From Diagnosis to Triumph: A Breast Cancer Survivor’s Inspiring Journey

A Year of Unexpected Blessings

When I reflect on the best year of my life, I think of joyous milestones: the birth of my daughter, marrying my soulmate, and unforgettable travel adventures with family and friends. However, for Kathy Leonard, the best year of her life was the year she was diagnosed with breast cancer. How did she find the strength to smile and cherish a year that most would consider devastating? Read on to discover her inspiring cancer survivor story.

Discovering the Diagnosis

Kathy Leonard shares her story best in her own words:

“I went in for my annual OB/GYN appointment, and my doctor said to me, ‘Kathy, I see you haven’t had a mammogram in three years.’ I was shocked because I thought I had been going every year. Sure enough, her nurse called down to radiology, and they confirmed it had been three years.”

Her nurse immediately scheduled a mammogram appointment for her. The doctor looked at her and said, “And you, young lady, clear your calendar.”

“I had the mammogram, and I got a phone call asking me to come back. I thought it would be in a week or so, but they wanted me to come in the next morning at 9 o’clock. I knew something was wrong.”

“The next morning, I went through a rigorous process—a punch biopsy. It was the most bizarre thing I’ve ever been through. I left that appointment feeling beaten up, and then I waited for the results. I didn’t have to wait very long.”

“The next day, I was sitting in my car when my phone rang. It was the Woman’s Wellness Center. I answered, and they told me, ‘You have ductal carcinoma in situ in your left breast and invasive ductal carcinoma in your right.’ I was stunned. I thought, ‘This is going to be the worst year of my life.'”

“I wasn’t terrified, but it’s hard to think that something’s really wrong with you when you don’t feel bad. My doctor told me that even if I had done my breast exams, I wouldn’t have felt a lump. It’s odd to think that something’s wrong, and you don’t feel bad.”

“What I thought was going to be the worst year of my life turned out to be the best year of my life.”

Kathy is very blunt about the importance of mammograms: “If you don’t get your mammogram, you won’t catch it early because I couldn’t have felt mine.”

Sharing and Caring

After her diagnosis, Kathy attended a Dallas conference where she shared her story with several women. Many of them also shared their breast cancer journeys, offering support and advice. One woman even showed Kathy her nipple and breast reconstruction surgery results right in the bathroom stall!

Despite the awkwardness, Kathy had many conversations about breasts and nipples with complete strangers. She realized that the breast cancer community was much larger than she imagined, including men like brothers, husbands, and children. She opened herself up to the gracious and loving care of others, which was a life-changing experience for the better.

One of her girlfriends gave her a t-shirt that she wore on the day of her surgery. It said, “Hell yes, they’re fake. The real ones tried to kill me.” Today, Kathy has small reminders of her journey, but they’re nothing compared to the friendships, care, and love she received.

Cute and Perky

Kathy had a double mastectomy because she wanted her breasts to be “twins.” She got her “cute and perkies,” and her insurance covered them. She went for an elegant, lean, athletic look. She hasn’t bought a bra in years and doesn’t plan to.

Not a Warrior

Instead of feeling like a cancer warrior, Kathy’s approach was more about getting through each day. For her, there was nothing warrior-like about chemotherapy or laying in bed, unable to get up. She used to say, “Beam me up, Scotty. Get me to next year and get past this.”

She got through each day and put that day behind her. The way she approached her breast cancer treatment is now the way she approaches life these days. She doesn’t worry too far down the line and refuses to look backward. She deals with today, today.

Dating After Cancer

Kathy was recently single when she got her breast cancer news. She put herself back into the dating scene and has met not only charming gentlemen but friends. She met the man she’s currently dating five years into her journey with the best pickup line ever—he told her she looked like Princess Diana. Now, she and her current beau, Rodolpho, are two years into their relationship.