, Im deciding whether or not I want to have reconstructive breast surgery.
Whatever happens in the future, it ismydecisionone thing that I finally have power over.
The last year was a whirlwind of treatments and doctors making decisions about my body.
Its nice to have some control back.
During my chemotherapy treatments, I would sit alone in the hospital for half a day.
It gave me a chance topractice self-carein new wayssomething I had a hard time prioritizing before my diagnosis.
Thats when I started journaling.
Taking pen to paper awoke a deep passion for writing in me, which I then started doing onInstagram.
Ive shared everything about my journey with breast cancer and all the feelings that go with it.
Its changed my life in ways I didnt realize were possible.
So I want to pay it forward.
My message is twofold: First, finding a support system, even virtually, will be your foundation.
Its what gets you through.
Second,self-advocacy is necessaryfor women of color.
Find your voice and dont be afraid to use it.
This is howyouare feeling.
Advocating for yourself can literally be the difference between life and death.
Continue to speak up until someone listens.
Keep asking questions until you get the answers you deserve.
Surviving breast cancer switched something in me.
I am better, stronger.
Because when you have no choice but to be strong, thats what you become.
