Meet Dr. Alexea Gaffney - you can follow her @dralexea

Meet @dralexea, an incredible doctor, mother and woman who works endlessly to educate and empower women to fully understand their risks and take action to avoid and prevent breast cancer 👏✨

If they had stuck to her surveillance schedule, her cancer could have been worse than stage III. I found a lump in my left breast 2 years ago. My mammogram came back with concerning findings and my primary pushed for me to get a biopsy immediately. It was determined that I was at an increased risk for breast cancer

So I started on the path of frequent screenings with MRIs and mammograms paired with ultrasounds every 6 months. I did everything I could to avoid breast cancer. Weight loss, exercise, and transitioned to a vegan diet. I was also placed on Tamoxifen to further decrease my risk of BC.

‪On March 5th‬ I had a breast ultrasound and Mammogram which showed no changes from the previous study. But thank God my breast surgeon wanted an MRI sooner than the routinely scheduled one. It was done ‪on March 20th‬ which revealed a new mass. An MRI guided biopsy ‪on March 28th‬ revealed my cancer, something my mammogram missed. I was officially diagnosed with Invasive Lobular carcinoma of the right breast on April 3rd with a PALB2 genetic mutation.

The hardest conversation I've ever had in my life was telling my 6 year old daughter Kennedy. I could tell from her tears and her questions she got it.

On April 4th my sister and besties went with me to see my breast surgeon and we decided on bilateral mastectomies. It was so important for me to have them there. They got the important facts, asked the hard questions and held my hand through the decision process.

For those just beginning their journeys, do not try to do this alone. Allow others to fight with you, love on you, do for you. I was surrounded by family, friends and love as I said farewell to my breasts. A good support system will literally improve your outcome. And try to capture and celebrate every moment you can along your journey! The good and the bad, the triumphs and defeats. You'll want to remember them all when you're finally on the other side of breast cancer!💕