One Young Mother’s Struggle with Breast Cancer.

Thirty-three years old, married with a three-year old son, Liliana Hernandez says “I’m too young to have gone through what I’ve gone through.” Even her doctors agree. Liliana doesn’t think she’ll ever be able to accept the Stage III Breast Cancer diagnosis that led to a mastectomy, five months of debilitating chemotherapy, and an upcoming six weeks of radiation. “It doesn’t fit in your head that it can happen to someone so young. You’re just starting to live and then it just stops.”

Life did stop for many months. Unable to care for her two-year old son, feeling nauseous and so fatigued she could barely walk from room to room, only able to leave the house for medical appointments, the emotional lows were severe. She doesn’t’ recognize herself in the mirror. Hair that’s barely starting to grow back, thinned eyebrows, a swollen face, and a body that’s twenty pounds heavier, “It’s not me,” she says. Emotions she had never known ran rampant – extreme fear, grief over the loss of part of her body, anger at others with a normal life, guilt for being a burden, unexplained attacks of anxiety, and hopelessness. Thinking she was going to die anyway, there were times when she just wanted it to end.

The Will to Live

Now Liliana is able to say, “Death is not an option.” But she says she would not have made it without her husband who has clearly shown how much “he really, really loves me and cares.” He fills the needs she’s unable to fulfill and misses work to attend every single medical appointment. Family members, friends and an “extraordinary boss” have also helped her to endure this terrible ordeal. But probably most important is her “own will” – her adamance that “I’m not going to let this kill me.”

Giving Life New Meaning

Realizing the fragility of life, Liliana wants to do more. As she begins “to slip out of the darkness,” this cancer crusader is forming a support group for young adult cancer patients who face a different situation from other survivors -- balancing cancer, young kids and career. To educate the Hispanic community, she is teaming with a filmmaker and documenting her experience.

If you have a loved one with cancer, Liliana says “Take the initiative. The most helpful thing people can do is physically help. Don’t wait to be called. It’s too hard to ask for help. Most people won’t ask. Just show up at their home and please really be there for them.”